Running Male Common Merganser

6 years 3 months ago - 6 years 3 months ago #567030 by Paul-Rossi
A running takeoff down a straight and narrow creek.  Many ducks, including this one, give a clue as to when they will start their run.  They raise their head tall and straight to look far ahead, and within 1 sec there are off.  It helps to recognize that behavior in order to be ready to move the lens and keep the bird in the frame so automatic focus can lock on and you can take a burst of shots.  I manually set shutter speed and aperture so changing backgrounds could not alter correct exposure during the burst.

Make: Canon
Model: Canon EOS-1D Mark II
ISO: 400
Aperture: f/6.3
Shutter speed: 1/3200 sec
Captured: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 22:12pm


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6 years 3 months ago #567082 by Roman Omell
Up up and away!  Way to go on freezing the action 


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6 years 3 months ago #567111 by effron
That's a semi BIF...Well done!

Why so serious?
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6 years 3 months ago #567178 by G Vernon
Well timed, but as you say they are predictable after watching them, re-manual, i do most of the time, but my last bird (heron) i had just finished metering for in the shade, suddenly took flight up into a bright sky - completely blown lol!


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6 years 3 months ago #567193 by Adam Wilson
Well done... Walking on water... 


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6 years 3 months ago #567298 by Paul-Rossi
GJ-Vernon.  There have been countless situations in my past where I have sacrificed certain shots in order to be prepared for specific action shots in specific lighting conditions.  But I am lucky.  Where I live there is so much opportunity for bird photography I can't dwell on missed opportunities.


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6 years 3 months ago #567311 by MYoung
Perfect reflection and balance of colors captured!  How far were you from this guy landing? 


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6 years 3 months ago #567320 by Paul-Rossi
MYoung. This bird was running and flapping to take off down a straight and narrow canal. I anticipated its doing this and it ran/flew into my shadow line as I took a burst of shots. I was about 40 feet away.


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6 years 3 months ago #567333 by Otto F
Man you have some timing figured out!

You have a lot of bird photos, what time of year do you find best? 


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6 years 3 months ago #567462 by KENT MELTON
I've spent all morning looking at your photos I noticed you have here in the gallery and now I see you have some in the forum too.  You have an eye for capturing these birds.  You mind me asking how long you have been at this?  

This shot looks like he is running on top of the water!  :judge:


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6 years 3 months ago #567469 by Paul-Rossi
Otto F. Where I live in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, early to mid-April is best for ducks. April days with strong south winds are excellent for flight photos of hawks at Whitefish point. Mid-May to 2nd week of June is awesome for warblers and other songbirds. Southbound migration is excellent for warblers in Mid-August to Mid-September. Winter can be excellent for wintering owls - Snowy, Hawk Owl, Great Gray, Barred.


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6 years 3 months ago #567470 by Paul-Rossi
Kent Milton. I started in 1997.


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