When it comes to my photography sometimes I think simple is best and photos don’t come much simpler than this one.
Last night while feeling a little nostalgic I went back in my archives and reviewed some of the earliest photos I kept from when I was just beginning to get serious about bird photography. This one was taken over 10 years ago, on April 17, 2008. At that point I’d only had my first 500mm lens for a short time and I was just beginning to scratch the surface of learning how to use it. If it tells you anything about how long ago it was I was using Canon’s 40D as my camera and it was still pretty new at the time.
1/1000, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 40D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 Extender, not baited, set up or called in
That morning there was a small group of Eared Grebes in breeding plumage feeding on some kind of insect hatch on the surface of Glover Pond in Farmington. Unless I was looking at the wake of one of the grebes the water was perfectly flat and as reflective as a mirror. The location of the insects kept them close to me so I had a photographic blast with them for quite a while as they skittered across the water chasing bugs but I caught this one in a quiet moment. I don’t remember how many photos I took but it was a bunch (I’ve posted a couple of them before but this one is new to my blog).
I like the reflection, the breeding colors of the grebe and that bright red almost almond-shaped eye (apparently they’re always that shape in this species instead of round). I also appreciate the nearly perfectly smooth and clean water surface that allowed such an elegant reflection (I didn’t clone out any dark spots).
No, it wasn’t really swimming on a mirror but I sure think it looks like it was.
Ron
Addendum: Soon after I published this post I decided to include a second photo showing one of the grebes when there was a little more excitement going on. Here the bird has chased across the water in order to snag one of the floating insects (mosquitos?). They were real speedsters as the birds competed with other grebes for the bugs so it was excellent tracking practice for this neophyte bird photographer.
Not bad for a beginner! That grebe’s plumage is exquisite– I’ve never seen one so nicely depicted.
Fantastic Ron!
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
Great shots Ron, absolutely beautiful!
I can just imagine you pouring over all your shots to decide which to post.
Every summer I say I will cull during the winter! Ha, that is a joke! I may get to some, but I guess I’m waiting to be forced by my hard disk. VBG!
Don’t wait too long, Dick – you know what can happen with hard disks. That’s what I keep telling myself…
Even as a neophyte you put some of us (me) to shame.
Shame, and wonder at the marvels you share.
You wouldn’t feel shamed if you could see my rejects, EC. And there are a LOT of them.
I love the look of them. Pretty birds. Very peaceful.
Thank you, Arwen.
Beautiful. The reflection is lovely. I have not seen many eared grebes At Farmington
April, That was the ONLY time I’ve seen them there, either on the refuge or on Glover Pond. It’s my bet they were on the way to the GSL and decided to stay awhile when they found the skeeter hatch.
Another winning shot! Hope your finger feels less pain now.
Thanks, Linda. See this post from 3 days ago regarding the progress of my finger injury.
https://www.featheredphotography.com/blog/2018/07/29/some-good-news-on-my-finger-injury-plus-a-dose-of-critter-cuteness/
You always seem to know when I need a calming post like this one, Ron. I’ve been a bit anxious about coming up with brand new lessons, especially as all my stuff is in stacks of boxes in my back room, making it tough to find anything. This serene shot is the perfect antidote to that stress. Time to breathe again. 🙂
Boy, do I ever remember that stress, Marty! For me the only thing that was more stressful than that anxiety was the piercing pain of sitting through endless and meaningless faculty meetings before the first day of class.
The site where I’ll be has a small faculty, so I’m hoping for small faculty meetings. 😉
You claim that writing is a challenge fir you, but your titles grab my attention and curiousity EVERY time!!! That first shot is a beauty!!! A teal winner!!!
Thanks for appreciating my titles, Patty. I’m often just a little bit fearful I’ve gone too far with one…
I love the perfect reflection in the first shot. And the action in the second one. Those red eyes make the bird look other-worldly, or like a creature from a horror movie. I’ve never seen an Eared Grebe, so I’m glad you posted these photos.
I’m glad you like that reflection, Susan. I seldom, if ever, get one that perfect.
Breathtaking. You had an eye and a talent for bird photography from the beginning, Ron.
Well, I sure didn’t get very many good shots back then, Melanie. Thankfully my keeper rate has improved a little since those days.
Oh, that is just beautiful! Made my morning.
Good! Thanks, Kathleen.
Good morning Ron. Love Eared Grebes in that breeding plumage and those red eyes. The photo is beautiful. Looks like he is in a moment of reflection while giving you a perfect reflection. Great shot.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
Thanks, Everett. We have many hundreds of thousands of them on the Great Salt Lake during migration but I can never get anywhere near them (it’s a VERY big lake) and often they’re not in breeding plumage anyway so opportunities with them like this one are few and far between.
Beautiful photos! Something I would aspire to. Thanks once again.
Thanks, Joanne.
Beautiful! Certainly a contrast between the 2 photo’s! The first one with the reflection and puffed up feathers IS elegant with the colors of the bird and the red eye. A whole different bird from the 2nd one! Thx for digging these out and sharing them. 🙂
Good eye in comparing the two birds, Judy. Yes, when they’re wet and feeding they really sleek those feathers down.
For some unknown reason, I think Oriental when I look at this bird. This is perfection! The eye draws you in, then you see the feathers…it appears that those long silky feathers are simply sprouting from the eye. I love it!
“it appears that those long silky feathers are simply sprouting from the eye”
That’s right, Kathy. That’s exactly how many field guides and other birding resources describe that ear patch.