A shot I often try to get just for the challenge of it. And believe me, it’s a challenge.
Horned Larks are common birds but they’re uncommonly fast at takeoff. And they have an affinity for unattractive settings so on those occasions when I can get close to one my primary goal is often just to get a takeoff shot. My failure rate with them is unusually high because they usually lift off with blinding speed and with no warning so all I get is “air shots”.
1/6400, 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
Four days ago on Antelope Island this bird gave me another chance. He was perched on a rusty old piece of pipe on a hill so the pipe sloped downward. I wasn’t particularly pleased with the unnatural perch so I prepared for getting a takeoff shot.
I mentally went through my typical checklist for takeoff shots:
- Do I have enough shutter speed to get the bird, especially its fast-moving wings, sharp? Check.
- Am I leaving enough space in the frame for the bird to fly into in the direction I think he might take off? Check.
- Will I have enough space above the bird for its wings if I’m lucky enough to catch them in a much-desired vertical position? Check (in the uncropped version of the photo I had more space up there than this).
So I just sat there and tensely waited for launch with my finger on the half-depressed shutter button. These guys are so incredibly fast that I knew my chances were slim but I like the practice and in these situations I always have hockey player Wayne Gretzky’s quote in mind: “You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take”.
1/6400, 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
Unlike many birds Horned Larks give no warning they’re about to take off. One instant they’re calmly perched and in the next instant they’re already gone. But this perch was sloped so he apparently decided to use it as a runway by taking a step or two downhill during the takeoff process which would slightly increase his acceleration.
When I saw that right foot lift I fired away and hoped for the best.
1/5000, 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
In this case my planning strategy mostly worked out but in bird photography “mostly” just doesn’t cut it.
- The entire bird is plenty sharp, including his wings, even when I look at the image at 100% in Photoshop.
- I have enough room in the direction the bird is moving for an acceptable composition.
- I caught his left wing in one of my favorite positions – perfectly vertical.
But (and it’s a big but) I clipped a few pixels on two of his primary wing feathers. Even after a dozen years of practice and experience photographing birds I’m still often unpleasantly surprised by the length of a bird’s wings when they’re extended. In the uncropped photo I had plenty of room at the bottom of the frame to have raised my lens slightly to allow more room for his wingtips but I thought I had enough room up there so I just didn’t do it.
I guess I’m a slow learner so it might take me another dozen years or so to instinctively leave enough room for the wings of birds at takeoff. But I decided to share my mistake in the hope that some of my readers learn more quickly than I do…
Ron
PS – Some photographers would “repair” those feathers in Photoshop but that’s just not my style.
Mental checklist from the Horned Lark’s point of view:
First shot: What’s with all the bird droppings here?
Second shot: Oh, oh, I barely missed that mess.
Third shot: Lift off, I need to upgrade my accommodations.
Seriously though, wonderful post and love the hind foot in the last photo: a flourish just for the photographer.
That left foot in the last photo is where my eye goes to immediately after his wing, Lyle. I think it’s pretty special.
Ron, I love the almost perfect shot. I follow you because you are so honorable to your work. Thank you
I appreciate that very much, Alice.
Is that a splat of jet feul on the landing strip?
That’s one theory…
Soooo close. Which I suspect I would find more irritating than an outright fail.
That said, if I captured this shot I would be over the moon and blessing Lady Luck for smiling at me. You, who don’t rely on the lady, move into hypercritical mode. Mind you, it is still an amazing shot.
Luck is actually a significant part of my successes quite often, EC. As finicky, fast and uncooperative as most birds are I’d be up that proverbial creek without an occasional stroke of luck. Thank you.
Experience, wise anticipation, great gear, knowing how to use it, “wise guy eye”–for seeing the picture–incredible paience, knowing your subject, keen observation, lots and lots of experience,
…oh, yes,and luck….literally a snap, isn’t it!!!😏
Fantastic shots Ron, as usual you’re much too hard on yourself!
Charlotte
Thank you, Charlotte. A critical eye brings improvement, potentially anyway…
Ron, yet another great photography lesson. thanks again.
jake
I’m glad you liked it, Jake. Thanks.
Your description of what you did and learned — invaluable. It will also lessen the slope of my learning curve too. Thanks
Good to know, Kent. I was hoping it might be helpful to some of my readers who photograph birds.
Even though the perch is human-made, I still like it — the patina, whitewash, and landmines make it visually interesting to me. (Speaking of landmines, I’ve seen commercials for a new game in which the players are blindfolded and walk a path trying not to step in fake doggie “points of interest.” What is this world coming to? I would have guessed it was an old SNL-type commercial, but nope, it’s a real game. But I digress…)
These are wonderful shots — even if minus a few pixels here and there — of a bird I don’t seem to find very often. This series makes me think of beam work in gymnastics. 🙂
The tree is now off the car, thanks to having the police come out to take a report and calling public works on my behalf to move me up the queue. It could definitely have been worse, but I have no idea if there’s frame damage nor if it can be repaired for less than the car is worth. I’ll keep you posted. I have to remind myself that at least the tree missed the house! And it wasn’t raining.
I agree, the perch could have been worse. The fact that it’s rusty makes a big positive difference for me.
I can’t imagine the hassle you’re going through with your car, Marty. Sure makes me glad my tree’s gone but sadly that doesn’t help you any.
As always, beautiful shots and informative post. Whatever the endeavor, we seem to move up that learning curve faster reflecting on the “failures” (wish my best matched your “almosts”) rather than admiring successes. Great shots.
That’s right, Steve – failure is a great motivator when we’re passionate about what we do.
Within the span of our lifetimes, thanks to photographers as dedicated as you and to lightning-fast equipment, it’s now possible to for us to see such a things as a fully-extended ( and
gorgeous ) wing that a human generation ago wouldn’t have been visually available except as a “skin”, preserved in some old museum drawer or an otherwise dead bird……besides
the affordability of digital, I think it has immeasurably enriched our aesthetic lives and naturalist experiences–I’m thrilled to see the LIVING critters—thanks for bringing them to me !
You make some excellent points, Kris. One of the main reasons I photograph birds is to see the nuances of behavior that digital allows us to see more easily.
As one who uses Photoshop at work, I really appreciate that you stay true to your photography and don’t “manufacture” wing tips!
That means a lot, Brett. I want to see what was really there, not photo art.
Interesting and fun post Ron. How many times have I missed getting the full frame takeoff? Too numerous to even try counting. Love your check off list and the Gretzky quote. You’ve got to take the shot. That’s the beauty of digital. No more heading to your local photo store, or into the darkroom. Shoot shoot and shoot again till you get what you need. Thanks for sharing Ron.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
Good point about digital, Everett. Without it I sure as hell wouldn’t be photographing birds on a retired teacher’s budget.
I agree, Everett! The other advantages of digital is that I don’t have to ‘stop and reload’ or take a perfect photo only to learn that there was only 1/2 frame left in the camera.
Many thanks for sharing your frustrations. I haven’t even come close to shots like this, so I sit and look at your images in admiration!
As much as I love birds, butterflies and flowers will be more my speed.
Can’t help but be concerned about the massive storm heading East.
Just two minutes ago I was watching a radar clip of that storm, Dick. It spreads all the way from CO to the east coast. Scary stuff so be sure to hunker down. Thank you.
Almost! 😉 Still a lovely shot – almost like it’s to do a figure skating spiral down the pipe raising it’s wings as part of the show! 🙂 It is always amazing how long those wings are when stretched for take off. The idea that their wings are WAY longer than their body just doesn’t compute.;)
I like your figure skating analogy, Judy. And you’re right, it sure doesn’t compute!