A type of photo I don’t get very often.
1/5000, f/5.6, ISO 640, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Three days ago on Antelope Island this Western Meadowlark was side-lit and pretty much buried in sagebrush so I wasn’t particularly fond of my photos of ‘him’ while he was perched. And I was slow on the trigger when he took off so I missed the most dynamic takeoff shots.
But somehow I managed to get focus locked on him again after he’d been in flight for long enough to give him time to retract his landing gear, so his feet and legs were tucked tightly against his body. I call that flight posture “full flight” as opposed to photos where their feet and legs are still extended from pushing off during takeoff.
I rarely capture songbirds in “full flight” and get them sharp enough because little birds are just too fast and erratic in flight, at least for this photographer.
Maybe my new camera had something to do with it. Probably so.
Ron
Beautiful and great capture. I hear the R5 is great at capturing fast birds in flight with they eye locking sensor.
However you did it, it’s a miracle and one I certainly wouldn’t turn my nose up, if I were ever that lucky. Gorgeous shot and one for the books for sure. Well done.
Hello I guess you sure did. Love the photo and thanks for posting today.
That is an outstanding capture— as Wally said, “..as clear as its song.” Those outstretched wings are beautiful, really like seeing that leading edge of yellow in the right one. He’s a sporty-looking bird! 😎
Loving the meadowlark. Sunshine captured – several hours before our dawn. Reading through the comments (as I always do) I am thrilled that your lawn was mowed for you, and even more thrilled that your surgeon got no nasty surprises when he pored over your MRI. Surprising a doctor is rarely a good thing.
I am hoping (fervently) that you and your camera can continue to capture magic and beauty.
Thanks, EC. Shane has been a lifesaver, doing yardwork for me for some time now. Hopefully I’ll soon be able to do it myself.
How rewarding to produce a photograph of a Meadowlark which is as clear as its song!
Outstanding!
(Trying to catch up on blogs I’ve missed and wanted to mention that the previous post about Bobbi serves to remind us the world is filled with more good people than bad. We just seldom hear about the good ‘uns. Thank you for the inspirational reminder.)
Wally, Bobbi saved my bacon, pretty much literally.
A wonderful, rare capture, Ron! Did you use 20 frames per second to help get it?
Nope, so far I haven’t used that option.
Wow! Then that shot is even more amazing!
Lovely! Almost as good as being able to examine the actual bird, spreading out its beautiful wings, looking those individual spotted and yellow feathers.
Early morning science class – thank you!
“Early morning science class”
I like that perspective, Carolyn. But then you probably knew I would… 🙂
Pretty, pretty pretty!! The color of spring. 🙂
Thanks, Kathleen.
That is just an outstanding photo Ron. Like everything about it. Many are saying the R5 is almost like cheating, but I think it is your skill learned and practiced through these many years.
Everett, at first I thought it was almost like cheating too. But as I gain experience with the R5 I realize more and more that you can’t cheat, at least not much, without the skills to go with it.
Amen to that Ron – yes, I could pick up an R5 and it would do nothing for me
I can almost hear the wings sculling into the air. Very evocative image!
Thanks, Arwen.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Meadowlark in my neck of the woods. Great shot.
Holly, seeing them is almost as much fun as hearing them.
Beautiful.
Thanks, Cathryn.
I like the partial backlighting that helps define the groups of feathers in the
wing– and the “retracted landing gear” is a nice addition/subtraction to the
posture– definitely streamlines the posture– I don’t think I’ve ever seen a photo of a Meadowlark in full flight– beautiful !
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a photo of a Meadowlark in full flight”
I know I have very few of them and it isn’t for lack of trying. Thanks, Kris.
The muted background lends itself wonderfully to this bird frozen in perfect flight. Nothing to distract from appreciating the pure beauty of that which birds do best.
Thank you, Lyle.
Nice! “Something” came together to get the beautiful shot! 🙂 Smaller birds are tough. Nighthawks are something else – sure fun to watch – gave up trying to photograph them in flight long ago! 😉
Hope it continues that there are no “nasty surprises” with your back and solutions can be found shortly
Thanks, Judy. I don’t see nighthawks all that often around here. I used to see more of them in MT.
And look at that alula. I am showing off. I would never have noticed that before my FP addiction fledged. Thank you Ron
I loved your comment, Frances. Made this retired teacher’s day.
He’s super cool, captured in an awesome shot! You may praise the camera, but gear will only do so much without a skilled operator.
Thanks, Shane. You’re right, it “takes two”, gear and operator. And sometimes it’s hard to know which deserves most of the credit.
And thank you for mowing my lawn again yesterday. You don’t know how much that helps the situation!
That’s a lovely image of something I usually fail to appreciate. Thanks for sharing your experiences. I hope getting the images distracts you a little from your pain. Aging ain’t for sissies and disc pain issues suck the color out of life. Best of luck to you in getting this whole process of healing underway.
Thanks, Suzanne. Last night I read the interpreted results of my MRI. My surgeon was right – my back “is a mess” but at least there were no nasty surprises as far as I can tell.
It certainly is tack sharp. Keeping those little guys in the viewfinder is really difficult, especially those with erratic flight paths such as swallows and nighthawks.
Thanks, Kenneth. I think swallows are one of the toughest. I have little experience with nighthawks in flight but I can imagine.