And this year’s Antelope Island Spider Fest Photo Contest.
Yesterday I mentioned that my Canon R5 has had several recent and unfortunate episodes of ‘independence’, when it changed my aperture to random settings without my knowledge or direction. Before I noticed the change I got one photo of an American Avocet chick at Bear River MBR that I like, even though the glitch had messed with my aperture, resulting in a much-reduced shutter speed and a very soft (moving) left leg of the avocet.
I told readers that I might post that image anyway. This is it.
1/400, f/20, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
The chick was foraging for food in shallow water with its very protective parents nearby. Because it was foraging, its head was down nearly all of the time and I was desperate to time a shot when its head was up and I had good light on its face and a catch light in its eye. This photo was my only success.
But of course, its raised left leg was moving fast enough to make it very soft at that reduced shutter speed. I’m not happy about it but I can live with it because I like the photo otherwise. It isn’t unusual for me to cut some slack for photos of baby or very young birds.
When I took this photo I was using a new homemade photography “gadget” and without it I’d have had no chance, none at all, to get the shot. So I’m very pleased with the prospects of the gadget serving me well in the future. It’s my intention to publish a post about the gadget, its construction and effectiveness in the near future.
If you’re a bird photographer who shoots from your vehicle even occasionally, you might want to watch for it.
Ron
PS – My good friend Justina Parsons-Bernstein, Utah State Parks Heritage Resources Manager, has asked me to help publicize and promote the 2023 Antelope Island Spider Fest Photo Contest. Here’s all the pertinent info.
If you’re thinking about entering the contest, here’s a tip. In my experience, the best part of the island to find and photograph spiders is the north end, especially near the marina and between the marina and Ladyfinger Point. Look for their webs amongst the sagebrush and other plants or structures. They’re usually easy to find, especially in morning or evening light. For some folks they can be too easy to find, if you know what I mean.
As an amateur bird photographer without very expensive equipment that shoots almost exclusively from the passenger seat in our car (hubby is an excellent chauffeur, wise in my birding photography positioning requests and also a good “spotter”), I can’t wait to read about your new tip!! I enjoy your posts so much. My favorite thing to read in my e-mail everyday (and I almost always save it for last).
That is a super cute photo Ron. I have never had the good luck to see an Avocet chick.
A couple years ago I chatted with Justina after you mentioned the spider contest. I sent her one that she really liked, but it had been taken the year before so it did not qualify. It was a beautiful Green Lynx Spider.
The chick is adorable, thanks for letting us see it. I don’t usually participate in photo contests for the same reason you don’t patent gadgets or sell images.
April, I never participate in them. Far too much cheating occurs in the more prestigious contests. I’m afraid bird photographers are like every other group – there’s a relatively small core of jerks and liars that will do virtually anything to win, no matter the ethics or even the legalities involved. If they think they won’t get caught they’ll do it in a heartbeat.
I love the fuzzy little charmer and am so glad that you cut yourself some slack. Spider fest? Each and every year I wish that we had something similar. I find them fascinating and their architecture incredible.
“Spider fest?”
Yup. A festival for everyone, kids and adults, to celebrate everything spider. I love the idea of it.
Look at the size of that foot!!!! 🙂 Working on “growing into it” obviously! 😉
Glad you were able to help out on the spider photo contest – a good event from the sounds of it….. 🙂
Bit of a giggle on your response to Donald Kaleta – like a lot of what you do with photography isn’t “work” – 😉 Of course, that’s different! 🙂
Smoke some better this morning. The pitts when we can’t open the windows to cool the house off on account of…….only one small AC unit in one bedroom…… 🙁
Another giggle last evening. Powere line from main to our pole has a lot of slack in it. There were a pair of Asian Collared Doves on it trying to “get it on”……. Hilarious……
“Of course, that’s different!”
Of course it is, Judy. If it’s fun it isn’t work! 🙂
You needed a camera for those amorous doves! Next time.
The avocet is adorable — such a fuzz-butt! 😍 Also, the leg may be soft, but the ripples in the water are clear as a bell and I really like the effect of that advancing leg on them.
Looking forward to your new gadget. Really looking forward to seeing all the spiders! The gorgeous orb weavers that usually hang out in my yard have been absent so far. I think it may be a bit early for them here.
“the ripples in the water are clear as a bell”
Marty, that’s due to two things – 1) the ripples were moving slow enough that 1/400 SS was fast enough to get them sharp and 2) my aperture set at f/20 gave me more depth of field than usual.
The spiders on the island are mostly orb weavers too.
So happy you decided to post this photo! Little guy is so fluffy and cute! Love his reflection in the water ripples!
Can’t wait t meet the new gadget! Cousin to a pool noodle?!
“Cousin to a pool noodle?”
Maybe a distant cousin, Kathleen. Several times removed.
I’m charmed to know that you’re a such a softie for baby birds that you’ll
put up with minor imperfections in your photos of them– you really ARE
a human, after all ! I hope that the results of the spider photo contest might
be published online…..I’d like to see them. There are several species of spiders that I find quite beautiful……..
Kris, I believe Justina usually publishes the winning photos online. If she does this year I’ll try to remember to include a link in one of my posts.
I’m more “human” than I like to admit sometimes… 🙂
Hello Ron, In reference to your stated “publish a post about the gadget, its construction and effectiveness in the near future”. Have you considered a preliminary patentability search thru a Registered Patent Attorney, before you publish? You do proclaim protections on your great photos, that others might profit from. Your “gadget”, if uniquely innovative, might be an advantage for proprietary “Patent” protections from others that might profit from it. Don
Thanks for the suggestion, Donald. No, I haven’t considered it and to be perfectly honest I’m not inclined to do so, for the same reason I don’t promote print sales – it sounds like work, lots of work. After 5 years of working my butt off in college and 33 years of doing the same in the classroom, I’m tired of working. I guess you could say I’m lazy, or I lack ambition. Either or both may be true.
Great photo! Were you able to figure out the shutter glitch?
Brett, as far as I know there’s nothing to “figure out”. It’s a known glitch with the R5 and apparently Canon can’t or won’t fix it with a firmware update.
At least it doesn’t happen very often.
When I read your “lede” I was anticipating a ton of spider photos that would certainly make my skin crawl. I am thankful for only one spider that was easy to ignore!! Cute little bird!!
Sue, I guess I didn’t know how you feel about spiders. If I’d known that years ago, I’d probably have had some fun with it… 🙂
You probably would have. Certainly glad you didn’t have any idea about my attitude toward insects and other creepy crawlies!
I like the photo.
It appears as though the legs of the chick are thick in proportion to the size of the body. Is this one of those cases, like in some puppies, where the young animal has to grow into its legs/feet?
” Is this one of those cases where the young animal has to grow into its legs/feet?”
It sure is, Michael. Like I had to do as a teenager.
What a sweet pose despite the exposure glitch I would never had noticed and does not detract from the beauty of this little creature. Glad it did not end up in your digital dustbin.
Thanks, Kenneth. I wish I didn’t notice but there was no chance of that…