A mostly meaningless milestone but a milestone nevertheless.
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
You know me, it seems I’m always trying to get takeoff shots. But they’re damn tough to get, especially with songbirds because they’re small and incredibly quick. When using a long lens with the bird fairly large in the frame human reflexes just aren’t fast enough to push the shutter button before they’re gone. So you have to try to anticipate takeoff, fire a burst and hope for the best.
On average I probably try at least 20 times for every time I’m successful. When you throw in all the other things that can and do go wrong (bird takes off in the wrong direction, bird is soft, wings in front of the face, ad infinitum) the odds become astronomically longer. But yesterday morning near a stream in the mountains lightning struck twice, with the same bird and within just a few seconds..
When this female American Goldfinch landed reasonably close to me I wasn’t fond of the out of focus white twig coming out of her head behind her so a takeoff shot became my priority. .
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
Getting it was pure dumb luck. She gave no indication of imminent takeoff but I fired off several bursts and timed this shot just about right. She’s slightly soft but I still count it as a win.
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
She landed only a couple of feet from her previous perch so I decided to try again. This time she actually gave me a very subtle indication of imminent takeoff – soon after this shot was taken she crouched slightly so she could more effectively push off with her legs and feet. Songbirds typically don’t crouch before takeoff (they’re so lightweight they don’t have to) but when they do I try to take advantage of it.
When I saw her crouch I fired off another burst and…
1/2500, 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
got lucky again.
In more than 13 years of photographing birds I believe this was the first time I ever got acceptable back-to-back takeoff shots from the same songbird. Neither photo will win any awards but it’s my nature to keep mental track of such things – can’t help myself.
As I said it’s mostly a meaningless milestone but it’s one I’ll remember. If nothing else it gave me great practice and raised my confidence level.
As hockey Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky once said: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
Ron
Every dog has his day!
She’s such a pretty little bird. No milestones are meaningless. I’m so glad she was able to scratch your takeoff shot itch. 🙂 (And that he-who-must-not-be-named was asleep at the wheel! 😈)
Marty, the problem is – he who sleeps at the wheel always wakes up. And goes into overdrive.
My feeders are swamped with Goldfinches, but of course your photos reveal their beauty and grace much more than the naked eye can.
Lyle, I’ve only seen one American Goldfinch, a male, in my yard this spring. I was jealous recently when Dan Gleason said it was almost routine for him to have 90 or more of them in his yard at the same time.
Wonderful.
You must have been floating (if not flying) for the rest of the day.
Nor really, EC. I had no idea what I had, or didn’t have, until hours later when I got home.
Your images are so consistently captivating that I never see that “distracting ____”…until I go back to look after you’ve pointed it out. And then I see it every time I review the pict. But I guess every demanding photographer does that when microscopically searching their own work for even the tiniest defects. So if you promise to keep posting all the exceptional images (the two goldfinch take-offs are certainly right up there with the best) I suppose I can forgive that one little vexing habit? Another great series.
Jim, when I’m processing images it almost forces me to look at every detail in them so I’m sure I notice flaws more readily than my readers do. And I can’t help but point them out. Thanks for the kind words.
Congratulations! Sensational shooting! Thanks for sharing!
Charlotte Norton
Thank you, Charlotte.
Ron,
Your stats give me hope: one out of twenty! And milestones are all personal and only matter to us! You are so hard on yourself but I think the last shot is terrific (as are the others) in capture and composition. Love your stuff, love your stories.
Stephen
“Your stats give me hope”
That’s excellent, Stephen. It’s a big part of the reason I decided to make this post.
Very nice!
Thanks, April.
Beautiful photo. You appear to have a wonderful life, filled with beauty and determination. I must add a lot of talent too.
Take Care,
Kaye
“You appear to have a wonderful life”
It has its moments, Kaye – like this morning when I found quite a few interesting birds, at least more than usual.
But like everyone else, my life has downs to go along with the ups.
Arwen nailed it for me! Love that shot, Ron!!!
Thanks, Jamila.
All the remarkable photographic skills you have developed over the years are meaningless if you are not out there persistently trying the sometimes difficult shots you do. Gretzky’s wise saying is so true. I often apply his words to getting out there. Often it is too cold, too hot, too early, etc, but if you are not out there you have zero chance of getting any opportunities. Your persistence provides our morning entertainment. Thank you.
Much appreciated, Everett. Thank you.
It IS a milestone – a wonderful one for you. 🙂 Hard-headed stubborness DOES pay off when “properly” directed! 😉 Mine sometimes isn’t “properly directed”….😉 Beautiful shots of a beautiful little bird…… 🙂 If you didn’t know the 1st shot says “look at me with this jump!”…..
“Mine sometimes isn’t “properly directed””
Same for me, Judy. Big time!
Without trying we never achieve. I just love your last photo. With her feet planted and those up stretched wings, to my eyes she is looking at you and saying…’Ready Ron?’ Great capture! 😍
Kathy, she may have given me a very subtle and quick indication of imminent take off but believe me, it was far from a leisurely “Ready Ron?” 🙂
The first take-off looks like a ballerina in Swan Lake. Great images.
Thanks, Arwen.
You are the paragon of persistence, Ron! May you inspire all your readers, (especially me) to pursue their best dreams with the same cussed determination that you have given to your wonderful photography.
Loved your comment, Alison. Call it persistence, determination or hard-headed stubbornness, I’m guilty as charged.