Prairie Chickens Are Booming

TallboyTallboy Registered Users Posts: 71 Big grins
edited April 4, 2011 in Wildlife
First post in the Wildlife section, so any comments and criticism is very, very welcome.

Yesterday was also my first time to witness the spring mating rituals of the Greater Prairie Chicken first hand. What an event to see! I'd been scouting the Lek for a week & half or so and put up a ground blind and moved it in close over a few days time - with predicted high winds coming, I didn't want to leave the blind up and risk losing it, so I had to go in during the week.

Here are a few shots from the 4 hours I was in the blind - again, I'm new to this whole wildlife shooting thing, but it's been a lot of fun so far:

1. The Face-Off

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2. Trying to impress the lady folk

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3. Booming - 1

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4. Two males establishing who's in charge

825079001_PeJar-XL.jpg

Thanks for looking - again, C&C encouraged

Comments

  • raptorcaptorraptorcaptor Registered Users Posts: 3,968 Major grins
    edited April 2, 2010
    Cool set!
    Glenn

    My website | NANPA Member
  • TallboyTallboy Registered Users Posts: 71 Big grins
    edited April 5, 2010
    raptorcaptor wrote:
    Cool set!

    Thanks! I felt privileged to witness it from so close.
  • TallboyTallboy Registered Users Posts: 71 Big grins
    edited April 3, 2011
    It's that time of year again...spent the morning in the blind on the booming ground. Just sorting through - haven't done any editing or cropping yet - got a few that show promise.

    1238211073_sKW8t-XL.jpg

    1238203291_AQLni-XL.jpg
  • DsrtVWDsrtVW Registered Users Posts: 1,991 Major grins
    edited April 3, 2011
    What a great set and cool opportunity and challenging shooting environ. The AF sensor like to grab the grass instead of the bird sometimes. Love the colors
    Chris K. NANPA Member
    http://kadvantage.smugmug.com/
  • TallboyTallboy Registered Users Posts: 71 Big grins
    edited April 3, 2011
    DsrtVW wrote: »
    What a great set and cool opportunity and challenging shooting environ. The AF sensor like to grab the grass instead of the bird sometimes. Love the colors


    Thanks - it is fun...I'm very inexperienced in bird/wildlife shooting, but am wanting to do more and get better. Not a ton of opportunity where I live on the High Plains...

    The first set were from last year - my first attempt, I had no idea what I was doing, what camera settings would work and was not very comfortable with my current camera at that time.

    The first ones in the original post were shot with the Nikon 70-300 VR lens. I struggled with it, and the pictures cropped up...not so great. It was frustrating.

    The second group of two were shot with my new lens - 200-400 f/4 with the 1.4TC. What a difference a year...and some new equipment makes. deal.gif

    I didn't realize the difference until I brought this thread back up...wow.

    a light crop of one of today's images:

    1238441258_9mS2T-L.jpg

    I received some very helpful tips from a very experienced photographer in my region that probably doesn't realize the help he's been as far as settings and approach.

    progress is good. lol3.gif
  • Art ScottArt Scott Registered Users Posts: 8,959 Major grins
    edited April 4, 2011
    Very good Pix...what part of the High Plains did you find the little boomers????
    "Genuine Fractals was, is and will always be the best solution for enlarging digital photos." ....Vincent Versace ... ... COPYRIGHT YOUR WORK ONLINE ... ... My Website

  • TallboyTallboy Registered Users Posts: 71 Big grins
    edited April 4, 2011
    rural Norton County.
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited April 4, 2011
    The colors in your most recent shots are so vibrant! And a beautiful bird that I haven't seen before. Best, Pam
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