A Chaos of Cranes

Gallery: AvianPosted May 15, 2013190 views8 comments

Canon 1D-X, 300mm, handheld
f11, 1/640, ISO3200

The migrating Sandhill Cranes are stacked up in incredible numbers by the late spring. A Bald Eagle put up a flock of perhaps 5,000 birds. This is about one-quarter or less of the birds in the air. The sound was stunning, ear-ringing.

I am very pleased with the 1D-X to this point. I think it did pretty well in tough light.

Full frame, brightened slightly. Very slight sharpening.

C & C, please. Thanks for looking.

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Tjie Poo on May 15, 2013 at 2:12 AM

Wow ! What a terrific capture of nature's great spectacle. I actually like the 2-tone, muted colors of the scene. Well done !

Registered on December 4, 2012, 51 Posts, 511 Comments

Comment posted by keith mitchell on May 15, 2013 at 3:36 AM

Jim that certainly is a dramatic shot! must have been good to see.

Keith.

Registered on July 12, 2008, 127 Posts, 1735 Comments

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on May 15, 2013 at 3:54 AM

Jim, even the larger image barely conveys the scale of this event. You almost need a mural.

Registered on February 20, 2013, 198 Posts, 1011 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on May 15, 2013 at 3:58 AM

Hi Jim, Sandhill cranes are beautiful birds and to see these in such large numbers must have been amazing. Can I ask, what was the rational to keeping the hint of grassland bottom LHC, or would a slight crop be better? The larger version is a must for an image like this. BTW it has an untagged profile.

The 1DX is awesome, especially at higher ISO like this and with some custom tweaks I love it.

TFS
Steve

Registered on March 25, 2007, 189 Posts, 1064 Comments

Comment posted by Claude Dagenais on May 15, 2013 at 7:21 AM

I agree with Steve on the cropping (if possible) an amazing capture.

Registered on April 10, 2013, 56 Posts, 571 Comments

Comment posted by Andy Shepherd on May 15, 2013 at 6:47 PM

Great looking shot, Jim. I'm very envious to say the least, of both the spectacle of the Cranes and the 1DX

Andy...

Registered on September 24, 2006, 123 Posts, 1254 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on May 16, 2013 at 3:23 AM

Sounds like an extra-ordinary event to experience Jim

I think your photo illustrates the magic of the moment very well. I like the inclusion both the sky and habitat with the large number of cranes.

Sweet Photo!

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Christine Adams on May 17, 2013 at 1:35 PM

How fun to witness that!! Nicely done!

Registered on January 24, 2006, 119 Posts, 1871 Comments