Shot in the dark

[JohnDC]

Literally. The geese did not fly until well after sunset. This is an experimental shot, all moonlit.

http://www.pbase.com/image/123264895.jpg

[clicketf3]

This is a very nice shot. Love it! Did you apply the Vignette or is it natural. You sure were in the right spot at the right time.

[JohnDC]

This is a very nice shot. Love it! Did you apply the Vignette or is it natural. You sure were in the right spot at the right time.

Thanks! The vignette was the natural moonlighting on the hazy clouds, but I could expand or contract the "halo" in Photoshop by increasing/decreasing the exposure setting (which also increased/decreased the noise).

Regarding being in the right spot, I waited all afternoon for the geese to leave their feeding fields and return to the ponds where they overnighted--something they normally do just before sunset. This evening they were very late in making their move, and I had been experimenting with photographing the moonrise when the geese finally lifted off.

[Awais Yaqub]

This is the photo i have always just imagined ! and you got it and it is a beautiful capture :clap :clap :clap

[catspaw]

love it .... this is an amazing shot. NICELY done!!

[troylim]

John, I like this.

[raptorcaptor]

Nice one, John!

Was this taken at the Salton Sea?

[JohnDC]

Nice one, John!

Was this taken at the Salton Sea?

Thanks, Glenn. Yes, this was shot at the southern Salton Sea--earthquake country for the past several days--but I took the photo during the December 2009 blue moon.
Regards to you and Felicia,
John

[JohnDC]

This is the photo i have always just imagined ! and you got it and it is a beautiful capture :clap :clap :clap

Thank you, Awais, for the nice compliment.

[Giphsub]

Very nicely executed shot! :clap You had an idea and nailed it. Great result.

[kolibri]

Thanks, Glenn. Yes, this was shot at the southern Salton Sea--earthquake country for the past several days--but I took the photo during the December 2009 blue moon.
Regards to you and Felicia,
John

Very nice shot. Was this at the refuge?

[JohnDC]

Very nice shot. Was this at the refuge?

Thanks! Yes, this was in the southern unit of the refuge. Forage grasses seemed to be in short supply when I was there at the end of December 2009. The grass in the fields looked pretty sparse, and the "irigadores" (the people who control irrigation flow to the fields) told me they were taking steps to increase the water and the grass growth. In any case, the geese were continuing to feed through the daylight hours and into the night. The night feeding is something I have not seen there before, which is what set up the flight against the full moon. This is probably more than you wanted to know, but I thought it was interesting how it all worked. The irigadores spend a lot of time standing in the fields to monitor the movement of water and were full of information about the habits of the geese, the coyotes, the growth of the different grasses, etc., which they kindly shared with me.

[nrmdisk]

Very cool! Almost spooky...

[Harryb]

Outstanding capture John, its a real special image that should find some wall space. :clap

[JohnDC]

Very cool! Almost spooky...

Thanks, Neil. "Spooky" was my initial reaction, too. At first it looked more like a Halloween picture than a nature photo....