This Cliff Swallow colony has nested in the same place forever! Every year I swear I’m going to spend more time at it than the year before and get the image. Sadly, some years I don’t make it down at all, other years which this is looking to be like, only once. It kills me to have such a marvelous opportunity and not take advantage of it. You see, what makes this colony of Cliff Swallows special is, they are nesting below eye level and just feet away! Yep, don’t have to shoot up at them but down. How cool is that!
So there I am shooting away with the D4s / 800mm /TC-1.25e on the Gitzo 5561SGT w/ Zenelli Carbon Fiber Gimbal Head trying to get the shot I’ve always wanted. It comes from a photo I saw long ago, taken in film days with a pretty elaborate flash set up. Back then not having the money for the flash, I set out to get the shot with what I had, the sun. It makes it challenging and this year, I got the closest I’ve ever gotten only to find, sun isn’t key. Biology is!
What’s the shot I’m after? Well, it’s not the bottom image of them flying in. That’s pretty simple, watch the mud hut with the most activity and just wait. In this case, the swallow is coming in with more building material, a mouth full of mud. If you have a handful of duck down, you can throw a couple feathers in the wind and the swallows will be your best friend as they catch it on the wing and take it into the cup. Nope, those aren’t the images I’m looking for.
I want the shot of them coming out of the hole and taking flight. I got much closer this time, physically with the gear, to the side rather in front and saw that when they explode out, they have their wings totally tucked in. In fact, they explode out, fall and then start to fly. Getting that shot of them taking to the wing right out of the hole requires a windy day when the wind gives them the ability to take flight without the downhill momentum. Now if I had been more observant, and more important my finger working faster, I think I would have captured the frame showing this to me sooner. But now I know. So the next trick is to remember that next year and, spend more than one morning with them. If nothing else, sure is fun trying!
