Family Swim

Gallery: AvianPosted May 26, 201162 views4 comments

I was at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary yesterday and I noticed that a couple Avocets with two chicks coming down one of the raised trails between the deep ponds. They approached so close I could not focus with my 500mm. To my surprise, they went to my left and went into one of the deep ponds and the whole family went for a swim. I quickly moved around so I had better light and waited for them. I was hoping for them to come together closer but you cannot have everything.

I now have a Stilt, Black-crown Night Heron and Avocets swimming.

Cropped to 50% of full frame. None off the left, a lot of the top and bottom and a little off the right. This seemed to be the only composition that worked for me.

C & Cs are appreciated.

05-25-2011 9:15 a.m.
Canon 7D
EF 500 4.0L
Exp Comp = none
F/5.6
1/2000
ISO 320
Tripod

Comments

4 comments

Comment posted by David Sparks on May 26, 2011 at 10:42 PM

I would consider adding some of what you cropped off the right to give the chicks just a little more space. Too bad they did not close ranks for you. That would have made the scene more intimate.

added later ...
I looked at this again. I believe my first comment was made while looking at the larger version while part of the image on the right was off-screen. Please ignore my comment about adding what you cropped on the right. Sorry.

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments

Comment posted by Julia Flanagan on May 27, 2011 at 6:55 PM

Sweet image. I've never seen avocets swiming much less swimming with chicks! A comment on something you had no control over....because their bills are so slim, it occurs to me that smooth water is needed to bring that defining aspect of their features out. I find the bills rather lost in the ripples. So next time order up some smooth water! Shooting multiple birds at once is hard - they rarely agree to the choreography we would like. Having them closer together would be nice, but since I don't have anything remotely like this I'd take it in a heartbeat.

Registered on November 13, 2003, 59 Posts, 986 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on May 28, 2011 at 2:13 PM

I like how they are spread out here Harry and I also like the varying colors of the water, nice pano.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on May 29, 2011 at 4:59 AM

Harry,
I like your pano crop choice. Very nice swimming family shot.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments