Occasionally a bird actually does take off in the right direction and in good light.
Yesterday morning this Loggerhead Shrike unexpectedly let me get close at Bicknell Bottoms in Wayne County, Utah. I caught the wings in a pleasing position and I like the way the bush slopes away in the direction of take-off. The tail is partially hidden but in this situation I’m not bothered by it.
My shutter speed was only 1250 sec for this shot. I suspect the right wing is as sharp as it is because I caught the wing at the bottom of the down stroke and the left wing is soft due to depth of field.
Ron
Looks like it is simply exploding from the bush.
Great shot Ron, and beautiful bird. We have the Loggerhead’s here in the desert, but I have never had the pleasure of getting a picture of the bird flying.
You know that the loggerhead Shrike is currently in the back country wearing the ‘cone of shame’ for the crime of being caught taking off in the right direction and light don’t you? It may never live it down…
Now I am forced to believe the rumor that birds sometimes take off in the right direction and in good light. Previously I thought it was false information spread by representatives of the camera industry.
Excellent capture! Beautiful brokeh, texture, and lighting. I love shrikes!
What a lovely bird, not to mention a lovely photograph–I often see or learn something totally new to me in the morning when I open your blog; it’s a fine beginning to the day !
Beautiful shot! I didn’t even notice the soft left wing until I read your comment about it. I’m glad this bird was so cooperative.
Hi Ron, As with everything in life, the most interesting aspect of shrikes is their connection to falconry. 🙂
Shrikes (although probably not Loggerhead) were traditionally kept by falcon trappers a lookouts. Migrating peregrines often pass over too high for humans to see, but a pet shrike was left out in the open with a small birdhouse to take cover in. When the shrike was hopping about, there were no falcons overhead; but when the shrike dove into the birdhouse, the trappers knew there was a falcon above them and started trying to trap it.
Beautiful picture.
Mark
Well, I THOUGHT I’d foiled it….
Great catch of my not so favorite bird….like all the silvers and grays, variety of textures,soft background….hope you’re relaxing a bit, too.(evil iPad almost got me with five screwy errors, but although it tried, I FOILED it!!!!)
Great catch of my not so favorite bitd…like all the silets and grays, variety of yextures, soft background….hope you’re telaxing a bit, too.
Wonderful shot Ron!
Charlotte
Beautiful! I love these little birds! Thanks so much for posting it.
Do you a tripod or monopod, your pictures are so clear and filled with detail?
Steve, I seldom use a tripod. As usual, this shot was taken from my pickup window.
Steady hands you have, your pictures are so good just thought you would be using a tripod or monopod.