I’ve always enjoyed the effects that falling snow or rain can have on my photos but all too often the snowflakes or raindrops can’t be seen in photographs. Or if they can be seen, they’re barely visible.
Yesterday morning we had our first significant snowstorm of the season so despite the poor light I decided to take my chances and see if I could find any birds to photograph in the falling snow.
After a while I got more snow than I bargained for.
1/2500, f/5.6, ISO 2500, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
This Great Blue Heron was the first bird I found. ‘He’ was fishing in the typical dead silence of falling snow and I was pleasantly surprised that in this setting the snowflakes were highly visible.
However, the pond was lined with tall emergent vegetation that I had to attempt to shoot through, which I found almost impossible without getting out of focus vegetation in the foreground of my photos. The heron was walking slowly, which kept putting vegetation between us, so I had to constantly start and move my pickup in order to get even partially clear shots of him.
The other problem was that he was too close, so I had to shoot vertically in order to get all of him comfortably in frame.
1/1600, f/5.6, ISO 2500, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
This is about the only photo I got from this shooting position that didn’t have vegetation between us.
So, I decided to pull my pickup forward about 30′ to a spot that looked like I might have a clearer shot, where I’d also be further away from him.
1/1250, f/5.6, ISO 2500, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
It worked. Removing my teleconverter also helped with the distance.
Now there was no vegetation between us but I was so far forward I had to twist my body in my pickup seat so I could shoot backward at an angle of about 150° from the direction my pickup was facing. The metal rods in my back were screaming at me “You’re going to pay for this”, but I so rarely get a bird in falling snow in my viewfinder, I said to hell with it and kept photographing the heron for another 12 minutes.
I doubt that the falling snow helped his fishing efforts. Here he seems to be complaining about it. Or trying to eat that snowflake in his mouth.
1/2500, f/5.6, ISO 2500, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I think a more expansive horizontal crop of the same photo provides a better feeling for all that snow. And it was about to get worse.
1/2500, f/5.6, ISO 3200, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
Much worse. The snow became so thick for the rest of the time I was with him I could barely see him with the naked eye. And my camera kept trying to focus on the snowflakes between us so I was having a hard time getting sharp shots.
1/2500, f/5.6, ISO 3200, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
Then he appeared to complain some more about all that snow.
1/2500, f/5.6, ISO 2500, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
Naturally, that was when he caught a small fish. Here he has the fish in his bill but it’s kind of hard to see. After this shot he appeared to stop fishing and didn’t do anything else interesting so I left him and headed for home.
Some good news: After twisting in my pickup seat for so long I figured I’d pay for it for 2-3 days but as of this morning my back and legs feel pretty darn good, considering. First time in years I’ve been able to do that much twisting and get away with it.
Ron
That itty-bitty fish hardly seems worth the effort for him to fish in the snow. He needs a giant goldfish to make his efforts more sustaining!
I love the photo just before the last one. And I’m delighted to learn your back and legs aren’t screaming at you!
Thank you, Arwen.
Ron
Very nice series. The snowflakes add a special touch.
That kind of photography requires total commitment.
Bob
Much appreciated, Bob.
I love snow, and I love Great Blue Herons; seeing them together in your photos is so pleasing. It’s especially good that your body was willing to come along for the ride on this one, without causing a ruckus at the end.
You’re right about the silence of a snowfall; snow has a certain scent-that-isn’t-a-scent as well. Down here on the Gulf coast we get snow very rarely, but when it’s coming, I can smell it on the air. My Texas friends think I’m nuts. I may be, but I can smell snow.
Shoreacres, I think I can smell snow coming but I’m not sure I can smell it directly.
What a superb series — these are classic.
Thanks very much, Kent.
Appreciate that you risked your back for these gorgeous photos and came out fine … but maybe don’t tempt fate by trying again in the next snowfall! Happy for you and beautiful GBH that you both got what you came for this time. (Although his prize seems a tad smallish for his effort.)
“Although his prize seems a tad smallish for his effort.”
Chris, this is probably the same heron that got that big fat goldfish a few days ago. I think he’s getting plenty to eat.
