Posted by Nick Mckeown on February 4, 2013 at 12:18 PM
D7000 300mm f4 + TC14e ISO 320 1/640s at f8 monopod.
Ptarmigan taken in the Cairngorms on Saturday. The weather was mainly overcast with an occasional glimpse of a watery sun and a wind giving a windchill of about -6 degrees. Getting close to the birds wasn't too difficult once I had located them by their croaking but with a flat light and a background which was almost white I was finding the birds were almost blending into it. This one has a touch of sun on it and works a little better I think by giving some contrast. Will have to return once we get some better weather.
All C+C warmly welcomed and thanks for the comments on my snow bunting.
Nick.
Posted by Nick Mckeown on February 4, 2013 at 12:22 PM
And then a Sea King came into the corrie to rescue several avalanched walkers (nobody seriously injured thank goodness!) and I took this as it banked at the back of the corrie. The climbers on the cliff wall give a sense of scale and show how brave these pilots are. It knackered the photography for a while as the clatter of the helicopter drowned out the ptarmigans croaking and trying to find one by sight is like loking for a white bird in a snowfield...literally!!
Nick.
Posted by Phil Ellard on February 4, 2013 at 2:05 PM
You certainly are making the most of the conditions. That is a quality portrait of the ptarmigan. cheers for the bonus pic, dramatic story
Posted by Nick Mckeown on February 4, 2013 at 2:48 PM
Thanks Phil, hope the Mods don't mind the Sea King shot!
Hey Nick that Ptarmigan looks excellent you have really captured the elements up there and i know that is difficult.
Keith.
Posted by Andy Astbury on February 5, 2013 at 7:26 AM
Perfection Nick, and I do like the scale given by those climbers on the SARs shot.
Great work
Posted by David Taylor on February 5, 2013 at 8:42 AM
Both superb images. The SAR shot would make a great publicity poster, IMHO.
Posted by David Sewell on February 5, 2013 at 9:43 AM
Two great images, Nick, well caught.
David
Posted by Nick Mckeown on February 5, 2013 at 2:17 PM
Many thanks for the comments folks, greatly appreciated.
Nick.....couldn't agree more. Living in the Highlands the SAR helicopters are a common sight and regularly land at the west end car park in Fort William to transfer casualties to an ambulance for the Belford hospital. It is comforting to know they are there if needed and the pilots and crew are all true heroes in my book. I salute them all and the MR teams too.
Nick.
Posted by Bob Johnson on February 9, 2013 at 11:08 AM
Discussion
12 repliesPtarmigan taken in the Cairngorms on Saturday. The weather was mainly overcast with an occasional glimpse of a watery sun and a wind giving a windchill of about -6 degrees. Getting close to the birds wasn't too difficult once I had located them by their croaking but with a flat light and a background which was almost white I was finding the birds were almost blending into it. This one has a touch of sun on it and works a little better I think by giving some contrast. Will have to return once we get some better weather.
All C+C warmly welcomed and thanks for the comments on my snow bunting.
Nick.
Nick.
Nick.
Great bonus picture.
Keith.
Great work
David
Nick.....couldn't agree more. Living in the Highlands the SAR helicopters are a common sight and regularly land at the west end car park in Fort William to transfer casualties to an ambulance for the Belford hospital. It is comforting to know they are there if needed and the pilots and crew are all true heroes in my book. I salute them all and the MR teams too.
Nick.
Bob