A double whammy.
After many days of bad weather and light, yesterday morning had great promise. At 5 AM it was still cloudy in Salt Lake City but the satellite map showed clear skies moving in quickly from the north and the hourly forecast said it would be sunny at Brigham City by 8 AM. So at 6:15 we headed for Bear River MBR, feeling confident that we’d have a morning with birds in good light. It’s almost a 90 minute drive for me to get to Bear River so I rarely make the trip unless I’m confident of good light.
But by the time we got to the refuge the approaching clear skies had stalled just a few miles north of us so we were socked in with clouds and had poor light all morning. It was extremely frustrating because the boundary between clouds and sun was almost directly overhead but far enough north of us to keep the sun behind clouds. Whammy #1.
Then when we arrived at the gate to the refuge auto loop tour it was closed. Poop!
The gate is supposed to open automatically at sunrise which was 6:58 AM yesterday but it didn’t open until 7:47, 49 minutes late! Afterwards we found out that the gate timer had been malfunctioning for days and hadn’t been fixed. And this isn’t the first time it had happened to us. Whammy #2.
The morning was definitely not beginning well and because of poor light it didn’t get much better. Bird numbers were pretty good but without decent light my photos were not. Following are some of my better Tundra Swan shots from the morning but don’t have high expectations.
Good birds + bad light = mediocre photographs.
1/2000, 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
The swans were abundant and many were close to the road but that’s mostly because my pickup was the first vehicle they saw that morning. Those close to the road generally took off for more remote parts of the refuge as I approached and I imagine they stayed there all day.
Here I caught a group of four of them in flight with the snow-covered Wasatch Mountains in the background.
1/2000, 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
There were many opportunities to photograph swans taking off from up close but the light and the occasional photo-bombing swan didn’t cooperate.
1/2500, f/7.1, 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
Further out the ponds were a mix of ice and open water. In this area the swans had been resting on the ice while most of the rest of the waterfowl were in the water. Apparently the pair of Pintails at the bottom of the frame thought they were swans.
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
The light was so low that even closeup shots of swans in flight didn’t include catch lights in their eyes. In this instance it didn’t help that the swan was backlit by the little light we had.
I’ve always said that I want Feathered Photography to be about more than just high quality, pretty photos of birds. I also want it to be about field ethics, conservation issues, behaviors and bird photography techniques and experiences. Well, bad days in the field are definitely a part of bird photography so today I decided to document one of mine.
Bird photography ain’t easy.
Ron
A less ethical photographer would have photoshopped the photobomber. That’s why I like you — you didn’t stoop to that. 🙂 I quite like that shot because the pber is just hanging out and doing his own thing, unfazed by the fracas behind him. I could learn a lot from that bird! 🙂
I especially like the last shot as well. The water droplets flying off the bird’s wings, tail and feet definitely lend excitement, a piece of the story, and a sense of motion to the image. I have a feeling that if the light had been at an angle necessary to produce a catchlight, the water drops wouldn’t have shown up and the richness of that image would have been diminished — at least for me.
Marty, as today has worn on I’ve become more and more fond of that photo-bombing swan. He makes me smile and not many birds intruding in my images do that!
Nice to see you are out and about. I like the last shot, it has a soft painterly look. I hope to get up there this weekend.
I hope you’ve been having fun down south, April. If not that then I hope it’s been a productive trip.
I share your pain, even in FL with several birding “hot spots” the weather isn’t always a friend. Half of the time the dark clouds seem to know where the sun is, and a lot of times it pours. And when the sunny days return, it just gets too hot. And when it’s not, the birds aren’t smiling. Oh well, the joys (and $*@#*) of bird photography.
🙂
My equation looks a little different: Good birds + bad light + Ron Dudley behind the camera = still beautiful photos (ok, not so much the first shot).
Sounds like what some of us used to call “new math”, Lyle… 🙂
Ron, in spite of your bad luck with a gate closed and cloudy skies, I still enjoyed your photos. I always enjoy your commentary. Yes, even swans, like to photobomb, just like some people.
Unfortunately, the weather around here has been very unpredictable.
Glad you got out there and thanks for the photos.
I think a lot of us in this country have been experiencing unusual weather, most of it bad. Thanks, Alice.
C’mon Ron. If it were easy we wouldn’t do it. Overcoming the frustrations is just another component of the rewards of bird photography.
C’mon, Brrdoo. I never suggested we would.
These are amazing shots! Even under the best conditions these would be wonderful, given the hooting conditions, there simply incredible!
Charlotte
And yet you still manage to get beautiful shots.
Lovely birds and the silvery light is so attractive in it’s own way. I love the 4 swans flying and the group of birds out on the pond. Those pics really capture the beauty of the day
Thanks very much, Joanne.
I actually find the first photo quite moving, despite your reservations. There’s a great deal of delicacy in it, and the gentle range of hues give the photo a certain wistfulness…
Granted, I didn’t have your long drive there and back. But I do hope, at times, that your heart can take flight, right along with them…
“I do hope, at times, that your heart can take flight, right along with them…”
It does, almost every time, Alison. They’re so fun to watch taking off, they’re so noisy when they do it and they’re so graceful in flight that not being moved by the experience isn’t an option.
“Light” is just about everything…… 🙁 Sorry you got more or less skunked tho I’m certainly NOT complaining about the results! 😉 The photo bomber is almost comical but then it’s not me dealing with it! 🙂 They are beautiful birds Ron. Sorry things didn’t cooperate for you and Mia – long way to go to have THAT sequence of events…..
Judy, at first that photobombing swan frustrated me but now he just makes me smile!
Despite your frustrations, there’s real value in an occasional post like this for those of us who are less experienced and far less accomplished. It not only provides a salutary reminder that even the experts get frustrated, it’s also shows what can be done when conditions are less than ideal. I think there can be a temptation for beginners to wait for “perfect” conditions before heading out, but learning to deal with low light, too much wind, unpredictable subjects, and such is an important part of the learning process. Besides — almost any photo of swans is appealing to those of us who never get to see a swan!
“there’s real value in an occasional post like this for those of us who are less experienced and far less accomplished”
I was hoping that was the case so thanks for that feedback, Shoreacres.
The photobomber really whammied that shot. It was perfect except for “Hey! What’re ya doin’?” swan.
Yup. I think that bird knew what he was doing…
“Bird photography ain’t easy” says it all. Overhaul I think you did a great job considering the circumstances as well as even being out there after your recent surgery. Even though not all those Tundra Swans cooperated I envy you the numbers you have there. For most of the winter we have had three of them and they have provided me with many great photos, but not one taking off or flying in. They were often within a hundred feet of me – guess I could of tried to scare them into flight, but they were so beautiful and content I just could not do it. Here’s hoping that spring brings you more and better opportunities and continued good health.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
Everett, we’re lucky to have so many of them but they’re usually difficult to approach – they’re very skittish. And I never try to “scare them into flight” – just the opposite, actually. Thank you.
Your second and fourth photo would have been great keepers! It isn’t easy I agree. Some of the best photos have happened on poor light days…’would have been a great photo but’. I have so many that would have been perfect but those ‘zombie eyes’ just kill the photo. When you drive the distance banking on the forecast and it isn’t correct…frustration! There is a wildlife area in the UP I’ve tried…up at 3 a.m., drive 3 hours, and then you find it is going to be gray and cloudy all morning, the 3 hour drive home is not a happy time!
I sooooo agree with you, Kathy! That long drive home after being skunked for whatever reason is truly depressing. I’ve done it many times.