This may be my first decent shot of a blackbird of any species in flight.
Two days ago after spending part of the morning on Antelope Island we decided to drop by Farmington Bay on the way home to see if birds had picked up any since our last visit. I was encouraged by the birds I saw so we’ll likely be returning more often now.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, 500 f/4 II, 1.4 tc, removed 2 cattail tips sticking into frame, not baited, set up or called in
It was a little late in the morning to be shooting blackbirds (poor light and detail on the ventral blacks) but when this male took off from the cattail on the right its wing position and tail angle to the sun were just about right to bring out detail. It’s not often that I get any iridescence in this species but this time there’s some on the tail. I like how the frozen motion shows the tip of the last wing primary feather bent against the side of the cattail.
I didn’t have more room on the left so the bird is a bit centered in the frame – next time I’ll add canvas to compensate.
Ron
Superb flight shot of one of my favorites! It just wouldn’t be Florida without the air being filled with the “rusty gate” calls of these black beauties!
Great lighting and pose.I like the cattail in the shot, it shows how close they fly around these obstacles.Breaking the rules of composition does work.
I found you! Thank you!!! I wish my oldest grandson was around to trouble shoot that Evil iPad for me. Maybe that’s the answer…shoot they’d—-d thing! What a beautiful image….so graceful! Love the fanned wing with its splash of the red and gold …Like the inclusion of the cattails as the bird and plant are so typically associated they almost seem one. As Ellen said, “the clarity of your shots is mind boggling”…
Oh Ron. When I read ‘this might be my first decent shot…’ I worried for the state of your trousers. (Liar, liar, pants on fire.) And then I scanned down. It is all a question of perspective isn’t it? I would happily claim rather a lot of your ‘failed’ photographs but this one, again, fills me with awe. And wonder.
Thanks, Elephant’s Child. I have quite a few blackbird shots I like, it’s just that this is the first one where the bird’s actually in flight.
Beautiful! (sometimes a centered composition is nice)
Thanks, Sharon. I think this composition works pretty well but it might work slightly better with the bird further to the right in the frame.
Beautiful capture. The clarity of your shots is so mind boggling to me. I can’t get shots that clear of anything not moving!!!
Thanks, Ellen. Not all of my shots are “clear” either, I just don’t post the ones that aren’t…
Beautiful photo Ron !
Thank you, Patricia and Charlotte.
Wonderful slight shot Ron!
Charlotte
Nice!