After yesterday, when I nearly grew icicles on my chin inside my own home, I needed to post an image with some greenery and some implied warmth!
I’m partially remodeling my home and yesterday was the day nine new windows were installed. It was +14 F outside when contractors began tearing out my old windows and needless to say it was downright chilly inside my house for most of the morning. As I sat at my computer in my heavy winter coat and hat all I could think of was warmer times and summer birds so this is my image of choice for today’s post.
1/3200, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II US, not baited, set up or called in
I photographed this female Western Kingbird on Antelope Island in June of 2014 as she was building her nest while her mate stood guard nearby. Here she has just delivered nesting material to the nest (which can be partially seen at lower left) and is leaving for another load. I know this is the female because male kingbirds don’t participate directly in nest-building.
I enjoy the behavior documented by the image even though the foreground is busy with some of the sagebrush twigs in front of the bird. I’d never posted this photo before because of the shadow near her eye which I found a little distracting but I had a change of heart because of the springtime motif, the greenery and the implied warmth of the image.
After yesterday those are things I’m especially appreciative of right now…
Ron
Note: Rest assured that I did not disturb these birds at their nest. The nest site was adjacent to both a road and a parking lot for a nearby trailhead and I photographed them with a supertelephoto lens from inside my pickup. I watched carefully for any signs of disturbance and there simply weren’t any – they were obviously acclimated to the hubbub typically associated with parking lots.
Ron, I always love your images, and I especially love your respect for nature. I like how you noted the way you captured this image, and how you were careful not to disturb the nest. I’m learning about biology, photography, and ethics, all in a single post! Your ability to simultaneously educate and inspire is very special and much appreciated.
The kingbird was house building, and you are in house maintenance mode. Both big jobs. She has the better weather for the task though.
Yet another stunning image of a bird which I will not see for myself. Megathanks.
Lovely, just lovely. I appreciate your sharing this one. I agree with Mitch’s sentiments about perfection(ism). Each and every photo and your informative commentary bring something important to those of us who read your blog.
Enjoy the new snugness of your home!
Marvelous shot Ron! Stay Warm! Seems like you may have picked the wrong time of the year to remodeled.
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte. If the only major problem with this project turns out to be one morning of living in a freezing house I’ll be very pleased. Time will tell…
What a lovely little bird, Ron and one that is totally new to me. I also find it interesting to hear that the male doesn’t help with the nest building and only stands guard. I’m so use to watching the male and female eagles both work on the nest. The hilarious part of the nest building though is no matter where the male places a twig/branch – the female seems to move it to a new place. Our wildlife are SO interesting to observe. I feel for you needing to be present with the work being done on your house. I TOTALLY agree that you need to be present when there are strangers working on your house. We had 14 High Impact windows installed this spring and no way would we not be there!! At 70 years old, it was just too hard to put up all the heavy Hurricane shutters anymore!! I know you will enjoy your house once all the work is done – share a photo with us of the finished project?!!
Thanks, Jo Ann. We’ll see about the photo…
Thank you. Laura…..
Hey, Ron:
My “keeper” ratio and number of shots I’ll even show to friends increased tremendously when I finally figured out “Why I do this?” The first forum I hung out in presented wonderful wildlife photography, but there were also a lot of critical comments concerning negative space, composition, shadows, noise in the upper-right frame, etc., and for a long time, I bought into that compartmentalized thinking. I’m basically a “down-and-dirty” wildlife photographer and to me, what I had to go through to get “the shot” is just as important as the pixels that are delivered in post. In the final image, you can’t see that slow-crawl in camo, or appreciate the time spent frozen in place, or climbing into a blind at zero-dark-thirty on sub-freezing, winter mornings. I finally decided that I wasn’t shooting to produce magazine covers (although one or two would be nice :)), I was in the process of documenting my life and what I enjoy most.
I applaud your willingness to share your imagery that’s “less than perfect”. Looks perfect, to me.:) Best….Mitch
Oh, I almost forgot, that’s a wonderful shot of one of my favorite birds. Mine usually have some barbed wire in ’em. Big deal!
You’re absolutely right, Mitch. Our own images generally mean so much more to us than they do to others because the experience of taking them is part of our perception of the photo.
Ron, your explanation of the how’s and why’s helps US to appreciate that it is not just the final image (always something wonderful in those you share) but the process of the ‘journey’ Glad that you are on this side of the window installation and wishing an easy completion of the other renovation jobs.
