Posted by Larry Daniel on December 15, 2008 at 8:56 PM
I was fortunate to get this photo near St. Louis last Friday evening. For a large bird they fly pretty fast.
Posted by Wayne Rhodus on December 16, 2008 at 8:33 AM
Nice flight image with good detail, especially around the eye. Big bird indeed!
Posted by Tom Kennon on December 16, 2008 at 9:20 AM
Great capture, Larry. I agree with Wayne the eye detail makes the shot. I can even see catch light in the swan's eye.
Posted by Daniel Loomis on December 16, 2008 at 9:46 AM
Handsome bird. Nice shot.
Posted by PAMERNST on December 16, 2008 at 11:04 AM
Hey Larry, you should replace this image with the one you sent me - the lighting on the other one is much better - premium capture that shows off the bird much better...
Posted by Larry Daniel on December 16, 2008 at 2:07 PM
Thanks everyone. Above is the photo Tim mentioned.
Posted by Don Kurz on December 16, 2008 at 2:38 PM
Hey Larry,
Nice flight shots! I suspect that you took this from the parking lot adjacent to Teal Pond as the trumpeter swan was coming in for a landing at sunset? I saw where the swan count last weekend at Riverlands was up around 318! That's amazing.
Best,
Don
Posted by Bill Dark on December 16, 2008 at 3:59 PM
Both are really spectacular shots, but I do like the second frame a little better. Nice light and very sharp. What lens/body/speed did you shoot this at, Larry?
Posted by Larry Daniel on December 16, 2008 at 5:45 PM
Don, you are correct. You just did not adequately describe how cold and windy it was.
Bill, used a Nikon D300, ISO 800, 400VR with 1.7 TC, 1/2000th at f6.3 and -0.7 EV. Cropped to a 5:4 aspect. Edited in Aperture v2.1.2. The light was just right, thanks for the comments.
Posted by Don Kurz on December 16, 2008 at 6:11 PM
Hey Larry,
When I was there a few weeks before you, it was shirt sleeve weather but only 200 trumpeters to choose from!
I found my truck very comforting while shooting 200,000 snow geese a couple of weeks ago at Squaw Creek NWR with sustainable winds of 20 mph and 30 mph gusts.
If those high winds are in the right direction, it sure slows down landing approaches and take offs making waterfowl easier for me to tag!
Best,
Don
Posted by Ed Cooley on December 17, 2008 at 1:28 PM
Both are excellent shots. Awesome birds!
Posted by Larry Daniel on December 17, 2008 at 11:02 PM
Discussion
11 repliesNice flight shots! I suspect that you took this from the parking lot adjacent to Teal Pond as the trumpeter swan was coming in for a landing at sunset? I saw where the swan count last weekend at Riverlands was up around 318! That's amazing.
Best,
Don
Bill, used a Nikon D300, ISO 800, 400VR with 1.7 TC, 1/2000th at f6.3 and -0.7 EV. Cropped to a 5:4 aspect. Edited in Aperture v2.1.2. The light was just right, thanks for the comments.
When I was there a few weeks before you, it was shirt sleeve weather but only 200 trumpeters to choose from!
I found my truck very comforting while shooting 200,000 snow geese a couple of weeks ago at Squaw Creek NWR with sustainable winds of 20 mph and 30 mph gusts.
If those high winds are in the right direction, it sure slows down landing approaches and take offs making waterfowl easier for me to tag!
Best,
Don