There isn’t a wildlife photographer who doesn’t owe a debt of gratitude to the Great Blue Heron. They patiently put up with us in the beginning of our passionate pursuit of wildlife photography. This big bird makes us feel successful. Being a bigger bird, they have more confidence permitting us to get closer physically to them. At the same time, being bigger we don’t need to have as big lens or lots of skill to get a good images size in the viewfinder. We comeback with photographs that make us feel successful, so we move to other subjects that challenge our skills knowing we conjured them with the amiable GBH. But many don’t go back to the GBH, I often hear, “I’ve photographed them a lot already.” Which of course, we’ve all done but have we don’t it well? Have we made the common, uncommon?
Great Blue Heron captured by D6 / 180-400VR
The Great Blue Heron is the species, subject that taught me the all-important lesson of making the common, uncommon in my photograph. There is nothing more common to the wildlife photographer then the GBH. They are found in nearly every corner of North America, wild or urban. I have thousands of Great Blue Heron image, thousands and looking through them, you will see a gradual lever of improvement. I’m constantly photography them trying to improve on my last image and the story it told. I was very fortunate to add to this quest yesterday floating on Caddo Lake. I’m quite excited by the opportunities I had this week to move the ball forward with the Great Blue Heron. If I hadn’t started with them forty years ago, I wonder if I would have moved the ball forward without such a big measuring stick. I think we owe a lot, to the amiable GBH!
Long, long ago Caddo Lake, TX was put on my list of locales I had to get too. Sadly, it’s taken nearly four decades to make that happen. It is such a gorgeous place, I’m sadden it’s taken so long to get here but so happy I finally made it. Not widely known to folks, I came here for birds amongst the bayou but it’s the bayou itself that has grabbed my imagination and fills be with awe each sunrise. The dew point is perfect to bring out a fog across the water. The batches of color here and there bring the eye to the vertical texture of the intriguing Cypress. Man, it’s simply gorgeous.
Caddo Lake captured by D6 / 180-400VR
The question comes up with every click though, color or B&W? It’s a very texture rich target that looks romantic with every click in B&W. The subtle shades of gray punctuated with orange and red here and there makes color a slam dunk with any click. So then when you’re assembling the elements in the viewfinder, which way do you turn? This is how I solved the question in my own mind. With the hint of light kissing the fall color, I shot in color. And when there was no direct hint of light and the Spanish Moss really brought out the texture, I went B&W. The toss-up was the cold blue trunks leaking through the fall color. Sometimes I went color and sometimes I went B&W. The one thing for sure, I plan on being back to explore Caddo Lake much more thoroughly. A boat appears to be a key in that exploration which is exciting to plan. More time is also needed as this is a place time has forgotten. It’s a local all wrapped up in delicate, sublime beauty!
I’ve photographed every Jay in North America over the past forty years. One, the Blue Jay has eluded me and while I’ve seen them forever, I’ve had no luck getting glass on them. A very common bird who thousands have photographed, I wasn’t one of them until finally, today.
I love Jays! I had one in Santa Barbara at the house that would come down and take peanuts from me. In Mammoth, we had Squeaky, a Stellar Jay that would keep us company around the property. I photographed them a lot! When we moved to The Ranch, one of the first things we found was a pile of blue feathers, a Blue Jay that had been taken out by the resident Cooper’s. I figured they wouldn’t come around much after that. So a month later when we heard a Blue Jay, I thought there might be hope.
In the last month, we’ve had four pop in and out of the feeders but were incredibly shy. Finally this afternoon I made my mind up to at least get glass on one. There I sat in the 38 degrees photographing every bird species BUT the Blue Jay. Just when the sun had left the perches and I was about to wrap things up, I heard them call. Moments later one landed in the branch to give me an eye. It sat long enough for a couple of clicks, then it went to the feeder for a moment and then, gone. The good news is, I broke the jynx. The better news, I can only improve on this photo cause it finally happened.
The color has really popped in the last 24hrs with the cold snap. The combination of crisp air and the warm autumn light made shooting the fall color a snap, and incredibly relaxing. And this morning, the background was just as cool as the foreground.
Sheep Creek, UT captured by Z6 / Z14-30
The photo at the I was pointed to the south. I turned to the west still standing in the same spot and shot the photo above. The only skill I brought to the situation was able to get up early and drive, Mother Nature did all the rest.
The birds are heading south right now and in really great numbers. You can see for yourself for your area with BirdCast. One even set another record going from Alaska to Aukland, a Bar-tailed Godwit who made the 7500 miles journey in 11 days. Dang! It takes fuel to do this and that’s when we want to photograph them, refueling. We don’t want to cause them issues feeding, just photograph them doing such. And if you are there right now, you’ll photograph many in their breeding plumage like this Marbled Godwit.
Marbled Godwit captured by D5 / 800mm
The best way to get the photograph is actually real simple, just requires a little biology and technology combining. First, find their food source. Second, find the best background. Third, Position yourself so you’re at the distance you need for the image size you desire with the food source between you and that background. Fourth, place yourself in that spot and then wait for the birds to come to you. Do not chase them, they need to save those calories for migration. They will come to you cause they want that food and when they come on their own terms, you’re golden.
This applies to any bird species but when it comes to shorebirds, I would add into the mix, get down flat on the sand. You are not only less of a threat, the angle of view is great. And remember to have a sense of humor while shooting. When you’re all wet, it helps to tell their story as they are heading south.
