#otfa

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I feel a sense of partial success in that my intentions for this shot I think are clear to the viewer. There is partial ambiguity in the ‘hedging my bets’ aspect with the framing, to be sure, as I quickly tried to decide which bird should get full attention. In retrospect, it seems clear that the flying bird was the more dynamic choice and the framing ought to reflect that. The attempt to include the second bird for contrast was ambitious, but folly.

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I find it useful to remind myself at times that the bird is generally indifferent to my presence and certainly has no interest in making my chosen task of making an attractive picture any easier.If it cared, it would offer some sort of pre-emptive gesture or would telegraph its projected leap more clearly, and I would be prepared. Possibly these helpful gestures exist and are visible to the trained eye. If so, I neglected them in this case.

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It’s very satisfying to identify the flight path of your target and confidently pan with the movement to keep the subject sharp. It is less satisfying to realise the pylon was awkwardly positioned.

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Here is a great indication of how auditory cues are so important to the birder. I heard a Little Raven call over to my left, I swung the camera around and started snapping away, confident that I would capture the bird I had identified by its call. Sadly my ears are about as crap as my myopic eyes and here is the result. As a Bonus Extra, this post has been guest edited by Felix with his suggestion for an approach to the ‘Ones That Flew Away’ calendar. I think he may be on to something.

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So often in bird photography, the main problem is getting close enough to your chosen subject to get a decent shot. With some birds, such as the humble seagull, getting close is not difficult. In fact, getting too close becomes a real possibility. 

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Shorebirds or Waders offer a particularly dynamic action when they shoot out their head to snatch up some tasty aquatic morsel. A well timed snap of the shutter and you are rewarded with possibly a splash, maybe even capturing the struggling prey trapped in the beak. Alternatively, you can time things so that the money shot happens behind a rock. It’s not just where you point the camera, it’s where you stand that makes the difference between a great shot and this. As a bonus, it’s often noted that a good photographer is acutely aware of their frame, of the border which they place around their chosen subject. Keen eyed viewers will note that I’ve also managed to cut the head off the Egret in the background. It’s a two for one shot.

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I’m not entirely sure what went wrong. One moment I was watching the heron through the viewfinder, awaiting that magical moment when it would launch itself into the air and I would capture its beautiful outspread wings and then it all happened in a bit of a hurry and I jerked the camera in my excitement and this was the sorry result. Did manage to catch a bit of wing but not entirely the complete picture I had envisaged.

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I realise that the title of this blog suggests I’m only struggling with birds in the air. Nothing could be further from the truth. I find that shorebirds, waders, or any bird simply strolling around can also be a challenge for me. This gorgeous specimen is an Australasian Coot, obviously in a bit of a hurry down at Newport Lakes. I was interested in capturing the intriguing juxtaposition of the coots and swamp hens with their environment. I feel I may have partially succeeded.