I can like photos of any bird species no matter how common and believe it or not I actually got a flight shot I like yesterday, despite our inversion and gunky air.
Yesterday morning after once again hoping for the miracle of having acceptable light and preparing to leave home in the morning twilight I had to pull the plug on my plans and stay grounded because of our persistent inversion and foul air. In late afternoon when I could finally faintly see that round orb in the sky formerly known as the sun I decided to try once again. But it was late and I didn’t have much time so I just made a quick trip to a local pond and got two shots I like of a Canada Goose.
This is one of them.
1/8000, f/5.6, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
The goose was floating in to alight on the pond. You’d have to know the pond to realize how lucky I was to get nothing in the background but extremely out-of-focus tree branches instead of buildings, milky-white skies or other geese behind or in front of this one. The light was partially filtered but there just enough to be adequate and not so much that I got deep shadows on the goose.
The flight posture reminds me a little of a gliding ski jumper or wingsuit flyer. And I’m always interested in seeing one or both alulae, even when it’s only partially extended as it is here on the right wing.
Regarding composition: Part of me thinks I might have placed the goose a little too high in the frame when I cropped. But I didn’t want to center the bird in either dimension and I know it was descending when I took the photo so I went with this placement to give it room to fly into in the direction it was going. I’d probably do the same thing again but I’m not completely convinced it’s the best choice.
Regarding Image techs: And they were obviously inappropriate, especially shutter speed. This was pretty much a grab shot. The light was low and I had been shooting dark birds (mostly coots) on dark water so my camera settings were appropriate for them but they weren’t for the unexpected goose in the brighter setting. To be honest I probably had time to change my settings for the goose but I had little hope of getting anything decent so I just got lazy. Bad habit.
I dunno. Maybe I wouldn’t have posted this photo if it hadn’t been so long since I’ve been able to get anything new. After all, some would say it’s “only a goose”.
But my subject has feathers, it’s wild and free, it wasn’t baited or set up and I like the image. That’s all I require.
Ron
Once again a nice post. We have them also in my area, but only a few and I am not where I see them take off and land. Only see them walking around in a field or making music in the air. There is an Apache Indian who moved here this summer and he was sitting out side when some flu by. He was talking on his cell phone at the time and told his friend to just listen to the honks. He was so tickled to hear and see them. No flight path patterns down where he is from. We do not realize how lucky we are to see the variety of wild life that come our way.
So much to love about this shot! “Canada Goose” and “only” never meet in my vocabulary. They’re right up with the Coots and the GBHs as local favorites — I could watch them all day.
Thank you, Marty. There seems to he very little in-between with this species – lots of folks love’em or hate’m.
Yesterday in cold New Orleans, saw a pair of these honkers on a sorry waste pond near the airport runway, and felt much more alive to see some homeys. I wished them a better homestead, over in the bayous. When we got back to Marin County it was night; I could hear them honking on the bay. Thanks for this photojournalistic shot of a creature familiar and beloved as an old shoe.
That’s pretty close to the way I feel about them too, Martha.
Complementary colors √
Catch light in eye √
Alulae showing √
Nice crop of bird in frame√
Intriguing cut in one of the primaries √
I’m glad you posted such a common bird.
Interesting way to make your point, Lyle. Thanks.
There is nothing, but nothing ‘only’ about any bird. Or your photography.
Thanks, EC.
I live on a golf course and Canada Geese are as common as dandelions. I like them as well along with the crows that show up this time of year. The only birds I would rather not have are Starlings. I think anything that flies is magic. Hoping for a storm to clear the air. Tomorrow is supposed to be better.
Betty, I’m fond of all birds but I’m not fond of the presence of some that have been introduced by man to areas where they aren’t native, including starlings and House Sparrows.
I’m quite fond of them. Just yesterday I rolled my window down to watch (and listen) to a huge flock leaving our town pond. Something about the sound makes me feel a deep, simple happiness.
I agree about the sound, Arwen. I think it’s wild and haunting.
“But my subject has feathers, it’s wild and free, it wasn’t baited or set up and I like the image. That’s all I require.” I really like the first and last parts of this phrase. Its quite poetic. Maybe you did some English teaching also?
A lot of of Canadian Geese right now in the Wasatch Front valleys. I saw a V formation the other day that just went on and on. I think your photo of this goose is quite good, but I am a bit biased on the subject. Hopefully we will get some relief in the next few days and you can get some more great new photos. I am feeling some inversion depression kicking in yet we are only getting started. Argh.
Nope, I never did any English teaching but I had (have) friends who are or were English teachers and some who are writers or editors so I try to do as well as I can. I think publishing my blog has helped me improve at least a little over the years. Thanks for the observation, Brad.
The subject of writers reminds me of your relative, Ward Roylance – also a writer and on a subject dear to my heart.
Very nice shot of a much underappreciated bird. I agree with Kathy about looking like a ski jumper coming down. I have always liked Canada Geese. We have large flocks on our two largest lakes right now, and also on our golf course right behind my back fence. In the late afternoon they arrive about one hundred strong, and there among them is a lone beautiful Snow Goose.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
We had a loner Snow Goose among the Canadas at the pond for a couple of years. Thanks, Everett.
NICE! It does look like it’s just “hanging” there. Glad you got “something” 😉 Background works well! Last week we had huge flocks of honkers everywhere – still have quite a few………. “High” and talking
Thanks, Judy. They do a lot of talking!
Believe it or not, my first thought as I looked at this before I read your comments….’a perfect ski-jumper floating down stretching out over his tips’. . I could just visualize the skis dangling in the air ‘forming that required ‘V’, his feet in perfect position. Guess that’s a darn good capture when your readers see what you saw when you took the shot. Plain old goose or not, every bird deserves his day as a star!
“every bird deserves his day as a star”
That’s my philosophy, Kathy – even though I’ll admit to having species preferences. Thanks.
Not even kidding; I had one of those things fly overhead and crap on me. Talk about the ultimate in humiliation.
Shi* happens…
“That’s all that I require” is all that IS required….Great shot of a big beautiful bird coming in for a landing…Thanks Ron
Much appreciated, Adrian.