Flight

[Harryb]

Hi you'll,

The rookery is about as busy as the Orlando Airport.

This spoonbill was a real pain. Just as I pressed the shutter release he decided to relieve himself. I had to do some serious cloning in order to show it on a PG site.
http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/24450940-L.jpg

He he is a little bit closer
http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/24450942-L.jpg

I love the gracefullness of the great egrets
http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/24311109-L.jpg

The snowy egrets are fun to watch
http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/24328407-L.jpg

the head on shots have always been the toughest to nail. When I get one it has alwasy been a matter of luck.

http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/24328425-L.jpg

[Eric&Susan]

At least he was kind enough to "do his business" on his way towards you instead of right above you:rofl I love that second shot, great colors and it fits perfectly in the frame:thumb The third one of the great egret is awesome, I can almost hear his/her wings flapping in the wind.


Eric

[ginger_55]

Fantastic photos, Harry!

Just fantastic.

I am very envious.

Now, I am starting to get lens envy for the focusing, the AF.

And whatever else.

Though I do know that it is the photographer, not the lens. So you are a hell of a photographer.

ginger

heat? I want to know about heat: you and birds.................I don't run the a/c at home so it is not like I am spoiled. I have a dog who is really suffering. If I run it, except when necessary, like the dogs are crated and alone, it will break down..................priorities. Mine.

But, still birds don't have a/c, that heat here has been relentless, the last few times out. And pounding down on a bird's nest, I cannot imagine. The grounds keeper at the gardens said the birds don't stir til dusk. That is not true, they were stirring earlier than that. At dusk all the babies went to sleep and the heron posed in that backlit shot in a tree. They start moving, as in flying to find a roost for the night. The activities still seem to be daylight related.

And I don't see how they can stand it.

How do you? (Hot tub, just occurred to me, a hot tub is more heat)

[ehughes]

Great shots Harry, I love the third one with the wing tips curled up:thumb

[Steve Cavigliano]

Very nice Harry :thumb :thumb


Man those spoonbills sure have pretty wings :lust Love that 2nd shot :clap


Steve

[thebusch]

Harry, you seem to keep outdoing yourself with each series.
Love #3; those wingtips are beautiful.

[Harryb]

Harry, you seem to keep outdoing yourself with each series.
Love #3; those wingtips are beautiful.
:clap :thumb :lynnma :drums :dj :beer :super

Hey Gary!!!

When did you make it over to Dgrin? I'm sorry I missed your arrival. Its great hearing from ya and seeing you over here. Thanks for the kind words.

[thebusch]

Thanks for such a warm welcome! You didn't miss my arrival at all, that was it. Just been hiding in the tall grass for awhile.

[Harryb]

Thanks for such a warm welcome! You didn't miss my arrival at all, that was it. Just been hiding in the tall grass for awhile.It is great to see you here. Now no more lurking http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/nono.gif
And lets see some pics. http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/biggrinbounce2.gif

[Ric Grupe]

...is...

http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/24450942-M.jpg

Those wing feathers are unbelievable!

[Harryb]

At least he was kind enough to "do his business" on his way towards you instead of right above you:rofl I love that second shot, great colors and it fits perfectly in the frame:thumb The third one of the great egret is awesome, I can almost hear his/her wings flapping in the wind.


Eric
Hey Eric,

The Florida birds are much kinder than the NYC birds. In NYC the wait until thet are over the parking lot to unload. :D

Thanks for your very kind comments.

[bfjr]

Ya know Harry I'm not suppose to be here right now, kinda workin on my on Post for later & wifey work :lol

But Man I tell ya every time I see your work I just get frozen in my tracks !!
So I had to reply be back later :D

[ChrisJ]

Incredible... just like a 747!

http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/24311109-S.jpg

I find it hard to comment on your photos, Harry... It always seem like I'd just be repeating what everyone else says: "Beautiful" "Fantastic" "Nice". But I'm always looking and appreciating. :D

[Harryb]

Great shots Harry, I love the third one with the wing tips curled up:thumb
Thanks Ed. I like that one too. :D

[Harryb]

Hey Ginger,

Thank you for those very kind comments. The 80-400VR lens is perfect for the shooting conditions at the rookery.

Heat is easy to handle. If I'm at the wetlands and I get hot I'll just hop in my car, drink some cold water and run the car's ac at full blast. At the rookery they have a snack bar where I can sit down and cool off. I also travel light when it gets hot and only shoot in the early morning or late afternoon.

