The toms gave it their all but the hen seemed unimpressed.
1/1250, f/5.6, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM @ 400mm, not baited, set up or called in
Five days ago not long after sunrise I found a very large flock of Wild Turkeys on a ranch in northern Utah. There were quite a few adult toms in the flock and the way they were displaying would make one wonder if was springtime.
As is often the case with Wild Turkeys I had a hard time getting photos of individual birds that didn’t have vegetation or other turkeys, or both, in front of them. But when these two toms directed their display toward the hen in front of them I thought having her in the photo helped to tell the story, even though she partially blocked my view of them.
In the bird photography world there’s sort of an unwritten rule that says if there are several birds in the image it’s the bird in front that should be in the sharpest focus. But in some instances rules are meant to be broken and in my book this was one of them. So I focused on the toms, even knowing that the hen would be soft.
In hindsight I’m glad I made that choice, although I’ll admit to some curiosity about how the image would have turned out if I’d focused on the hen.
Ron
Addendum:
In response to Terri’s question below I’m including another version of the same photo where I’ve brought down the exposure of the head of the turkey on the right. It was a little overexposed in the first version of the photo. The difference is subtle but it’s there.
.
In the words of Leonard Cohen “all the boys are waving, tryin to catch your eye.”
Really awesome shot. Thanks
Thank you, Linda.
Great picture(s), Ron. But today’s reviews from the FP commentariat are the best! 😂
Thanks, Chris. I don’t mind playing second fiddle.
Beautiful, beautiful! And Marty’s comment starts the day with a laugh!
Thanks, Carolyn. Marty is known to do that, on days she comments early enough…
Touche, Ron. 😂😂😂
😁
Your choice of focus makes the picture. What a sight; I wish we had Wild Turkeys here.
Wattle I do
When you are far away
And I am blue
Wattle I do?
Apologies to Irving Berlin.
Perfect, Lyle!
Thanks, Lyle. I don’t think Irving would mind.
Rules are meant to be broken. Sometimes. By those who are aware of the rules and the reasons behind them.
And a big yes to Marty’s comment too.
Thank you for taking this chance, which more than paid off.
“Rules are meant to be broken”
EC, it goes without saying that that saying is one I never taught to my child. Or my students… 🙂
Ron,
I wonder if they are nervous this time of year?!
Great shots and I agree with the story telling aspect of your focus choice.
Stephen
Thank you, Stephen.
When I first looked at the picture, I did not even see her. The display colors were so prominent for me. 😀 I had to go back to see if I’d missed another picture…that’s how much I did not see her. 😀
Hard for me not to see her. But then when I’m reviewing my photos I’m always looking for elements blocking the view of my subjects.
Beige. I think I’ll paint the ceiling beige. 😉
Glad you focused on them. The softness of the hen reinforces her disinterest in the whole display. Although, if I were a lady turkey I would have a tough decision to make. Mr. Red’s wattle is really something, but Mr. Blue’s feathers are so much nicer.
BAHAHAHA That’s one of my favorite lines re: beige. 😀
🙂
That’s a perfect joke quote for the situation, Marty.
Ron, maybe it is a case autumnal recrudescence.
The Autumnal Recrudescence of the Amatory Urge
When the birds are cacaphonic in the trees and on the verge
Of the fields in mid-October when the cold is like a scourge.
It is not delight in winter that makes feathered voices surge,
But autumnal recrudescence of the amatory urge.
When the frost is on the pumpkin and when leaf and branch diverge,
Birds with hormones reawakened sing a paean, not a dirge.
What’s the reason for their warbling? Why on earth this late-year splurge?
The autumnal recrudescence of the amatory urge.
-Written by Susan Stiles, copyright December 1973
Maybe, Jake. Maybe…
Ron, glad you ignored the unwritten rule and focused on the Toms. Very colorful photos. I have never run into them in the wild here, but would certainly like to.
Thank you, Everett.
Boy, if she wasn’t impressed by THOSE beautiful bustles, it HAS to be the
wrong time of the year– Like Terri, I was locked on to the difference in color
between the two sets of wattles– if it weren’t for the splash of deep red under the
chin of the guy on the right, I, too, would have thought albino ? But all the
rest of his coloration is totally gorgeous– I really enjoyed this photo–thanks !
Thank you, Kris. If the turkey was albino its feathers would be white too.
You didn’t need to focus on the hen. The boys were doing plenty of that!
Good point!
Beautiful birds – it IS a subtle difference but does make a difference. Hen was in a “forget you” mode. It is the “wrong” time of year for sure….
Judy, seems like I remember getting a similar response from one of my high school girl friends…
How’s come the white wattle?? no blood? albino wattle?
It isn’t white, Terri. It’s actually light blue but the head of that turkey is a little overexposed so it looks lighter than it really was. See my addendum in response to your question.
Thx for the better photo showing the bluish wattle, so according to my research he’s just “moody” instead of “sick” 🙂