Under the right conditions I like what fog can do to light when it isn’t too thick. Antelope Island at dawn this morning was a jumble of moving, thick pockets of fog. I drove around in an attempt to find some clear spots with birds present but when I would find some sun it wouldn’t take long for the fog to envelope me again. But in one spot, just for a couple of minutes, the effect of the fog on the light was dreamy and ethereal and I loved it.
1/1600, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark ll, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
When I took this shot most, though not all, of the fog was behind me to the east so the light was passing through a thin mist before it reached the bird. It softened the detail slightly but I love its overall effects on the image. The magpie had recently taken off and I got several shots of it in flight but I think this one is my favorite of the bunch (in another one I liked the nictitating membrane was closed – drats!). The sun burning though the fog was so bright behind me that the catch light is also quite bright. I played around with dulling it down a little but in the end I let it be because in these conditions it’s natural just the way it is.
The Black-billed Magpies on the island are very active right now. I’ve even noticed a couple of them with nesting material in their beaks. Magpies are early nesters but this just seems way too soon, even for them. I think all this weirdly warm weather may have confused them. As it has me.
Ron
Excellent image in all ways Ron !
Thank you, John.
Thank you for the magical mystery tour.
I love fog anyway, but to see your magpie looming out of it would make my day.
Elephant’s Child, Sometimes fog ruins my day but that morning it was pretty darned neat!
Only you can make a magpie look wonderful!
Karen, I can only take part of the credit. Actually they’re pretty spectacular looking birds much of the time. Thank you.
Ron and Zima, I, like you guys, end up with cold hands until last year. “RedHead” makes a glove/mitten. Fingers are in the glove up to the last joint then they are exposed, however the thumb is not in the mitten part. The finger tips are exposed when the mitten is folded back. It is possible to expose just the tip of the thumb because of a slot in the end of the thumb. I am sure you have seen this setup before…but this is what saved my fingers. You can get from “HotHands” (the brand) Toe warmers. They look like 1/2 circle. one side has an adhesive that will allow you to insert it in the mitten end, this toe warmer, without it falling out! Now the hand is warm except the thumb and the tip of the index finger. I am able to stick those in and out of the mitten end and keep them fairly warm. As far as the metal lens foot, I have used the foam wrap for the copper hot water pipes, just about 6 inches of it, and put that around the metal foot to prevent the transfer of cold to my hand. I hope this will help you.
Great tips, Rich. I’ve seen those gloves but never used them. With your recommendation I’ll check them out more carefully. Thank you.
Beautiful shot! What amazes me, from your description of the conditions, is that you were able to get the iridescence on the wings & tail.
That iridescence under those conditions caught my attention too, Susan. And there’s actually quite a bit of it and at an angle that I don’t often see it. The fog muted it a little but it’s still very much there.
I have a question for you Ron. As I started bird photography not very long ago (2-3 years), I am having difficulty in severe winter situations. This time of the year, they are more visible (I only have a 300 mm lens), but I can’t keep my hand in working condition. I tried two layers of gloves(then i can’t click the button), hand warmer and a running car. My hands get total numb and they hurt like h***… Can you suggest me some measures? I usually cry in pain, and then go back to shoot.
I feel your pain, Rima!!! I’ve “been there” so very often and have no magic solutions that you apparently haven’t tried. I’ve “sat” on a bird at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or colder for very long periods (a couple of hours on a Bald Eagle a few years ago comes to mind but there have been many others) and as you apparently know it’s not only extremely uncomfortable but the digits become so cold that they don’t work when it comes time to make camera adjustments and press the shutter button.
One thing I’ve learned is keep as warm as you can from the get-go rather than allowing yourself to be chilled to the core first and then try to warm up. By then it’s too late. I wear a hat that covers my ears when it’s very cold (my big ears work like heat radiators) and gloves with multiple hand warmers inside(thin gloves so you have a feel for the buttons and I sometimes cut out a fingertip or two). I wear long-johns, a coat and put another coat or a blanket over my lap which seems to help a lot. Thick socks! Frozen toes are no fun so when I can run the heater (often few opportunities there) I always make sure there’s heat blowing on those toes (heater adjustment). I always shoot in the morning and my hot coffee helps but then there’s the problem of “getting rid of it”…).
My left hand is always coldest because it’s partly out the window and is holding the metal lens foot as I’m shooting. This year I may try covering the top of that foot with some kind of insulating material – haven’t figured that one out yet but that metal really sucks the heat out of my hand, gloves or not.
Extreme cold is a curse and a blessing – it makes the birds (raptors especially) much “stickier” but there’s sure a price to pay for us dedicated bird photographers.
Good luck this winter!
PS – Be very careful about the “running car”. Engine vibration can sure ruin that “million dollar shot”, as can heat shimmers coming up from a hot engine and exhaust. I actually seldom run the heater (or engine) unless there’s a real lull in the birds.
Thank you very much Ron! I feel that I have special problem with my fingers. They hurt so much, I can’t even move them sometime. I need to get out of the car and be very still lots of time, but whenever I can I shoot from the car( Thanks for that tip, I got from your post). And yes, it is not possible to keep the car running as it disturbs their environment.
Today I went out to find some long eared owls, had to come back to my car again and again to thaw myself. Didn’t find them though 🙁
Beautiful bird in flight photo, and very nice background. The light looks so mystic.
“Mystic” – I like that, Rima.
I find these birds incredibly elegant! I love the contrast between the sleek bird and the prickly vegetation…beautiiful shot!!!
“Elegant” they can be, Patty. Especially in interesting light. I hope you’re doing well…
Yep, “dreamy and ethereal” describes it just right. Enjoying your posts.
Patricia, The scene out there actually looked more “dreamy and ethereal” than it does in this photo. It was really neat – sound muffled by the fog, breathing the mist (something we’re not really used to here in the desert) and that wonderful, almost spooky light.
A gorgeous shot Ron! Thanks for sharing!
Charlotte
Thank you, Charlotte.
WOW! Beautiful.
Thanks, Kelli.
The Magpie is a beautiful bird. On the East Bench we have them in our yard quite often. I learned to spread unsalted in-the-shell peanuts on the lawn and in not a long time 10-12 maggies are scarfing them up. Last night, one of our cats killed a mouse in the driveway. This morning two Magpies took quick care of the debris.
Bill, Down here in Murray I used to see them much more often than I have the last several years. Not sure why – birds are hard to figure out sometimes.
Lovely photo with tricky fog! It turned out great!
Thanks, Pamela. I’m glad you like it.