A shot I almost didn’t take.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Yesterday morning while shooting from my tripod I saw this cormorant take off from from the far end of the pond and head my general direction. But I almost didn’t even try to get ‘her’ in my viewfinder because she was flying almost directly toward the sun behind my right shoulder.
Getting photos I’d like of a black bird flying at that angle to the sun would be a long shot indeed. Besides, in order to get flight shots that weren’t almost “head on” I’d have to wait until she’d pulled nearly even with me and that meant I’d have to do what I call the “tripod dance” – swinging my lens around to shoot 90° to my right while doing some fancy footwork to avoid tripping over the tripod legs. I’m too old for that kind of foolishness.
But I made a snap decision and tried anyway and I’m glad I did. I like the photo, even though the lighting is a little wonky. I got several sharp shots of her with the trees in the background but this flight posture was the best one to give me at least some detail in her wings. Almost miraculously there’s light on her face and eye and I like the “fish scale” appearance of some of her plumage..
With very little to no detail in some of her blacks I’m surprised I like the photo as much as I do. Your mileage may vary.
Ron
You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. So glad you took this one — it’s a real winner! The cormorant’s face looks like a robot to me; they’re such interesting birds.
You sure do. Thanks, Marty.
A terrific image – well done
Thank you, Gary.
Such an interesting bird, such a beautiful photo! I’ve always been fascinated by them ever since one was brought into the vet clinic where I worked in NJ. A co-worker found it standing in her yard, far from any water. There was a mass of fishing line and weights tangled in the feathers around its neck and mouth, and the big, ugly hook was visible once we did the xrays. It hadn’t actually swallowed the hook, lucky bird.
Your photo brings back the wonder of that day – the amazing green eyes, its weird shape, the greasy feathers, and the very strong fishy smell. Neat, neat, neat!
Carolyn, because of their lifestyle cormorants are incredibly vulnerable to fishing gear. What you describe is a very common occurrence for them.
Fisherpersons tend to have a strong dislike for cormorants.
That “emerald” eye and those “fish-scale” feathers do it for me. Really nice shot and no injuries — a win-win! 😉
Glad you like it. Thanks, Chris.
Those instinctive/lucky shots can be some of the best.
It’s a fine example.
Thanks, Michael. A grab shot that turned out.
Any shot of a cormorant in flight is more than welcome no matter how blown the blacks may be, no matter how soft. Thanks for taking a chance on the shot. Wish I had captured one like that.
Sounds like you’re a cormorant fan, Granny Pat. I wish there were more of them. They’re not thought of highly in some areas of the country.
I know how difficult it is to get a decent shot of a black bird. This is really the best I’ve ever seen. So beautiful.
Thanks very much, Buff.
That’s a fantastic picture full of detail. They’re very common in Puget Sound but usually way out over the water where they are essentially a black outline.
If Jo Ann thinks DCCO’s and Anhingas are similar, she should see Pelagic Cormorants. I still struggle with them sometimes.
Tripods can be nerve-wracking, especially when you have beaucoup bucks sitting on top. My favorite (not) trick is failing to tighten one of the legs.
Lyle, my biggest fear with using a tripod is not having the locking knob tight enough, the one that holds my lens onto my gimbal head. If it isn’t tight my lens could fall right off the tripod.
But I get your point about the legs. A friend bought the Canon 800mm when it first came out – about $13K I believe. He didn’t lock his tripod leg and when it tipped over into cement the lens broke into two pieces, with only wires holding them together.
Glad you tried, I think it is beautiful.
Thanks, April.
Beautiful bird, and with emeralds for eyes!
I think their eyes are their most distinctive feature.
Never heard of the bird
I would linger to see an anhinga
So would I.
Beautiful light on the wing/shoulder. I love the way the feathers curl at their tips. So glad you posted. And hope you get to see an Anhinga!
Mary, my chances of seeing an Anhinga are pretty darn slim.
Love those blacks! and the pose. Glad you didn’t break a leg.
Yeah, no kidding. Me too.
What an interesting-looking bird– never have seen one before…..after
hearing about your “tripod dance”, I’m hoping that you keep your phone
on your body when you get out of the truck to work…….
Not to worry, Kris. I always have my phone with me. Unless I don’t…
Excellent shot!
Yup I know what you mean by “tripod dance”! Done it many times and so far have not been very successful!
Thanks for a great tough shot.
Dick, that dance is so awkward, especially since you have to pull your eye away from the camera to do it and then you have to find the bird in the viewfinder again. With very little time to do it.
Absolutely stunning! 🙂 Her face, the shimmer on her feathers and amazing amount of feather detail for a black bird! 🙂 SO glad for your last minute decision!
“SO glad for your last minute decision!”
Judy, I guess I should let my impulses run wild more often. I really did almost trip over one of the tripod legs.
There is an amazing amount of detail in the blacks to me. Jo Ann, thanks for the anhinga bill trick. Since their tail shapes are so different, I never tried to separate cormorants and anhingas by their beaks. There weren’t many cormorants in the Atchafalaya basin of Louisiana where I lived.
Thanks, Pam.
I love your post today, Ron!! It also brought to mind my growth as a new bird enthusiast with my trips to Green Cay, my favorite place to see & photograph birds. Visiting the site & having more knowledgeable bird photographers willing to help me learn bird markings. One of my 1st lessons was to learn the difference between a Double-crested Cormorant and an Anhinga – their beaks!! A hooked beak of the Cormorant & straight beak of the Anhinga!! It taught me to really look at the birds & I’ve been “Hooked” ever since.
Thanks, Jo Ann. I’ve never even seen an Anhinga.
I’ll have to share a photo with you but won’t be your quality – LOL!!