A dynamic flight posture that promotes getting good morning light and detail on a black bird in flight.
I have difficulty getting much detail on cormorants in flight because their nearly black feathers reflect very little light. But that changes when their body surfaces are perpendicular to the sun, or nearly so.
1/5000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Yesterday morning while shooting from my tripod I managed to keep this cormorant entirely in frame as it was banking sharply to its left so nearly all of its visible surfaces were well lit and reflecting at least some light. Having the early morning sun almost directly behind me helped a lot. There are trees in the background because it was flying low over a pond that that has trees behind it.
However, when birds are banking they’re turning sharply so they’re very hard to keep centered in the frame (or to keep in the frame at all) so I didn’t have much wiggle room with this bird. Its head was too close to the right frame edge for a composition that worked for me so I added some canvas on the right side. Even with the added canvas the cormorant is pretty tight in the frame but with this shot I can live with it.
Even when banking at steep angles birds keep their heads level so we can see the twist in his long neck that resulted when the bird kept its head level while its body was turned almost 90°. I like seeing stuff like that in my photos.
My primary regret with the photo is that the cormorant had already turned slightly away from me so we can’t see its beautiful and distinctive eye quite as well as I’d like.
1/5000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
This may or may not be the same cormorant as in the previous image. A few minutes earlier this one swam by very close to me and I actually believe that it was surprised that it was so close to me when it surfaced, so it’s skedaddling.
But the bird was close enough to provide a pretty good look at its eye, the spectacular cormorant eye that I wish we could see a little better in the previous image.
Ron
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a cormorant look as good as the banking shot. It’s awesome!
Thanks very much, Pam.
Blue eyes? I never knew. What lovely birds. I like them.
Arwen, lots of folks are unaware of the color of their eyes.
Wow! Wow! Wow! You’re making that R5 learning curve look as flat as a prairie in Kansas! (I know it’s a bit steeper, but you’re getting some pretty phenomenal shots out of the gate.)
Thank you for giving the intriguing (and sometimes smelly) Cormorant its due. They are such fascinating birds.
Thanks, Marty. That learning curve still looks like a mountain to me but I have knocked a few feet off it’s top.
Insanely good shots. I am so envious. I would gladly and proudly claim either of those shots. The experience must have been so exhilarating. Great, great light. And, of course, a tripod on a gimbal head certainly helps when you need to wait for those perfect shots. I’ll never be in a postion to try out these new kinds of equipment but I’m glad I can see the fabulous results you are getting with them. BTW, just realised that the strange message: “Request header too large”, is only something that happens on my phone, so it seems I can only see your blog when I am near my desktop computer. But at least I am not totally locked out from all these great shots.
Thanks, Granny Pat. This is the first time I’ve heard of that “Request header too large” hiccup.
The head shot of the cormorant is amazing! So much detail. The bird’s eyes are so unusual. And you definitely caught the beauty and grace of the cormorant banking in flight. Both shots are wonderful. Are you enjoying your new camera? It seems to be doing a fine job for you.
“Are you enjoying your new camera?”
Sometimes I am, Melanie. Other times I want to run over it with my pickup. Thankfully those times are becoming less frequent.
Great shots! Love the closeup of the head. Very crisp.
Thanks, Michael.
Beautiful image Ron! You even caught the iridescence.
Thank you, April.
Outstanding photograph, Ron!
It’s amazing how much detail we miss when seeing “a black bird”. As with most things, the right light can be – well – illuminating.
Oh, those eyes.
“the right light can be – well – illuminating”
Well said, Wally. Made me smile.
You are so right about the beautiful and distinctive eye – entirely in keeping with the whole bird.
Exactly, EC. Cormorants are distinctive in their entirety;
Whatever you’re doing with those camera buttons, it’s working! Both photos are beautiful: the first because I’ve never seen that angle before, and second because of that spectacular eye. Bravo!
“it’s working”.
Sometimes, Buff. Only sometimes. All too often I still can’t find the right buttons fast enough. Muscle memory is a funny thing.
I think you have documented a new Cormorant: Nannopterum auritum bronzei.
Nice bokeh, too.
I like the ‘new’ subspecies name, Lyle. It’s funny how they can turn from deep black to that bronze color in just the right light.
You are too picky, I thought the eye in the first was wonderful!
Just wishing, Jo.
Wow, wow! Gorgeous! And thank you for the closeup of the head – the tiny water droplets, the sleek feathers, the little white dots ringing the eye, the colors! Great art to start the day!
Thank you, Carolyn.
Stunning! 🙂 looks like jewels around the beautiful blue eye. In the 1st photo the bill almost looks bejeweled also…. 🙂 Water drops also “sparkle”. Light REALLY cooperated as far as the body and the twist in the neck go – good progress on learning the new camera it seems…….
Thanks, Judy. Yup, I’m making progress but I’m sure not there yet.
Excellent shot Ron. It sure is all about light. When the light is just right the photos are outstanding. Was glad you got what you did of that beautiful green eye. I took photos of three of them together recently turning into the light with their heads close together and those bright green eyes showed perfectly. Keep up the good work with that new camera. I find myself mostly unwilling to change anything at this late stage in my life so I really admire you for taking on the challenge of a new highly technical camera.
“I really admire you for taking on the challenge of a new highly technical camera”
Everett, only time will tell if it was a wise decision.
Wonderful captures–especially the cormorant’s head–the eye is as beautiful
as any jewel !
Thank you, Kris.
Getting the right light on these birds really does bring out the colours. Nice images!
Thanks, Bruce. Light matters.
Magical shots!
Thanks, Kellie.
It is a spectacular eye! Would have never known, thank you Ron.
Terri, I think it’s one of the ‘best’ eyes in the bird world.
Awesome images Ron. And I am very happy to see that the great quality of your photos is maintained despite having changed your camera.
How are you feeling with it?
Jorge, yesterday I finally managed to get all the AF settings where I THINK I want them. Now I just have to try them in the field to see if I’ve made the best choices.
There are several things about mirrorless cameras I’m having a hard time adjusting to but I believe the advantages of mirrorless will more than make up for them.
We’ll see…