Posted by Andy Astbury on April 16, 2008 at 2:35 PM
Just spent 4 hours sitting in water that I'm certain is piped directly from Spitzbergen
Hubby and her are doing a lot of fiddling with 'things' at the moment - the nest platform included. When I sneaked under the rhododendron branches and in to the water this comp looked great - full sun and quite a neat weed mat.
This is the shot I was after - her getting on the nest, but by the time she got around to obliging me the sun had gone in and the pile of twigs in front of her head had been placed - not a lot you can do is there
Not as good as I'd hoped for and I wish she'd shown one of her feet - she did actually on the next frame but due to lack of light there's motion blur.
Techs as per usual
D300 + Sig 300-800 (causing probs all of a sudden )
ISO 400
1/160th @ f8
PP Bibble Pro and CS3
Thanks for looking
Posted by jack chapman on April 16, 2008 at 2:39 PM
very nice, a great looking bird
you using a floating hide or just swimming with that lens?
Going through a similar process myself at the moment-Looks good to me-typical grebes nest-good exposure-dull days work well with these guys and nice and sharp
Dave
Posted by Chris Lloyd on April 16, 2008 at 2:42 PM
Cracker - Jack beat me to it with the question though!
Chris.
Posted by Andy Astbury on April 16, 2008 at 2:43 PM
Not at the moment Jack/Chris - it'll have to get put out next time, but the water is so cold still it just fills me with dread
I approached the island the nest is by from the other end by boat, then dodged my way through about 50 nesting Canadas - plenty of Hovis smoothes the way here - then waited until the 2 grebe were out of sight and sneaked into the water under some overhanging branches.
Retreating with frozen legs was a reverse of the process - in EVERY way!
Posted by Andy Shepherd on April 16, 2008 at 2:46 PM
Posted by Alan Bryant on April 16, 2008 at 3:42 PM
Love shots like this.Where it shows them on the nest.
Very nice Andy
Posted by Paul Ashton on April 16, 2008 at 3:52 PM
Excellent composition and perfect exposere.
Posted by Dave Bartlett on April 16, 2008 at 3:52 PM
Great shot and just reward for what sounds like hard work (and cold ..)
Dave
Posted by Major Gilbert on April 16, 2008 at 4:13 PM
Good reward for your extreme efforts in obtaining this image Andy.
I can well imagine that water is still so very cold.
Major.
Posted by Paula Graham on April 16, 2008 at 4:16 PM
Wow, you certainly put effort into getting this shot. I am most impressed and slightly ashamed that I would chicken out in those circumstances!.
Nice shot too and very well exposed.
Brilliant Andy loking forward to more in the series
Posted by John Chapman on April 18, 2008 at 5:11 AM
Hi Andy nice shot of bird at the nest and Top marks for endurance.
John
Posted by Magnus Hird on April 18, 2008 at 6:36 AM
Lovely pose and I think the duller light actually helps the grebe's head stand out. Think I'd chicken out of 4 hours in cold water too - amazing commitment
Discussion
22 repliesHubby and her are doing a lot of fiddling with 'things' at the moment - the nest platform included. When I sneaked under the rhododendron branches and in to the water this comp looked great - full sun and quite a neat weed mat.
This is the shot I was after - her getting on the nest, but by the time she got around to obliging me the sun had gone in and the pile of twigs in front of her head had been placed - not a lot you can do is there
Not as good as I'd hoped for and I wish she'd shown one of her feet - she did actually on the next frame but due to lack of light there's motion blur.
Techs as per usual
D300 + Sig 300-800 (causing probs all of a sudden
ISO 400
1/160th @ f8
PP Bibble Pro and CS3
Thanks for looking
you using a floating hide or just swimming with that lens?
Dave
Chris.
I approached the island the nest is by from the other end by boat, then dodged my way through about 50 nesting Canadas - plenty of Hovis smoothes the way here - then waited until the 2 grebe were out of sight and sneaked into the water under some overhanging branches.
Retreating with frozen legs was a reverse of the process - in EVERY way!
Nice shot Andy , great pov and pose.
Andy...
Robert
Very nice Andy
Dave
I can well imagine that water is still so very cold.
Major.
Nice shot too and very well exposed.
Great shot, I just don't understand some peoples decissions when you see shots like this.
Danny
Very nice composition! And a beautiful image! Well deserved considering the sheer effort put into it! But…
I cower in fear as I dare say I have one teeny nit! The black spot! - Sorry!
Matt
No nits, like the shot, softly softly catchy monkey eh!
Ring re Whixall soon bit busy
ATB
Paul
John
Nice capture, and worth the effort.