I like bird photography that includes significant hints at habitat. That goal is typically more difficult to achieve with flight shots than static shots but it can be done and this image is an example.
1/2000, f/8, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
It was taken almost exactly a year ago today (Feb. 3) at Bear River MBR soon after the swan took off from the water. Because I like the setting so well I’ve cropped less tightly on the bird and more squarish in my composition than I often do to allow for a better look at one of the environments these majestic birds prefer. Bear River is one of my favorite getaway sanctuaries, for myself and for the birds, so I love seeing it in my photos.
♫Oh, give me layers, lots of layers, under sunny skies above♫, (sung to the tune of “Don’t Fence Me In” 🙂 ). I’ve said before that I love layers in my backgrounds and this shot has gobs of them. Depending on what you call a layer and what you don’t I count about fifteen of them in the phrags, the water, the sky and against the Promontory Mountains in the far background. This is my kinda shot, though I realize that taste about these kinds of things varies.
And one more thing. I love the curve of the mountains in the background behind and mimicked by the similar curve in the swan’s right wing. It’s subtle but it grabs my eye and makes me appreciate the image even more.
Man oh man, does it ever look different outside this morning than it did a year ago when this shot was taken! It snowed last evening and all during the night and even though it’s still dark outside there appears to be almost a foot of snow on my back deck.
At 6:20 AM it’s still coming down steadily and the forecast calls for it to continue for most of the day. When the sun comes up it’s going to be interesting out there, in more ways than one.
Ron
Addendum at 7:40 AM – we just measured 11.25″ inches of snow on my front lawn. That’s a lot for the desert we live in.
When I started photographing birds I cropped down to “field guide” images. Don’t know how many beautiful layers of habitat were sent to pixel heaven. Reminds me of a view of the sunset from the end of a trail to “The Window.” It was said that “you can see as far as the day after tomorrow.”
A succinct but insightful comment, Ken. And you said it well.
I followed the same modus operandi when I started out, usually cropping far too close to the bird. I started to learn differently when I began to post my photos to a nature critique forum. It took me a while but I eventually came to really appreciate habitat in my images. Arizona bird photographer Richard Ditch was one of my early mentors on that subject.
What a beautiful photograph!! Perfect shot!
Thank you, Joanne.
Beautiful swan! So far this year they have not been by the auto loop. I miss the sound too!
As far as the snow goes Yippee snow day, no school! So what did I do, grab my camera and go for a hike in the gully behind my house. I made the mistake of only putting on my gators instead of snow pants. We must have between 14-16 inches and the snow is 3-4 inches over the top of my gators. After spending 2 hours in fresh unwalked in snow I am wet and cold, but a big grin on my face.
I’ll bet that was fun, April. You didn’t see our old shared friend the porcupine, did you?
They don’t close schools often for snow around here but I sure remember how much I enjoyed them on those rare occasions when I wasn’t already at work before they made the announcement. One time I spent the entire day at school (South High) because I didn’t dare try to get back home.
No I have not seen it but last winter a neighbor’s dog got a snoot full of quills while the dog was out in their back yard.
Well darn, now I have to count! I got 23, but then I’ve always been sort of a weirdo. I sort of feel like you may have previously posted (see how I hedge my bets? 😇) the next frame or two in the series — there’s a shot I recall that has the swan’s neck mirroring the slope of the mountain. This shot has wonderful composition and the swan is well-balanced with the foreground, midground and background.
And because one of us needs to say it: no shoveling!!!!! 🚫🍻😈
Yes, I’ve posted several shots taken that morning of swans flying over the same area, Marty. There may have been some of the same swan.
Shoveling and snow blowing already done. I did the snow blowing and a friend did much of the shoveling. I’m pooped but don’t think I hurt anything new…
PS – each layer has a top and a bottom. Did you count them both? 🙂
Nope — just a tick mark for each color change plus two for the phrags.
BTW, 🎼 Give me swans, lots of swans, flying over pretty ponds…. 😱
Ron, the swan and layers are quite beautiful. What a great shot and some singing to go with it!!
Our yard is full of snow as well and look amazing. Love the snow before it gets tracked on by the animals.
Thank you for the photo and commentary.
“some singing to go with it”
I thought it might give some readers an earworm but apparently I’m the only one affected. Serves me right! Thanks, Alice.
No, you’re not the only one…😡
Good. I don’t suffer alone (though I still like that song).
I do appreciate the layers (though it wouldn’t have occurred to me to count them). And the swan. And the snow.
I hope you have someone to shovel for you. I really hope it.
“though it wouldn’t have occurred to me to count them”
‘
I’ll admit it, I can be a little anal. I count more inconsequential things than I should. At least I don’t consider these layers inconsequential but I can also tell you exactly how many times that “dinger” rings in my pickup (6) each time I don’t have my seat belt buckled or most any other buzzer goes off…
Remarkable that you captured the white clouds above complementing the dorsal feathers of the swan while the phragmites does the same for it’s underside.
“Give me snow, lots of snow and I’ll plow it row by row…”.
I’m an old tractor driver from way back, Lyle – wish I had one that would work for this job!
The layers make this a “cake” shot. 😀 I crack myself up.
Arwen, you and I share the trait of being able to regularly entertain ourselves!
It’s a good thing. 🙂
Absolutely delightful and perfect in every way! Beautifully composed.
Thanks very much, Linda.
Beautiful, just beautiful, Ron…..:) Everything comes together for this shot! The subtle background with layer upon layer really makes it with the dark band really setting off the head. Let’s see, I was in a figure skating program to “Don’t Fence Me In” in the mid-fifties I believe……;) It IS hard to come by some background with flight shots – particularly on the prairie…..;) -8, more snow – light fluffy stuff that the wind will have a blast with when it comes……. It’s easy shoveling if nothing else… They keep extending the wind chill advisory.
“It’s easy shoveling if nothing else”
Ha, “easy” and “shoveling” are two words that no longer seem congruent to this old guy, Judy!
I like a lot of “old-time” songs, a legacy I largely owe to my parents’ But growing up in Big Sky Country made “Don’t Fence Me In” really resonate with me. It still does.
Lovely photo! Looks 3-D to my eyes. I know what you mean about layers…they add such beauty to the photo. You are fortunate having so many ‘mountain ranges’ in the area. I fell in love with Montana and it’s surrounding states on my first drive west. Those color changes of the badlands…fantastic! So many of my photos of flight have the bird suspended in mid-air unless it is a take-off caught low or blue skies with clouds. We have very little of height here in WI…you know…the corn field syndrome! 😏
“You are fortunate having so many ‘mountain ranges’ in the area”
That’s absolutely true, Kathy. We have 79 named mountain ranges just here in Utah and even that list is incomplete. I’ve been to and in many of them but probably fewer than half. A goal for the future…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mountain_ranges_of_Utah
Nice shot of one of my favorites. The multi layered look really does help the photo. So often taking a photo of a bird in flight the background is solid. Hope your neighbor/friend comes and clears you snow again. I thought we would be snow covered this morning, but just looks frosted and frozen.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
Thanks, Everett.
Hopefully I can manage the snow but it’ll be interesting, that’s for sure. I just wish my snow blower took a bigger vertical “bite”. There may be too much of it out there for me to get through it – hard to tell for sure right now.