This shot is from this evening where I finally had some time to sit by a pond that is about a 5-minute walk from my backyard. Normally this pond has an assortment of very skittish wood ducks, Canada geese, and mallards. I have never been able to do much wildlife photography here despite it being so close. In the 11 years or so we have lived here, I have never seen many egrets in this pond, let alone a large group.
Over the past month or so on my morning walks with our dog, I have been noticing Great Egrets flying overhead. First, it started with just one or two, then the numbers began increasing. When I started counting 9, 10, 12 egrets flying overhead, I really became intrigued at where the heck they were going. Flying off towards the east in the morning, and flying back Northwest in the afternoons almost like clockwork. Little did I know how close their overnight roosting spot really was.
Well, I finally noticed them driving by this pond one day – one of those “Ah-ha!” moments. Tonight was the first chance I had to just go out there, sit, and wait for them to arrive. Just as the sun fell below the treeline, one by one they began to fly in.
I packed up and left shortly after getting this image – it was essentially what I was after. The light was getting really low. This image was shot at ISO6400 on my D700, 500 mm f4 with a 1.7X converter, and my shutter speed was still only 1/100 sec.
I am hoping this becomes a regular roosting spot for them year after year. If not, I was happy for the opportunity to spend this short time with them.
A striking composition where the monochromatic decision
leaves me in awe.
Very very nice work, Mark!
And, I hope you will see more of these Great Egrets.
Which, I am sure you will.
Best Wishes
Seung Kye
By the way, there are pluses and minuses to wild animals being skittish. It may be a challenge for photographers, but be glad they are spooked easily. When the wild animals are no longer that way, then they are no longer wild, as has occurred around the area I live in to a significant extent. People feed the squirrels and deer and then they are no longer afraid of humans, which is just the beginning of their problems at that point.
Thanks David for your thoughtful remarks. While I agree that it is probably in the animal’s best interest to be skittish, I don’t necessarily believe they need to be afraid to be wild. I look upon my experience with the bears in Katmai for example. I believe one can be accepted by a wild animal as non-threatening. And certainly there are examples in Africa where a lion may keep company with animals that may eventually become their prey.
But I fully understand your ultimate point, such as bear feeding in some of the national parks. That only leads to trouble.
Great work. I like the composition and the tension of the forms within the tranquility that perhaps was a reflection of the state you went into while waiting for such a photograph.
ISO 6400? Wow. Absolutely stunning. Love the reflections, the black and white, and of course the one egret stretching it’s wings. Such a beautiful image.
Thanks Amber. The one egret above really made the image for me.
I also have a 5 minute walk to one of the Metro Parks and so enjoy my times there. A couple weeks ago I was shooting some leaves along a ravine when out of the corner of my eye I noticed a nice buck. He was just grazing on the edge of the ravine, keeping an eye on me. At that moment there was no reason for a photograph. I stood there for several minutes and watched my evening show.
I think egrets are beautiful birds and wish for the opportunity to see more of them. So, I consider you lucky to have this chance. I also like it black and white. post processing. Thanks, Mark!
Must be nice Monte. I keep hoping to run into a nice buck near my house, but they always show up when it is dark! We all have our wildlife treasures near us I suppose.
It is a curious thing how difficult it is to photograph local wildlife. I have had the same problem with the herd of deer that lives here and the ducks on our local pond! What an excellent image this is. The experience of seeing the egrets must have been amazing.
It has been a mixed bag for me locally, and much the same with deer. Very skittish – can’t blame them really.
Thanks very much Roberta. I was glad they stuck in a close nit group for the “group picture” moment.