I usually prefer to shoot in early mornings. This image demonstrates one of the reasons why.
1/1600, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
When I photographed this Pied-billed Grebe yesterday morning at Farmington Bay WMA the sun had only been up for about ten minutes. Morning light is warmer, softer and more flattering than it is later in the day and I like that effect. A lot. Here I love the warm tones reflected off of the background vegetation and the resulting interesting reflections and colors in the water. The effect of the warm, soft sidelight on the grebe appeals to me in this instance and the interesting pose is a bonus.
But in fact I like this setting as much as I do the bird.
From past experience I know what this image would look like if it had been taken at midday (everything else being equal) and I much prefer this kind of light. Evening light can be nice too but I’m definitely a morning person…
Ron
PS – there are other reasons why I prefer to shoot in the mornings.
- Most birds and other wildlife seem to be most active then after a long (often cold) night without feeding
- Many nocturnal and crepuscular species are still out foraging in early mornings
- I like to shoot in solitude and that time of morning there’s usually far fewer wildlife lovers and other photographers out and about. Collectively I call them “looky-lou’s” and yes, I’m one of them too.
- Birds tend to sing most enthusiastically in the mornings. I love being serenaded while I work…
- Where I usually shoot I have to endure significantly less traffic in the mornings than I do in the evenings on the drive to and from location.
Lovely shot great light!
Charlotte
I am not a morning person but you have given me all the good reasons that I should change my thinking around that. Great shot.
I guess it it “the eye of the beholder”…I thought the cutie was thinking “I’m having fun” See the smile? Beautiful shot Ron!
One of the things that makes the background so spectacular is the color of the blue hue of the sky against the yellows and greens in the vegetation. Somehow it reminds me of patterns and colors that might be used in Navajo rugs.
On another front, I think the grebe looks warily wise. No attempt at poetry, though.
With the magnification you get, they look much softer than through my 8x power binoculars. Most birders see a blurred image of your great photos. Since I started reading your blog, I’m pretty frustrated with 8x power but I don’t wish to learn the totally different skill of photography.
On the other side of the world as I type, the first light of the day is starting to glow.
Gentle, peaceful, beautiful.
Count me in on the morning front.
And I do love the smiling grebe on its bed of satin water…
“Count me in on the morning front.”
I’m glad you’re one of “us”, EC. Thank you.
When you see this image of the grebe floating in the reflection of the vegetation it’s a really “comfortable” picture. Viewing the same grebe without optics you realize how their subtle coloration allows them to truly blend in with their surroundings for survival.
Because you used one of my favorite words, I feel like waxing – with apologies to poets through the ages.
“There once was a photographer of birds;
His images appeal to snobs, slobs and nerds;
Lifting big lenses make him muscular;
In his habits he is quite crepuscular;
He handles the light, he is obviously bright and he really has a way with words.”
Wally, “crepuscular” is a word I like a lot too. I made sure that every student of mine over the years knew it, along with many others like “precocial”, “altricial” and “dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane” (DDT) 🙂
You’re quite the poet!
“Crepuscular” sounds like a muscular cretan….I don’t care what some dictionary might say….what does Webster know, he’s dead!!!
You’re certainly a master of prose
A fact you apparently knows!
A “pome” that’s so sweet,
Is quite a treat,
You’re also a poet……….it shows!!!
Oh, oh, it’s contagious!
That was an ode to Wally
I call morning light “sweet light” for all the reasons mentioned…don’t where that came from, don’t think I thought it up myself, but it sure fits! That little bird looks like it just woke up. I feel the same way, in spite of the fact that the coyotes were close by and active. I was worried about my neighbor’s sheep, especially “Willow”, the new lamb, a young Icelandic, very homesick ewe…The fluffiness of the bird, and its expression seem to say, “Good morning, World!”. I love the soft, blurriness of the refection, the colors and patterns in the water. NICE!
“sweet light”
Patty, a lot of photographers use the phrase and I don’t know where it comes from either but it sure works. Thanks for the kind words about the image.
Beautiful Image Ron. With it’s wings raised to greet the sunrise!
“With it’s wings raised to greet the sunrise!”
I think you’re right, John – a stretch like that is like something I’d do in this situation.
I like the way the background colors match the color of the bird in this shot, and I’m betting that different light would not achieve that same effect. It also looks as if the bird might be posing for you… All of your reasons for shooting so early in the morning make perfect sense to me. It’s easier really connect with the wildlife in the absence of crowds of people, and I’m sure that you’re far more likely to see interesting behavior then, too. The things you capture with your camera are just amazing to me.
“I’m betting that different light would not achieve that same effect”
That would be a safe bet, Susan.
And I agree with you about crowds of people. Very occasionally I’ve had to shoot with my tripod amongst other photographers and I didn’t enjoy those sessions at all. There’s always at least one clown who ruins things for everyone else.
I photograph birds as much for the experience of being with them as for the photos. Being with groups of people detracts from that experience for me.
Since a camera can “see’ all the range of light, and morning light is low enough to let the camera see more of the in-between stuff, AND since animals are most active early and late, mornings are the most wonderful times of the day. Beautiful detail of a cute bird.
“mornings are the most wonderful times of the day”
I couldn’t agree more, Marilyn – at least in part for the reasons you mention. Thank you.
If only the morning didn’t happen, well, you know….in the morning!
Thank you for showing what’s out there then, because I’m not.
That put a wide smile on my face, Mikal!
Ron, I really love this photo and I’m like you – I much prefer morning light. I also like it better than late afternoon light because it has much more orange coloring so you don’t capture the true colors. Of course the middle of the day takes away most shadows that I like in photos. Morning light is more white to me so the colors are true. By the way, what time do you head off at in the AM and how long a drive do you have? Thanks a lot for sharing your reasons for why you choose this time of day – tells me a lot about you that I like!!
“what time do you head off at in the AM and how long a drive do you have?”
My morning schedule is often crazy, Jo Ann. It depends on what time of year and where I’m going. It takes me about 35 minutes to get to Farmington, 55 minutes to get to Antelope Island and an hour and 15 minutes to get to Bear River (with time allowed for a stop for a chocolate donut – can’t shoot without one of those…). Some locations are even further away.
In summer I’m typically up at about 3:30 to allow me time for the drive and to get my morning post published before I leave. Winter, with later sunrise, is much more “civilized” so I usually get to sleep in until about 4:45.
I’m always on site at sunrise.
Some regular readers have probably figured out that when I don’t respond in a timely manner to early comments on my posts it’s because I’m out with the birds. This morning I’m staying home.
Oh YUMMO, Ron!! Now I want a chocolate donut!!! 🙂
Beautiful! It almost looks like it’s giving you a sly sideways glance and a smile.:)The reflections compliment the color of the bird wonderfully. 🙂
I noticed that sly look of the bird too, Judy. It adds some personality I think.
i thought her look was coy, not sly…:)
The eye of the beholder I guess…