zackiedawg
Forum Pro
This post will wrap up the lovely shooting day of November 14, 2020 around Green Cay Wetlands - it started as a lovely cooler and sunny day, and I decided to stay all the way through sunset to shoot into the final faded light of dusk. I had been shooting the 200-600mm lens all day, and decided to switch to the 100-400mm GM for the rest of the evening as the light would be dropping fast...especially shooting BIF in very low light, I needed every little bit of faster aperture I was going to get.
All shots are posted at 1800 pixels on the long side if you click through the originals:
The elusive least bittern - one of the first I've seen this winter - and doing what they usually do, hiding in the reeds! (this was the last shot I took with the 200-600mm lens before switching to the 100-400mm as the light was gong to drop fast)
All the rest of the shots are with the 100-400mm GM
Cormorant standing on the roof of the nature center getting some sun - I was chatting with Roscoe (Rgwaller) and decided to take a shot of this guy, who stayed right above us the whole time
This snowy egret stretching its wings almost looked like a preacher sermoning to the flock of moorhens
A green heron, standing on the muddy shallows of reeds...the light was already dropping as the treeline was beginning to block the late winter sun, so I needed ISO 1,000 in the shade
A tricolor heron walking along the shore, looking for an unwary fish to plunge down on (ISO 640)
I saw a low brown shape down in the tall grass, and apparently this marsh rabbit was having a similarly difficult time figuring out where he was going, so he stood up to have a peek over the grass and make sure he wasn't walking into danger (ISO 1,000)
This basilisk lizard was attempting to climb to a higher branch in a tree to get some of the final sun, as it was a cooler day for Florida. I liked this pose as he paused when I pointed the lens at it (ISO 3,200)
Another hiding least bittern, again back behind the reeds (ISO 3,200)
Once the sun had really dropped below the trees and almost set, that's when I decided it would be fun to do some low light BIFs. Starting with this cormorant doing a water takeoff (ISO 1,250)
This lovely ibis flew very close by - I like the low light BIF look just because it's something different - not a lot of people shoot BIFs in very low light, so it's a fun challenge (ISO 2,500)
One more of the ibis fly by (ISO 2,500)
The final strains of sunlight beaming from below the horizon were lighting up the clouds as this pair of egrets came flying past (ISO 500)
And a pair of ibis approached out of the west, with the same cloudy sunset glow behind them (ISO 640)
Very difficult to shoot a black bird against a dark background in shadow at dusk! I almost didn't see this bird approaching until it was within 40 feet, but the AF tracking system was able to find and track it, no problem (ISO 6,400)
Walking back to my car well after sunset, I noticed this great blue heron standing very still along the shore in the shallow water, and took one parting shot - there was almost no light remaining at this point, especially down by the water - F5.6, and ISO 6,400, I could only muster 1/160 shutter speed
Comments, questions, and critique welcomed as always!
--
Justin
galleries: www.pbase.com/zackiedawg
All shots are posted at 1800 pixels on the long side if you click through the originals:
The elusive least bittern - one of the first I've seen this winter - and doing what they usually do, hiding in the reeds! (this was the last shot I took with the 200-600mm lens before switching to the 100-400mm as the light was gong to drop fast)
All the rest of the shots are with the 100-400mm GM
Cormorant standing on the roof of the nature center getting some sun - I was chatting with Roscoe (Rgwaller) and decided to take a shot of this guy, who stayed right above us the whole time
This snowy egret stretching its wings almost looked like a preacher sermoning to the flock of moorhens
A green heron, standing on the muddy shallows of reeds...the light was already dropping as the treeline was beginning to block the late winter sun, so I needed ISO 1,000 in the shade
A tricolor heron walking along the shore, looking for an unwary fish to plunge down on (ISO 640)
I saw a low brown shape down in the tall grass, and apparently this marsh rabbit was having a similarly difficult time figuring out where he was going, so he stood up to have a peek over the grass and make sure he wasn't walking into danger (ISO 1,000)
This basilisk lizard was attempting to climb to a higher branch in a tree to get some of the final sun, as it was a cooler day for Florida. I liked this pose as he paused when I pointed the lens at it (ISO 3,200)
Another hiding least bittern, again back behind the reeds (ISO 3,200)
Once the sun had really dropped below the trees and almost set, that's when I decided it would be fun to do some low light BIFs. Starting with this cormorant doing a water takeoff (ISO 1,250)
This lovely ibis flew very close by - I like the low light BIF look just because it's something different - not a lot of people shoot BIFs in very low light, so it's a fun challenge (ISO 2,500)
One more of the ibis fly by (ISO 2,500)
The final strains of sunlight beaming from below the horizon were lighting up the clouds as this pair of egrets came flying past (ISO 500)
And a pair of ibis approached out of the west, with the same cloudy sunset glow behind them (ISO 640)
Very difficult to shoot a black bird against a dark background in shadow at dusk! I almost didn't see this bird approaching until it was within 40 feet, but the AF tracking system was able to find and track it, no problem (ISO 6,400)
Walking back to my car well after sunset, I noticed this great blue heron standing very still along the shore in the shallow water, and took one parting shot - there was almost no light remaining at this point, especially down by the water - F5.6, and ISO 6,400, I could only muster 1/160 shutter speed
Comments, questions, and critique welcomed as always!
--
Justin
galleries: www.pbase.com/zackiedawg
