A side view showcasing the steep body angle of the flare just prior to landing.
Yesterday morning I was determined to shoot from my tripod to see if using a cold lens in cold weather solved my ongoing problem of getting soft photos while shooting from my warmer pickup. The day before nearly all of my photos had been soft so I wanted to make sure that environmental issues were the source of my problem rather than defective gear.
So early in the morning when temps were in the low 20’s I stood on the south shore of a pond and photographed birds. Any birds, including Canada Geese, a variety of ducks, crows, coots and even grackles.
I was heartened by my results.
1/4000, 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
All of my shots that should have been sharp, were sharp. And most of them were eyeball-cuttingly sharp, including this Canada Goose flaring (flare – the gradual pitch-up just prior to touchdown) just before landing on the water. I like this photo very much, for its interesting landing posture, nice light, detail and sharpness of the entire bird. For me the dappled water in the background only adds to its appeal.
Yes, I cropped tighter than usual on the goose. Doing so allowed me to crop out several blurry, out of focus birds on the water far behind the goose. Even so, I had to banish another duck using the clone tool. I don’t like to remove elements from my photos but that small dark blob in the background was just too irritating. In certain cases I’ll reluctantly do it as long as I disclose what I’ve done.
I was so encouraged by yesterday’s results I think I’ll shoot from my tripod again today much closer to home. It’s another cold morning (18° F. as I type this at 5 AM) so why should I shoot from my pickup and then delete all or most of my photos when I get home?
My tolerance for frustration has limits and besides, I’m tired of footing the bill for all that gas. My carbon footprint could use some improvement anyway.
Ron
Crop or not, I’m always astonished that you can get wings and all in the frame and get such sharp photos.
Canada Goose: I really think it should be Chinstrap Goose. It’s got more of one than the Penguin. I know, there I go again.
Interesting point about the name, Lyle. I just might agree with you too.
This is a wonderful view of that goose’s landing form … and the beautiful, dappled blue background makes me think of a Monet painting. So I’m glad you broke with your standard practice and deleted that black blob of a duck because this is so lovely.
Thank you, Chris.
As others have said, the goose looks suspended. Really amazing picture.
Thanks, Arwen.
Eyeball – cuttingly sharp – ouch. Reminds me of Tom Lehrer sliding down the razor blade of life. And the pads of my fingers are now bleeding all over my screen. Apart from the blood spilling that goose is a wonder of athleticism, grace and knock my boots off beauty. Thank you Ron.
“So sharp it would cut your eyeballs” – that’s a fairly common expression among bird photographers, Frances. At least those with high quality lenses…
Way to go Ron. I am always out shooting on foot regardless of weather and never have that problem with shooting from a warmer location. And you are right – now you will be leaving a smaller carbon footprint. Of course we rarely ever have temps as low as yours.
PS – Stick a thermos of your kick-ass coffee in a backpack to go with you.
“Stick a thermos of your kick-ass coffee in a backpack to go with you”
Ha, if I had the coffee to my mouth you can bet your bottom dollar that’s when a spectacular opportunity with a bird would come along and I’d miss it. With me that’s almost a given.
Lovely Canada Goose coming in for a water landing. Sharp, smart and elegant. I love when their legs swing forward and their feet splay in preparation for gliding onto the water’s surface. Did you capture this beauty in that posture? It is wonderful that the quality issues with your lens are environmental and not mechanical! Perhaps an electric car with a moon roof is in your future. I envision you popping up through the roof to photograph with 360 degree freedom, no tilt issues and a warm Ron from the waist down!
“Did you capture this beauty in that posture?”
I think I have one similar to that, Melanie. I may post a series of this goose sometime in the future that would include it.
“Flare” ( in this context ) is a new expression to me, too, and like Judy, to me
the bird almost appears to be suspended from an invisible wire at the apex of neck and shoulders…..glad you got good news from your experimentation
and you can still get such crystalline images, if you’re willing to freeze your
heinie off, that is ! Thanks for today’s learnings, and the magnificent FLARE.
Kris, I believe ‘flare’ in this context was originally applied to aircraft (where it’s still used today) but birds were the original innovators of the maneuver (on second thought maybe pterodactyls were…)
Other than frustrating to have to get out of the pickup it’s good to know the temp difference is the issue and not someting else “expensive”. With no wind 20 IS doable….. 😉 37 here this morning BUT wind, of course….
Beautiful shot of the Canada Goose. The angle makes it almost looks like it’s suspended from a string….. 🙂
“The angle makes it almost looks like it’s suspended from a string”
Interesting observation, Judy. I never thought of that but you’re right. I’ve actually seen stuffed birds suspended in this posture.
Think the GF Airport and, perhaps, the Belgrade have them tho I think they are metal sculptures by Jim Dolan at least in Belgrade……he also did the herd of Bleu Horses N of Belgrade…….
N of Three Forks actually…….. https://www.bleuhorses.com/
Those Bleu Horses remind me of similar metal sculptures of bison on Antelope Island.
Thanks for the link, Judy! What incredible sculptures — the herd in the midst of a MT winter is so realistic it makes me shiver… 🥶
I am glad to hear you are trying the tripod route. Although that can get very cold. Unless you have a tether arrangement which allows you to shoot remotely from inside your truck while the tripod/camera remains outside? But that might only work if your subjects allow you to fix focus on a particular spot. Since there is nothing like your fabulous autoroute here and I don’t have tether components I am considering whether one of those UTW pods might work to cut the wind but allow me to remain outside longer with my tripod. Best of luck with the new arrangements. As for the shot, very nice. As usual, learning, (in this case that the pull up is called a flare) is the best part of reading your blog.
Thanks, Granny Pat. Nope, no tether for me (although I do have one for an older camera). I’ve yet to find a bird, any bird, that cooperative. Yes, it’ll be cold but as long as there isn’t a breeze it’s tolerable. In some ways it’s even more tolerable than shooting from my pickup with the windows down.