Exclusive: Tern Takes A Dive

[ginger_55]

I think it is a Tern anyway? Thanks for the look see, comments welcome!

ginger (I hate to have to start towards the beginning, but hang on, the "exclusive" shot is here!)

http://gingerSnap.smugmug.com/photos/51837068-L.jpg


http://gingerSnap.smugmug.com/photos/51837071-L.jpg

A crop on that:

http://gingerSnap.smugmug.com/photos/51837073-S.jpg

Below: a clean entry,

http://gingerSnap.smugmug.com/photos/51837078-L.jpg


A crop on that:

http://gingerSnap.smugmug.com/photos/51837080-M.jpg


The denoument:

http://gingerSnap.smugmug.com/photos/51837082-L.jpg


http://gingerSnap.smugmug.com/photos/51837083-L.jpg


Monday, January 9, 2006

f 5.6, 200 ISO, 400mm, 1/1600

by ginger

[Bird Man Photographer]

Nice series, Ginger. Not an easy track to capture. :thumb :thumb

[Thusie]

Way to go Ginger:clap:clap:clap That be a pretty cool series:thumb

[ginger_55]

I gave up on focusing, saw the bird go down and shot! Did it twice. The first time the focus was terrible, the second time...............well, I figure I got lucky!

And he "parted the waters"!

I am ecstatic on that shot. I wish it were a bit cleaner in the background, but the one of "the fall", well, it is very clean.

I am thinking perhaps I should figure out how to frame it. Or I could make a group out of these.

Just "blind" luck, no clue what I was seeing, as I wasnt'. Happened too fast.

And they say equipment doesn't matter.

My Canon 20D took these shots, for the most part. I just kind of directed!
(the camera, the bird wouldn't take direction, smile.)

Now those fancy Nikons? More expensive Canons? Better????

ginger

[Stormdancing]

Great action shots Ginger. I love how the water is splashing up between his wings.

[Eric&Susan]

Great series Ginger:clap I'm sure the camera didn't do all the work, give yourself some credit also.

Eric

[ginger_55]

Thanks Eric and Susan,

I did make the sighting of a bird darting here, there and down.

Really, the camera was a big help. I could not lock the focus, so that was a decision I just made to waste memory if I had to. I was not stressed about it. A simple walk with the dogs.

Interesting fast darting bird.

Now the camera, it has this burst feature...............not as good as Ben's machine gun, but it happened to fire right on this bird's descent! W/o that I would have been dead in the water. I did push the button..........I did do the settings.

Other than that, I will say, I still do say, equipment matters, and this is an example where my equipment was my best partner of the moment. I don't know how many times I have tried to get a shot of a pelican splitting the water. I cannot time it in my own head, I just don't have a good enough sense of timing, so the burst thing, it just kept shooting, and I was lucky. IMO.

Thanks for the nice words. I am proud of it!

ginger:D

[jwear]

good set of shots G the dive is always hard to get --fast guys nice work :thumb

[JCDoss]

Very cool shots, Ginger! I saw something in these photos that I didn't expect. The tern's feet are in the forward position as s/he enters the water. I would have expected them to be pointed rearward for a smoother entry. Maybe they're positioned that way for some underwater paddling? Anyway, very impressive shots for such fast action and you taught me something at the same time! :thumb

[bfjr]

tough action to capture and you got it
Well done :thumb

[Steve Cavigliano]

Very kewl series Ginger :thumb

Sometimes you see one vertical shot, but not a series like this. Really nice exposure too :clap


Steve

[Rohirrim]

Nice series Ginger. Great action captured.

[Dee]

I find it difficult to just watch these terns they fly so fast, change direction so quickly. By the time I see one and lift the camera to focus they're gone! So you did good. Why do you think they invented burst mode???? :rofl :rofl :rofl

[Harryb]

:thumb Excellent series Ginger