Holy crap, nice shot, Dale! I knew that's what this was going to be when I saw the title, only I had pictured one, not TWO. Very sharp, and nice pose.
I've been seeing a few turkeys lately but haven't been in the right spot at the right time. I think you guys in Missouri have (lots) more birds up there due to better management practices, like opening the season a week later and ending the hours to hunt at noon. Hunters around here caught on to gobblers returning to the same roost in the afternoon, so for some, it has become just a matter of waiting them out.
Thanks Bill and Gale.
Bill you are probably like me and have been out in the woods looking for them. I was driving thru a neighborhood and this is what I saw at the end of a dead end street. I did have to rough it and get out of the truck to sneak up on them though. I was pleased to get two of them posing for me though.
Great image thanks for sharing. Hope I can catch one as nice some day.
Posted by Wayne Rhodus on April 17, 2008 at 11:02 PM
Dale, these birds are tack sharp and in good light too! Great pose and beautiful display combined with some quick reaction on your part turned into one fine image.
Posted by John Moore on April 18, 2008 at 12:12 AM
I didn't think it was possible to sneak up on turkeys. Good job, Dale. Nice color and contrast in the birds too.
Posted by Brad Mangas on April 18, 2008 at 12:42 AM
Wow Dale I'm jealous! I have seen more turkeys this spring than I have in my entire life out in the flint hills. I have tried numerous times to get a shot of some, but never have been able to "sneak" up on them. I usually have had my wide angle lens on when I come up on them so I'm never really prepared either. I figured if I really wanted some good shots I would have to camp out and let them come to me.
This is a fantastic shot, I really like the low angle. If you had to do much post processing you did a wonderful job, you should be very proud. Well done.
Brad
Posted by Tim Ferrell on April 18, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Thanks guys. I was on my way to shoot flowers since it had just stopped raining and had the macro lens on the camera. These two were so busy they gave me time to change lenses and slip down over the side of the hill where they could not see me. I was able to go along the side of the hill out of sight and then pop up just enough to snap off several shots. Anytime I moved I just waited until they turned away from me and they could not see me over their tail feathers. The hens finally spotted me and wandered back in the trees. The lighting allowed for very even exposure so the PP was pretty easy.I did all of the adjustments in camera raw except for doing local contrast adjustment with USM in CS3.
Posted by Randy Wilson on April 22, 2008 at 4:59 PM
Guess I know now why I have no luck with the ladies. I wonder where I can get me some feathers like that?
Anyway, beautiful, clear shot of the birds in their spectacular feather displays. I would crop out the out of focus foreground, or at least part of it. The only thing I might consider to be a flaw is the part of the third turkey visible coming out of the left side of the male on the left. But a remarkable capture nonetheless.
Discussion
12 repliesI've been seeing a few turkeys lately but haven't been in the right spot at the right time. I think you guys in Missouri have (lots) more birds up there due to better management practices, like opening the season a week later and ending the hours to hunt at noon. Hunters around here caught on to gobblers returning to the same roost in the afternoon, so for some, it has become just a matter of waiting them out.
Bill you are probably like me and have been out in the woods looking for them. I was driving thru a neighborhood and this is what I saw at the end of a dead end street. I did have to rough it and get out of the truck to sneak up on them though.
This is a fantastic shot, I really like the low angle. If you had to do much post processing you did a wonderful job, you should be very proud. Well done.
Brad
Anyway, beautiful, clear shot of the birds in their spectacular feather displays. I would crop out the out of focus foreground, or at least part of it. The only thing I might consider to be a flaw is the part of the third turkey visible coming out of the left side of the male on the left. But a remarkable capture nonetheless.