When I get home after a hot day of shooting I'll set the hot tub to 106 and just relax while guzzling some cold Corona. Life is good. :D

Harry

[jwear]

well Harry the 3rd one is great but i read that somewhere before maybe this thread :D the last shot now i think you can do a little better than bluring those wing tips maybe some post work or ---------:D what can we say if i wasn't so old then i would say when i growed up i would like to be just like you :rofl :rofl

[Harryb]

Very nice Harry :thumb :thumb


Man those spoonbills sure have pretty wings :lust Love that 2nd shot :clap


SteveThanks Steve. I figure that nature owed the spoonbills some nice colors after they stuck them with that ugly head. :smile6

[ginger_55]

My last comments, after a long nap, with the a/c on,

that one bird has hands: they just look like curved wingtips. Birds were not only missing a thumb thing, they were missing the whole hand.

Now Harry has a photo of evolution in progress. Curve the wingtips: a few thousand more years the birds will still be here, but they will have hands.

I thought that every time I saw the photo, now I am cool enough to write it.

cold actually.

great again, Harry and thanks for the response. I don't have any of that. Starting with the a/c in the car right through to the cold beer. don't have those birds, didn't know they existed. Wonderful shots of them you did.

sounds like a great lens.

AF at a distance, with zoom, too.

ginger

Jeff: when we grow up, and retire...........in another lifetime...
You are doing pretty well your own self. I remember yellow feet, I think that was you. the perspective, the bird with the yellow feet where any rock would do.

was going to photograph all weekend since bill is off, go to places I couldn't go in just my car.........was going to, the thing is, same o, same o, with me.

[Harryb]

...is...



Those wing feathers are unbelievable!
Thanks Ric. The lighting was pretty good for that shot.

[BigAl]

Harry, those are awesome shots.:thumb The 2nd spoonbill and the Great Egret is outstanding :clap

:slurpA case of Coronas for these.

regards
alan

[wxwax]

Wow, Harry, yer getting good at this. The cloudy light really makes a difference, too. It's the second time I've noticed how it makes the white birds pop more. And the color on the wings of the first bird looks really nice.

I love how you got the bird body crisp here, but still had a slow enough shutter speed to get some wing tip blur. Really nice piccies, Harry.

http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/24328425-S.jpg

[4labs]

That snowy taking off is just awesome Harry! thnxs for sharing.

[Harryb]

Ya know Harry I'm not suppose to be here right now, kinda workin on my on Post for later & wifey work :lol

But Man I tell ya every time I see your work I just get frozen in my tracks !!
So I had to reply be back later :D
Hey Ben,

Stop goofing off and get back to work!!

Thanks

[Harryb]

Incredible... just like a 747!
I find it hard to comment on your photos, Harry... It always seem like I'd just be repeating what everyone else says: "Beautiful" "Fantastic" "Nice". But I'm always looking and appreciating. :D
Hey Chris,

Thank you very much. ts good to hear that you enjoy my shots.

[Harryb]

well Harry the 3rd one is great but i read that somewhere before maybe this thread http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/icon10.gif the last shot now i think you can do a little better than bluring those wing tips maybe some post work or ---------http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/icon10.gif what can we say if i wasn't so old then i would say when i growed up i would like to be just like you http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/yelrotflmao.gif http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/yelrotflmao.gifhttp://dgrin.com/images/smilies/roflol.gif Thanks Jeff

[Harryb]

Harry, those are awesome shots.:thumb The 2nd spoonbill and the Great Egret is outstanding :clap

:slurpA case of Coronas for these.

regards
alan
Thanks Al and thats the kind of payoff I like. I'm sipping (guzzling actually) one of those Coronas as I type.

[lynnma]

Oh my god Harry!! I was gonna post a duck shot but I changed my mind!

Fantastic shots!!:clap :clap :clap

[Harryb]

Wow, Harry, yer getting good at this. The cloudy light really makes a difference, too. It's the second time I've noticed how it makes the white birds pop more. And the color on the wings of the first bird looks really nice.

I love how you got the bird body crisp here, but still had a slow enough shutter speed to get some wing tip blur. Really nice piccies, Harry.


Thanks Sid. Those head-on shots have always been very difficult for me so I was happy with that shot. Since the wings are moving faster than the body it's not hard to get the body sharp and have some blur on the wings,

[Harryb]

That snowy taking off is just awesome Harry! thnxs for sharing.
Thanks Eric

[Harryb]

Oh my god Harry!! I was gonna post a duck shot but I changed my mind!

Fantastic shots!!:clap :clap :clap
Geez, I was looking forward to seeing a ducky shot too. :cry

Thank you.

[Khaos]

Harry, I know the evil word called "work" will send ya running,:D but you really should have some of these published. :thumb

[Harryb]

Harry, I know the evil word called "work" will send ya running,:D but you really should have some of these published. :thumb
Sigh!!!!!!! I'm going to have consider doing something with these shots sooner or later. Can't say I'm looking forward to it though. :rolleyes

Thanks for your comments.