Thanks again for sharing this passion of yours with us. My world is richer for it
When I looked at this photo, all I saw was a bird leaving her nest, behind some twigs. I did not realize that the shadows were shadows… All I saw was a well-composed photo, and even understanding now what I was looking at, I still see the same thing. I think that the fact that the shadows are just thin twigs, which match the real twigs, keeps them from being a problem for me. Hopefully you will be warmer now that the windows are in. And I hope the rest of the project goes well.
Susan, I think it’s actually kind of difficult to distinguish some of the twigs from their shadows on the bird.
Great shot!
The colors are very nice, and the little bit of nest in the lower left corner almost is what makes the image. I personally don’t really mind the clutter of the twigs. It’s not too often that you see a kingbird on sagebrush (at least not here, but then again, there’s not too much sagebrush here anyway)! Like Judy said, they love to perch on wires, and in my experience they like fences too.
I agree with you about the nest, Levi. It’s a subtle but important element in the image.
Ah Kingbirds…my comments are so very redundant, but what exquisite and diverse beauty there is on our spinning rock! I’m constantly in a state of over-the-top awe and wonder. You only have to stop for a second, open your eyes (and mind) and take it all in. Granted, we don’t have any other planet (or group of fauna and flora) for comparison, but Jeesh! And it’s not just the creatures that so graciously share this rock with us, although they’re beyond the pale gorgeous (would that we would model their gracious generosity in sharing, but no). The array of vegetation and geological incredibles are beyond amazing. I’ve got a rock store nearby, so the idea of what our Earth can produce in that realm has my attention again.
I’m a big fan of sage for several reasons, so I’m delighted to see it in this photo–it’s not distracting at all to me, but instead, more glorious beauty that adds to the overall dynamic OH WOW!
I so love your work and look forward to your posts every day! The words thank you really don’t get to what is in my heart, but it’s the best I can do. It’s kinda like trying to comment on the outrageously exquisite and diverse beauty there is on our spinning rock. Our language just doesn’t go there. But THANK YOU! 🙂
Laura, I remember your past fondness for sagebrush and how you missed it when you were living back east. I hope you get many opportunities to enjoy it now that you’ve moved out west again.
So eloquent, Laura. Thank you.
You are so right Laura. If we open our eyes, hearts and minds we are rewarded. Bounteously.
I would be off driving around in my heated truck taking pictures and let installers deal with the cold . I have a western kingbird nest in my tree along with many others . Hawks not welcome here in the spring . In the winter the little guys are on they’re own I have a huge brush pile for them to escape into . So it’s fair play . But in the summer don’t appreciate hawks plucking the babies out of their nests!!
“I would be off driving around in my heated truck taking pictures”
I didn’t have that option, Marina. In addition to the two window installers there were three other guys here installing my new siding. Too many decisions had to be made for me to leave for very long. Besides, giving 5 strangers access to my home without me being there made me just a little nervous…
Hi Ron, Not to be a smart …, but why did you schedule changing out your windows in the dead of winter? Sounds like something I would do.
I just love how you are able to maintain focus on tough subjects like these. I just can’t imagine being able to keep the AF points on the quick moving bird with all of the vegetative (warm) objects in the viewer attempting to fake out the focusing system. Once again, congratulations. I am sure there is a bit of luck here, but mostly great operator techniques. Good job again!
“why did you schedule changing out your windows in the dead of winter?”
It’s a long, complicated story, Frank. Let’s just say it had to do with a wrong number (telephone call made to me) and an impulsive decision on my part. At this point I’m still glad I did it but I’m also glad that yesterday is now behind me.
Here’s what I did to get this bird sharp. I’d watched her leave the nest many times and I knew that she nearly always left in the same direction which was to my right and parallel to my position (a position I chose very carefully and deliberately). So using a single micro-focusing point I prefocused on her head through all those twigs and then took my finger off the focusing button (I use back-button AF) and fired away as she left. Because she exited in the same plane I had prefocused on she was sharp.
Ron, That is probably one of the best examples I have ever heard about the advantages of Back Button Focus, or whatever button you use other than the shutter button. I really appreciate that explanation and although I think we have had that discussion before, appreciate the insight about your technique used here. If I don’t get a chance, “Happy Holidays” and hopefully a warm one with your new windows!
🙂
BRRRR! Not the best time for the window replacement for sure! We’re doing the warm(+33) but with howling wind now. Beautiful shot of the Western Kingbird. About the only time I notice them here is on the power lines watching for what they perceive as an intruder! The can be feisty. 🙂
Judy, the windows could have been installed a week earlier when it was much warmer but someone along the line dropped the ball and it was delayed.
Yes, this species loves to perch on wires so it was nice to be able to photograph these birds in a natural setting.