Winter coat

Gallery: AvianPosted January 29, 201398 views11 comments

Canon 7D, 250 mm, ISO400, 0 ev, F/7.1, 1/5000 sec, handheld
Here is the picture of White-tailed Ptarmigan what was in my bucket list for this year. After an hour of hiking to elevation over 12 000 feet I spot this beauty, which made my day, spent so many days to find them.... The temperature was around high 20, windy and partly cloudy with constant light changing. I managed almost 30 keepers in various poses but this one is for me very special, because never saw them anywhere be captured in flight and also at least for me was very difficult to photograph pure white bird against totally white background since they are not good flyers , would say more only veeeeery unpredictable jumpers !!!
Would like to know yours thoughts about the shot, C&C always welcome

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Marlise Launstein on January 29, 2013 at 2:11 PM

I like how bright the bird is against the snow! I also like that he is in flight not perched. Nice picture!

Registered on August 31, 2011, 28 Posts, 175 Comments

Comment posted by Rebecka on January 29, 2013 at 2:25 PM

Isn't it great to finally get a shot of a species you really want? The Ptarmigan really made you work for it, too!

Nice pose and I like how the feathers are quite spread apart on the wingtips. My only wish would be for more bit more light on the bird's head.

Would love to see you post more of your keepers from your time with these birds.

Registered on February 5, 2009, 170 Posts, 924 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Strand on January 29, 2013 at 2:49 PM

Beautiful image inflight and you did an excellent job handling the whites on the bird.

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Marella on January 29, 2013 at 5:47 PM

Really nice, Verdon. Great detail and excellent job on the whites.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 142 Posts, 862 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on January 29, 2013 at 6:35 PM

Excellent and difficult catch. Good thing the snow had so much shadow in it.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on January 29, 2013 at 7:33 PM

Very cool that you were rewarded for your efforts Verdon. You did a splendid job exposing the whites, and although the bird is moving away in frame you have just enough light to show the bird's eye-which makes the image work so well.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by David Williams on January 29, 2013 at 10:07 PM

White on white........that's a tough one, Verdon, but you've done it very well. That must have been quite a feeling to check the bucket list at that altitude. I would like to have had the eye with a little more light on it, but the spread wing makes up for it. Well done.

Registered on March 8, 2005, 315 Posts, 2291 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 29, 2013 at 11:00 PM

Excellent job, Verdon. Good separation of the white bird from the white bg and superb detail in the plumage. One could wish for a little better eye contact and light in the eye, but I'd take this shot any time.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on January 30, 2013 at 8:21 AM

cool shot, Verdon. white-on-white is definitely a challenge and you handled it well. like others have said, a little more light on the eye would be great, but it's very nice as is, with a great spread wing flight pose. I've seen many of these in their intricate summer plumage while hiking, but have yet to see them in their white winter wear. Very cool.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by James Allen on January 30, 2013 at 1:23 PM

Beatuifully done with the white against white Verdon! I really like the rippled texture of the snow BG as well

Registered on December 10, 2012, 14 Posts, 232 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on February 1, 2013 at 10:03 AM

Well composed, great details in the whites Verdon.
I especially like the this white on white scene, very cool

Well done!

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments