A flipping good time

HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
edited March 5, 2010 in Wildlife
Hi Y'all,

On Saturday I went up to the Merritt Island NWR and came upon a reddish egret who was putting a show on.

The reddish egret is a medium sized egret whose main US haunts are Texas and Florida. There are only an estimated 1,500 -2,000 mating couples in The US.

They are one of the most active egrets if not the most active. Their hunting routine where they race across the water with their wings spread is a blast to watch.

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They spread their wings for a purpose. The shadow cast by the wings reduces the glare in the water so they get a better view of their prey.
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I started with the intent and hope to catch a few "Reznick Flips" where the bird flips its catch between its bill in order to get it into position to swallow (usually head first). I captured over 40+ hunting sequences and took over 700 pictures and managed to get the following flips.

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Harry
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"

Comments

  • IraRunyanIraRunyan Registered Users Posts: 1,013 Major grins
    edited February 22, 2010
    Way to go Harry! Outstanding set with fantastic colors. clap.gifthumb
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  • Mark EdellMark Edell Registered Users Posts: 672 Major grins
    edited February 23, 2010
    Some very sweet shots there! I love the action thumb.gif
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  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Major grins Rockledge, FL on the Space CoastPosts: 0 Major grins
    edited February 23, 2010
    #1, the beautiful reflection, and the first flip. And as Ira said "fantastic colors. thumb.gif

    700 pictures. How many Gig did that work out to be?

    A day well spent.
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 24, 2010
    IraRunyan wrote:
    Way to go Harry! Outstanding set with fantastic colors. clap.gifthumb



    Thanks Ira.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • NorthernFocusNorthernFocus Registered Users Posts: 1,347 Major grins
    edited February 25, 2010
    Very cool, Harry. Great set but that first one is awesome thumb.gif
    Dan

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  • SnowgirlSnowgirl Registered Users Posts: 2,155 Major grins
    edited February 25, 2010
    Great shots and you obviously have the patience of jobe!thumb.gif

    How long were you there to get these?
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  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 25, 2010
    Snowgirl wrote:
    Great shots and you obviously have the patience of jobe!thumb.gif

    How long were you there to get these?


    Thanks very much. These did not require alll that much patience wise. The action was non-stop and you are too busy tracking the egret and shooting to pay any attention to time. From the exif data on the images it took me a bit over an hour to get my captures of the egret.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited February 25, 2010
    You meen to say that while shooting wildlife you lost track of time headscratch.gifeek7.gifne_nau.gif
    I thought that was the idea :ivar wings.gif
    I have heard of the flip deal.gif and it does look like you got it thumb.gif Great shots Harry clap.gif
    Jeff W

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  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 25, 2010
    jwear wrote:
    You meen to say that while shooting wildlife you lost track of time headscratch.gifeek7.gifne_nau.gif
    I thought that was the idea :ivar wings.gif
    I have heard of the flip deal.gif and it does look like you got it thumb.gif Great shots Harry clap.gif


    Thanks Jeff. I never knew about the flip until I took Ron Reznick's workshop. After a day of shooting we were reviewing the day's captures and Ron showed us his capture of the flip. We were blown away by it because none of us had ever seen it before. Hence we named it the "Reznick Flip".
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 25, 2010
    Mark Edell wrote:
    Some very sweet shots there! I love the action thumb.gif

    Thanks Mark.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • dlplumerdlplumer Registered Users Posts: 8,081 Major grins
    edited February 25, 2010
    Wow Harry, you out did yourself with this series. I love the light and clarity on these super captures clap.gifclap.gifclap.gif
    Dan
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  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 25, 2010
    Jim K wrote:
    #1, the beautiful reflection, and the first flip. And as Ira said "fantastic colors. thumb.gif

    700 pictures. How many Gig did that work out to be?

    A day well spent.

    Thanks Jim. I don't pay attention to gigs, etc. My D3 has a 16 gig card in one slot and an 8 gig card in the second slot. I haven't run out of memory yet. :D
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited February 26, 2010
    Very interesting and well captured series, Harry. thumb.gif

    The second one (as good as the rest are) really takes the prize IMO. mwink.gif
  • GaleGale Registered Users Posts: 1,052 Major grins
    edited February 26, 2010
    Great shots Harry
    That is one funny bird to watch
    I love that bird
    Best Regards
    Gale

    www.pbase.com/techwish
  • raptorcaptorraptorcaptor Registered Users Posts: 3,968 Major grins
    edited February 26, 2010
    All good, but #2 is excellent! clap.gif
    Glenn

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  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited February 26, 2010
    Nice set Mr B! thumb.gif Well done with the flips (even though you had to waste so much film :D) I really like #1.
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  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 27, 2010
    articblooms wrote:
    Very cool, Harry. Great set but that first one is awesome thumb.gif

    Thanks Dan. I like that capture but I messed up the comp on it. I like my reflections captures to have about equal space on above the head and below the reflection's head.

    I'm reworking that capture and will have a post about it shortly.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited March 1, 2010
    dlplumer wrote:
    Wow Harry, you out did yourself with this series. I love the light and clarity on these super captures clap.gifclap.gifclap.gif

    Thanks Dan, we had some fine light that morning.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • Gary752Gary752 Registered Users Posts: 934 Major grins
    edited March 2, 2010
    This one is Awesome!!!!!
    Harryb wrote:
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    Hi Harry! I really love the timing on the above shot! On a score of 1 - 10, I'd give it a 20+!!!!

    GaryB
    GaryB
    “The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it!” - Ansel Adams
  • deb22deb22 Registered Users Posts: 428 Major grins
    edited March 3, 2010
    These are WOW !!!!!!,no words to describe. My favorites are #6 and the one where he's about to grab.The intensity inhis eyes is unreal.BEAUTIFUL SET HARRY, We don't get anything but the white up here in northern alberta so it's wonderful to see these beautiful bird portrayed so lovely.clap.gifclapclap.gif
    COUNTRY ROADS ARE NATURES HIGHWAY. http://dafontainewildlife.com
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited March 3, 2010
    Ric Grupe wrote:
    Very interesting and well captured series, Harry. thumb.gif

    The second one (as good as the rest are) really takes the prize IMO. mwink.gif


    Thanks Ric and that's my fave of the set also.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited March 5, 2010
    Gale wrote:
    Great shots Harry
    That is one funny bird to watch
    I love that bird


    Thanks Gale
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
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