Almost a miracle shot, given the conditions.
Yesterday I received an image request (actually a request to use my image as a reference for a painting) from a classically trained English portrait painter who has recently concentrated on painting “birds in motion”. The photo she was interested in was one of fighting Ring-necked Pheasants that I’d completely forgotten about. You know, out of sight out of mind. When I found it again last night I remembered it clearly and how much I liked it. And realized that I’d posted it nine years ago so very few current blog followers have seen it.
So, this photo is a rerun, one that I hope my readers enjoy seeing half as much as I enjoyed rediscovering it.
1/640, f/9, ISO 500, Canon 40D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 Extender, not baited, set up or called in
The photo was taken at Farmington Bay WMA immediately after sunrise so I didn’t have much light. I saw them fighting from a distance but I had to turn my pickup around to photograph them out my window and as I did so I tried to figure out what camera settings to use in the low light. I had little hope of getting fighting shots sharp in the dim light and resulting slow shutter speed, especially since I’d probably need extra depth of field to get two birds sharp, but I was sure going to try.
I got luckier than I had a right to hope for.
When fighting, Ring-necked Pheasants flutter up against each other breast to breast, bite each other’s wattles and sometimes make high leaps toward each other using their claws, bills and spurs as weapons. It can be quite dramatic.
Here are some of the things I like about the photo:
- Both birds are in unusually fine condition without any ratty-looking plumage. When pheasants have been fighting they can look pretty beat up, because they usually are.
- The light angle was ideal. And they were both in roughly the same plane so I didn’t need much depth of field to get them both sharp.
- I captured excellent, contrasting fighting postures from both birds and even though they were fighting they were well separated from each other.
- Somehow, I don’t know how, 1/640th of a second was a fast enough shutter speed to get them both sharp, even the bird flying through the air.
- While the parking lot at the bottom of the frame may not be ideal for a nature photo, it prevented obstructing grasses from being in front of the pheasants. Without the parking lot there’d be lots of vegetation blocking the birds so I’m glad it was there.
- The rock is in the perfect position to give the illusion that the pheasant on the left is jumping over it to get at his adversary. All three primary elements of the photo are very well positioned relative to each other.
I sent the artist my terms for her to use my photo as a reference but I haven’t yet heard back from her. Maybe I will and maybe I won’t but whether she accepts my terms or not I thank her for reminding me of a photo I like very much.
Ron
Hi, Ron – what a terrific photo! Pheasants were often seen in central Michigan when I was young, but I never saw them fighting. I loved following their tracks in the snow…but the paving over of open space has certainly impacted their numbers. I live in New England now, and am always hopeful I will come across one…..still one of my favorite birds! THANKS for sharing your wonderful photo.
Wowzers! That’s quite the action shot, Ron!
And yay for an artist who respects the work of a photographer.
Your exposure calculations really paid off, miracle or not.
The only time I saw one was when we lived in Logan. It just kinda hung around the neighborhood. They plant them nearby here for hunters but they don’t seem to last long due to it not being particularly good habitat and, of course, getting shot.
“and, of course, getting shot”
Yeah, that could have something to do with it.
I remember seeing pheasants in and around Logan when I attended USU back in the 60’s. The Logan area has a lot of good habitat for them, or at least it used to.
Two things impress me about this fantastic photo. The underside of a bird’s wing is a masterpiece of avian engineering. And, in certain circumstances a pheasant can look just like a scorpion.
I meant to write, Two OF THE MANY things impress me about …. Sorry for my carelessness
I see what you mean about the scorpion resemblance, Frances. The bird on the right with that almost coiled tail over its back…
I grew up with pheasants back in Pennsylvania, but don’t remember if I ever saw them fighting. Of course as a kid I probably was not paying them very much attention. Very interesting photo. Hope the artist agrees to your terms and sends you a photo of her final work.
Thanks, Everett. In situations like this the artist usually sends me a photo, or a link to a photo, of the finished painting.
How is your pheasant population doing? They seem very much in decline here and I don’t believe any recent introductions have been made. It was just 40 miles north of me where this species was first introduced by Judge Denny in 1881. It has been re-introduced many times since and stable populations formed in many places around the country. Changes in farming practices, habitat loss and other factors are contributing to its decline, at least locally.
Dan, the decline of our pheasant population began back in the 70’s and it quickly accelerated, mostly due to rampant development that ate up so much of our agricultural land and other appropriate habitats. A huge portion of our pheasants now have been pen-raised and released by DWR. Every year they release thousands of them.
Thank you. And her.
It is still well before sparrow fart here, and the colours just pop this morning.
I suspect that painting birds in motion is also difficult and am impressed that she came to you for a reference point and resource.
“I suspect that painting birds in motion is also difficult”
Nigh on to impossible if it were me with the paintbrush in my hand.
COMPLETELY impossible if it was me. Yet another thing I admire/appreciate and cannot do.
“this woman offered to pay a licensing fee up front”
Bravo!!!
Bravo indeed.
Beautiful! Amazing capture of the two going at it…. 🙂 Both birds “pop” against the background. We occasionally get to watch a bit of the action in the lane tho it’s always been the bumping chest thing with a bit of claws thrown in now and then.
Thanks, Judy. I was extremely lucky to get the bird on the left flying through the air like it is.
I don’t wonder that an artist has borne this image in mind all of these years.
The birds are gorgeous in coloration and the composition is perfectly
visually balanced while still dynamic– even the white rock plays a role in
anchoring the “whirl” of the action ! Too, I’m glad that the artist is a
person who holds to the ethic of respecting your ownership of your work.
“I’m glad that the artist is a person who holds to the ethic of respecting your ownership of your work.”
Kris, whether she accepts my terms or not I found her request refreshing. In these situations, more often than not, the person making the request only offers to give me “credit” and expects me to giddily accept their offer for the “exposure”. Usually I just ignore those types of requests and then later do a reverse image search to make sure they haven’t used my image anyway.
But this woman offered to pay a licensing fee up front. Even though we may not agree on the amount I appreciate her professionalism.
The contrasting/complimentary poses make it for me!
Thanks, Bruce.
What a dramatic capture! Beautifully done Ron. I can see why someone would want to paint this scene.
Thank you, Sheila.
I love, love, love photos of Ring Necked Pheasants fighting and while I have several myself thanks to the resident feral population which frequents my bird feeder back yard I have never managed a shot as nice as yours although the one or two fight shots I have against winter snows do make for a relatively clutter free background. I can definitely see why someone wanted to use your shot for a reference. It’s an amazing experience to watch these beautiful birds acrobatic stunts and I hope you get to see this display again.
Granny Pat, as often as I see pheasants I’ve had an extremely difficult time getting fighting photos of them I like. That’s part of the reason I was so delighted to rediscover this shot. I’m surprised I’d forgotten about it.
Wow! Wow! Wow! What a spectacularly successful photo under very challenging conditions. Pheasants are sooo showy. I’ve seen them perhaps a dozen times in my life, and never doing anything very interesting. This photo is magical.
I’m glad you appreciate like I do, Nancy. Thank you.