OK then, he needed to give his lengthy esophagus a rest after that goldfish so this itty-bitty fishie was just the ticket! 🙃
Beautiiiful photos of the Great Blue in the snow!! Thank you!!
Thanks, Mary.
Another stinking hot one here today (and yes, there are fires) so I don’t know whether the bird or the falling snow excites me more.
I am thrilled to read that both your eyes and your back cooperated more than the weather.
Thanks, EC. I’m curious, do you ever get snow where you live in Oz?
We very occasionally get a little snow. Even more occasionally it sticks.
Love that first one Ron. Great shot. I always enjoy seeing
them open up that six foot wing-span.
Thanks, Everett. So do I.
GRAWWWK! Cool shots, Ron. And fun to see snow. We have not yet seen it this winter, here on the shores of Puget Sound, but this brought it very close to home. Thanks.
“GRAWWWK” indeed. That’s very close to one of the sounds they make. This guy wasn’t making any sound though. Nor was he yawning. I don’t know what he was doing.
That last shot is really something! So is the first shot, but you know I’m a sucker for anything vertical. Love starting the day with a GBH. 😀 I’m telling myself that he’s trying to eat the snowflakes. 😉
It’s a bit brisk near the beach this morning — 45 degrees F — I finally turned on the heat and am hoping it works. Glad your back seems to have survived all the twisting. 💜
“I’m telling myself that he’s trying to eat the snowflakes.”
I used to do that as a kid, a lot, so I wouldn’t be surprised. Thanks, Marty.
I did too. Even as an adult, if there’s snow falling, I’ll be trying to catch it on my tongue. 😛
Beautiful! The last shot with the fish really caps it off! 🙂 Glad your back cooperated and your eye allowed for some manual focus. 🙂
-2 here this morning. Got about 7″ of snow night before last on top of what was already there – about 4″ settled. Glad for the moisture, shoveling not so much! 😉
Thanks, Judy. According to the Glacier Electric web cam, Cut Bank got hammered by snow too.
https://www.glacierelectric.com/webcam
That was definitely worth the effort!
Glad you think so, Bruce. Thanks.
What a great series! And so glad you’re more comfortable.
Thank you, Burrdoo.
Definitely worth it! Falling snow with wildlife is a rare opportunity! Did you use manual focus because of the autofocus on snow? Well done!
“Did you use manual focus because of the autofocus on snow?”
I did a few times, Kari. Before I had cataract surgery that never worked well for me, but it did yesterday. It’s wonderful to be able to see again.
What a stunning collection of images you’ve captured ! I love the
way the even spacing of the snowflakes expresses the stillness
of the atmosphere– I can almost “hear” the quiet snowfall. Yes–I
guess you could be fairly characterized as “obsessive” to go out in
the active snow and cold–but WHAT a reward you won, and I’m so
glad that your back isn’t complaining today–good on you !
Thanks very much, Kris – on all counts. I’ll plead guilty to “obsessive”…
You never disappoint. Beautiful.
Take Care,
Kaye
Thank you, Kaye.
That looks COLD! You obviously are a devoted photographer. But going out in that weather? Perhaps obsessive, or just a little nutty? 😊 Interesting and artful shots though.
“I think a more expansive horizontal crop of the same photo provides a better feeling for all that snow.” Agree.
“That looks COLD!”
Actually, it wasn’t all that cold. It was only in the mid-30’s so the snow was wet and most of it melted during the day. Thanks, Michael.
Didn’t melt at my place!! When I got up early in the morning, it was 47 degrees here, but the temperature dropped dramatically and the snow started. It stayed between 30 and 35 for the rest of the day. I had 6 inches on the driveway and they came to clear it away at around 3:30.
Snow was so pretty when the sun came out!!
Sue, at my place snow never stuck to sidewalks or streets. Only to grass and bare ground. And it’s mostly gone now. Two days ago I moved my snow blower from my shed to my garage but I didn’t even need it for this storm.
Mid-30’s! Not all that cold? Where I come from that is downright artic.