I realize that some folks aren’t big fans of Canada Geese. But I’ve got’em, I shoot what’s available and if I like the photos I post’em.
And I like these.
1/3200, f/6.3, 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
A week ago today I had good late afternoon light at a local pond and was able to get quite a few photos of geese in flight. I’ll delete most of them because of problems with geese clustered too close together, backgrounds I don’t like or cut off body parts. What I really wanted was to catch them with the snowy Wasatch Mountains in the background but that’s harder than it might seem. They seldom fly at the correct height to accomplish it and when they do I often have a less than desirable angle on the geese.
But I caught this one at a good angle, I like the wing position, I have good detail and light in the eye and yes, that’s the mountains in the background. My primary nit to pick is that the bird’s too centered in the frame for my tastes but it was either that, or leave the tail of another goose in the frame at left or clone out the offending tail.
I chose this centered composition as the lesser of three evils.
1/1600, f/6.3, 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
Only seconds earlier I caught two different geese in the same flock in flight poses I like. The mountains can be seen at the top of the frame but the brown at the bottom is out-of-focus trees growing near the pond.
While processing this image I was a little surprised by the color difference between these two geese. It isn’t dramatic but it isn’t particularly subtle either. So I checked Cornell’s Birds of North America Online to see what they might say about any color variations in Canada Geese.
- “Overall color varies among individuals and populations, from medium or lighter to very dark.”
Next time I won’t be so surprised.
Ron
PS – Recently I’ve bad-mouthed weather forecasters more than once for their highly inaccurate weather prognostications but last night the dice finally rolled their way. Their forecast was for snow during the night, this morning there’s a couple of inches on the ground and at 4 AM it’s still coming down lightly. So… credit where credit’s due.
It’s a day late for a white Christmas but I’ll take it.
Ron, I like both of your photos. Yes, these birds can surely make a “mess”. However, I like to hear their “honks”.
Our new snow is wonderful and I too am glad you are not shoveling it – some backs don’t like the activity much and you will suffer for it.
Thank you Ron
Just a few minutes ago while standing at my front window I saw a small flock of them descending to land on the pond where these photos were taken. Heard them too. Gotta love’m. Thanks, Alice.
I’ll have to visit your pond one of these days. Maybe I’ll find you there!!
Love these photos. Classic!
Thanks, Joanne.
I’m glad you waited for the right angle for these shots. The backgrounds really complement the geese. The feathers on the left wing of the closest bird is amazing. It looks like there are at least a dozen layers.
Angle makes a big difference in many ways. Lyle. Thank you.
One of my very most favorite sounds is the sound of Canada geese flying overhead. The night of the full, Cold Moon, we heard Canada geese flying overhead by the moonlight.
🙂
Both photos turned out well. Good for you!
I get lucky sometimes, Jean. Thanks.
Not being a golfer, I have no complaints about the geese, I always enjoy seeing the occasional squadron fly overhead. And I really like both these images, the different wing positions and backgrounds make them a nice complement to one another. I can easily see them hanging side-by-side on a wall for the full effect. Enjoy your snow! 🙂
Thank you, Chris. It looks pretty out there right now.
Lovely images. The light and color are very pleasing.
I just came in from shoveling. We have 6 inches and it is heavy. It is beautiful outside! I am about to go for a walk and enjoy the crunch of the snow.
Thanks, April. Agreed, but I’ll admit I like it even better since I don’t have to shovel this time…
Love the details in the plumage. And the background (in the first particularly). Snow? Jealous thoughts. It is not yet dawn and is already hotter than I like.
I am really glad that someone else is doing the shovelling for you.
So am I, EC. At this point I couldn’t do it. And we have more forecast for tomorrow. Thank you.
Interesting that though they are clearly in flight, they don’t appear to express momentum. How can this be?
I dunno…
I really like the first one. It just sparkles for me.
Glad to hear it, Arwen. Thanks.
Both shots got an “oh wow” from me. Out loud. 🙂 The first shot is especially striking with the warm bird against the cool mountains. The second shot definitely elicits the magical choreography of a flock in flight. *Happy sigh*
Please be careful shoveling — or better yet, get someone else to do it. We need your back healthy so you can get more lovely shots like these. 😉😋 ❤️
Ha, good timing, Marty! As I type this I can see and hear a friend shoveling snow for me! Thank you.
You have no idea how happy I am that someone else is shoveling for you!!! 😀
Canada Geese are great! I just think people take them for granted.
What I enjoy is the synchronization of their flight, and with this shot of the two flying together it is a beautiful synchronized sight!
Nice job!
Thank you, Dick.
Beautiful! They are “common” here but I never tire of them but then I’m not frequenting places they congregate with bare feet! 😉 In Great Falls there are some duckling traffic jams crossing the road near the river in spring which many don’t appreciate nor do the folks at some of the parks/golf courses! I’ve noticed the color differences at times but never thought about it….
“but then I’m not frequenting places they congregate with bare feet”
That’s a valid point, Judy. I live near a golf course and at times you couldn’t walk even a few feet without stepping in it.
Thanks So much for this series on Canada Geese in flight, Ron!! I think they are so majestic in flight too!! You won’t hear me “bitch” about photos of them!! LOL!! Forgive me but I have a story to tell about a meeting I had with a “few” Canada Geese. I was on a Lighthouse trip & had stopped in a little park in Roselyn, NY. I saw 3 of the C.D.s close by & decided to give them some bread from a sandwich I hadn’t finished. (I didn’t know in those days that you should never feed birds bread!!) While feeding these 3 I happened to look up & see what appeared to be a group of maybe 20 geese headed right for me – Yikes!!! You should have seen me jump back into the car – gulp!! Never did lose my love for them though – even after that experience!!
Ha, yes they can be a little intimidating at times, that’s for sure. Thanks, Jo Ann.
Ron, good morning. No complaints here – I love Canada Geese and I really like these two photos. Beautiful. Do you get Snow Geese there? They are my favorites. We sometimes get a few, but that’s about all. Right now we have a flock of about two-hundred Canada that lands here on the golf course every late afternoon, and among them is one lone Snow Goose. And it is not the first time I have seen that. We often have two to four along with the Canada Geese during the winter.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
Everett, we do get Snow Geese in the area but they’re usually best seen north of us in Box Elder County. However we do get a few hangers-on with Canada Geese here in the city. In fact I saw my first one of the season yesterday on the Jordan River.
In the world of bird aviation, these are the refueling tankers…big, slow to get started but then steady. I think both of these photos are great and that mottled background really accentuates the birds nicely. I like to photograph them…I like to catch the interactions between them…especially between the mated pairs when they are together for nesting. There’s a lot one can learn from observation. On another note…weathermen…I sometimes think they want their ‘moment of being in the spotlight’. I do chuckle at how long their on-air time can be dragged out…especially when they start by telling you what the weather was like, what it is now, and then the possibilities that lie ahead. Now a new item has been added for us in addition to storm forecasts…’squalls’…those little brief bursts of snow. We are now being treated to ‘squall predictions’ for the area’s small towns. 😏 I guess everything needs equal time…
Kathy, I agree with you about both – goose interactions and weather forecasters. Our forecasts are notoriously inaccurate around here – probably in part (but ONLY in part) because of the unpredictable effects of the nearby mountains on weather and lake effect from the Great Salt Lake.
I sure like them too Ron…these are some really great shots….on my screen they look 3D …I feel I can reach out and touch them,,, Awesome birds…Awesome photography!! Thank you
I see that 3D effect too, Steve. Glad you like them!