Birds in Flight
Read MoreBufflehead
Shooting Bufflehead from my inflatable kayak is the ultimate game of cat and mouse. It's incredibly difficult to get close to these guys, and it takes a delicate balance of skill and luck to anticipate their escape when the inevitably flee the boat. One technique I use is to push the birds into an undeveloped corner of the harbor because the backing shoreline prevents them from flying directly away; it forces them to escape more across my bow or along the side of the boat where I stand a chance of capturing them. Only once the birds have committed to an escape can I stop repositioning the boat, drop the paddle, and reach for the camera. I only have a second or two to square the bird, acquire focus, and capture before it's gone. So, yeah, this represents a pretty awesome result. The gold water is created by earthen cliffs in the background. I wasn't initially a fan of the blue ripples as I wanted an entirely gold surround, but they grew on me as I processed the image.
Pillar Point Harbor, Half Moon Bay, San Mateo County, California, 2/5/20
Canon 600mm f/4 IS II + 1.4x III on EOS 1DX Mark II
1/4000 at f/5.6, ISO 640
- No Comments