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View Full Version : A bear, a heron, and an eagle

coscorrosa
May-29-2008, 06:33 PM
These are all from the last weekend.

Black bear on the way to Mt. Baker in north Washington State. I went to shoot photos of the mountains at sunset, but this guy popped up on the road as I was driving by. After a mad 3 minute (which seemed like an eternity) scramble, I finally had my camera out of the bag with the telephoto lens, the window rolled down, and the car angled so that I blocked all traffic and could get some straight on shots before it scrambled away through the forest.

http://photos.coscorrosa.com/photos/301476755_q5M5k-L.jpg

I may or may not have taken this photo while out of my car...

http://photos.coscorrosa.com/photos/301478031_NKMHf-L.jpg

Great Blue Heron at Nisqually NWR (a lot of contrast in these photos, so I metered for the heron which made the water all white, but I kind of like the resulting effect and the reflection):

http://photos.coscorrosa.com/photos/301928174_PhAgh-L.jpg

Take off:

http://photos.coscorrosa.com/photos/301928962_XVG38-L.jpg

As I was walking through the refuge, I saw this eagle in a tree. Very shortly after, it took off, dove down, and got the fish in this photo (this is the only shot that was reasonably in focus, I was caught off-guard!). It's amazing how far away the eagle was from the fish when it spotted it and took off. Unfortunately, the eagle flew away before I could get any more photos.

http://photos.coscorrosa.com/photos/301931427_N8k4g-L.jpg
NorthernFocus
May-29-2008, 07:22 PM
The heron photo really works, Ron. The isolation of the bird and its reflection is pretty cool. Besides, you can't have those beautiful sunsets in EVERY image that you capture :dunno
Giphsub
May-29-2008, 07:44 PM
Cool set but I really like the heron in flight shot :thumb
coscorrosa
May-30-2008, 02:27 AM
The heron photo really works, Ron. The isolation of the bird and its reflection is pretty cool. Besides, you can't have those beautiful sunsets in EVERY image that you capture :dunno

:D

I usually try to do wildlife just after sunrise and just before sunset, and landscapes just before sunrise, and just after sunset, so they don't overlap too much, on the rare occassions I do both on the same day. Also, it seems like a lot of the wildlife refuges don't open until after sunrise and close right at sunset (which is too bad, as many of them have interesting landscapes as well).
Ric Grupe
May-30-2008, 05:21 AM
I like the gbh in the water. :thumb

Maybe if you made the ripples more distinct it might add to the shot.:dunno
JavaLover
May-30-2008, 05:30 AM
I love the heron taking flight! Awesome! :thumb
kwork
May-30-2008, 06:23 AM
I really like the first heron shot.
Less ripples may be better, but it's great as it is.
Rhinotherunt
May-30-2008, 06:25 AM
Kool shots! What was the lens in the 1st? The bokeh is kind rough...
coscorrosa
May-30-2008, 07:34 AM
Kool shots! What was the lens in the 1st? The bokeh is kind rough...
Ack, you're right, that is rough, I didn't notice. I think it's a combo of the lens and the fact the background was more or less dreadful (a bunch of different color rocks), and possibly because the background plane isn't perpendicular to the lens (it's down a hill).

At least the eyes were in focus. Next time I'll tell the bear to move so I can get a better background, or move closer so I can get a higher quality lens :D

Then lens was a Canon 100-400 in all shots. I've noticed varying qualities of the background blur on this lens too, sometimes it's great, here's an example from earlier this month at the zoo:

http://photos.coscorrosa.com/photos/289656217_om8DA-L.jpg
Rhinotherunt
May-30-2008, 09:46 AM
Ack, you're right, that is rough, I didn't notice. I think it's a combo of the lens and the fact the background was more or less dreadful (a bunch of different color rocks), and possibly because the background plane isn't perpendicular to the lens (it's down a hill).

At least the eyes were in focus. Next time I'll tell the bear to move so I can get a better background, or move closer so I can get a higher quality lens :D

Then lens was a Canon 100-400 in all shots. I've noticed varying qualities of the background blur on this lens too, sometimes it's great, here's an example from earlier this month at the zoo:

That is something... my Canon 24-105 L has the same issue.
dlplumer
May-30-2008, 12:51 PM
Love the Heron shots! :thumb :thumb
dbaker1221
May-30-2008, 02:42 PM
great series. love the 1st bear shot & the GBH:clap
Maestro
May-30-2008, 05:43 PM
The high key background works well with the gbh and in the first bear image I like the angle that the bear is at. What's not to like about an eagle pic? :D
bfjr
May-30-2008, 06:04 PM
Ack, you're right, that is rough, I didn't notice. I think it's a combo of the lens and the fact the background was more or less dreadful (a bunch of different color rocks), and possibly because the background plane isn't perpendicular to the lens (it's down a hill).

At least the eyes were in focus. Next time I'll tell the bear to move so I can get a better background, or move closer so I can get a higher quality lens :D

Then lens was a Canon 100-400 in all shots. I've noticed varying qualities of the background blur on this lens too, sometimes it's great, here's an example from earlier this month at the zoo:

http://photos.coscorrosa.com/photos/289656217_om8DA-S.jpg

Dig them Hyacniths :super

Nice Eagle too :thumb