In other words, the female gives the alert bird photographer a slight pre-warning that her mate is about to take off too. That might be all the edge I need. So five days ago, on a heavily overcast morning at Bear River MBR, I put my theory to its first test.<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/cinnamon-teal-2055b-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"cinnamon-teal-2055b-ron-dudley\\"")
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1\/2000, f\/5.6, ISO 1600, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f\/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\n For most of the time I was with this Cinnamon Teal pair I focused on the male while his mate wandered around the edge of the frame. But this time I kept the male framed in the best position for takeoff but watched (and listened for) the female’s takoff as my cue to push the shutter button, presuming the male would immediately follow. And by golly, it worked.<\/p>\n This is the first shot in my burst. As expected, the female is already half out of the frame (at upper right) but I caught her mate right at takeoff, on the first downbeat of his wings.<\/p>\n Obviously it isn’t a quality photo. The light was atrocious and the male took off away from me but as a test of my half-baked theory I find it reinforcing. So in situations like this I’ll continue to watch (and listen for) the female for my cue that the male is about to take off.<\/p>\n It isn’t much of an edge but with Cinnamon Teal takeoffs, every little bit helps.<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A half-baked theory that just might have some validity in aiding bird photographer’s attempts at capturing takeoffs.<\/p>\n