Its that time of the year

HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
edited December 24, 2013 in Wildlife
Hi Y'all,

Once a year they drain the click ponds by the Viera Wetlands. The fish get caught in the shallow water and the birds flock in for the easy pickings.

the march of the sandhills
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the sandhills depart
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plenty of spoonbills
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the white pelicans arrive
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a crowd scene
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a few raptors made guest appearances
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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!"
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Comments

  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited October 31, 2013
    Harry, I love this series! That first photo, the march of the Sandhills, is my favorite in a long while. It looks surreal, with those lovely pink and blue colors and perfect reflections, and the Roseate Spoonbills in the background. I also especially like the Roseate taking off, the Eagle, and the White Pelicans putting on the brakes. Great shots all.

    Please keep posting! I love seeing your shots. Best, Pam
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited October 31, 2013
    PGM wrote: »
    Harry, I love this series! That first photo, the march of the Sandhills, is my favorite in a long while. It looks surreal, with those lovely pink and blue colors and perfect reflections, and the Roseate Spoonbills in the background. I also especially like the Roseate taking off, the Eagle, and the White Pelicans putting on the brakes. Great shots all.

    Please keep posting! I love seeing your shots. Best, Pam

    Thanks Pam the action on the ponds has been marvelous and the light has been outstanding.
    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!"
  • JeffroJeffro Registered Users Posts: 1,941 Major grins
    edited October 31, 2013
    Very nice.
    Always lurking, sometimes participating. :D
  • denisegoldbergdenisegoldberg Administrators Posts: 14,372 moderator
    edited November 2, 2013
    These are gorgeous Harry!
    My favorites are the "march of the sandhills" and "the white pelicans arrive" but they are all wonderful.

    --- Denise
    https://www.denisegoldberg.com ... https://denise.smugmug.com

    Musings & ramblings at https://denisegoldberg.blogspot.com
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited November 4, 2013
    Jeffro wrote: »
    Very nice.

    Thanks for taking the time to comment
    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!"
  • wave01wave01 Registered Users Posts: 204 Major grins
    edited November 5, 2013
    Thats a great series
  • chrisjohnsonchrisjohnson Registered Users Posts: 772 Major grins
    edited November 5, 2013
    Wow. Stunning shots.
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited November 8, 2013
    denisegoldberg wrote: »
    These are gorgeous Harry!
    My favorites are the "march of the sandhills" and "the white pelicans arrive" but they are all wonderful.

    --- Denise

    Thanks Denise that sandhill image has been very popular. I like it because I followed some advice I impart when I teach a workshop. I always tell my students to take their eye away from the viewfinder and to look at the whole scene before them. When I got this capture I think half the bird photographers in Florida were at the click ponds. Everybody was glued to their viewfinders trying to isolate subjects and the air was filled with the sounds of shutters being released. I was the only one who was looking at the whole scene and the only one who captured this scene.
    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!"
  • denisegoldbergdenisegoldberg Administrators Posts: 14,372 moderator
    edited November 9, 2013
    Harryb wrote: »
    ...I like it because I followed some advice I impart when I teach a workshop. I always tell my students to take their eye away from the viewfinder and to look at the whole scene before them.
    Harry -
    I'm amazed at the number of people who don't look around them. I can't tell you how many times people have commented on one of my photos saying that they were in the same spot but didn't see what I saw.

    I'm glad you weren't glued to the viewfinder because I wouldn't have wanted to miss your photos!

    --- Denise
    https://www.denisegoldberg.com ... https://denise.smugmug.com

    Musings & ramblings at https://denisegoldberg.blogspot.com
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited November 11, 2013
    wave01 wrote: »
    Thats a great series

    Thank you very much
    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 November 17, 2013
    wave01 wrote: »
    Thats a great series
    chrisjohnson wrote: »
    Wow. Stunning shots.

    Thanks very much
    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 November 20, 2013
    a crowd scene that maybe be a caption of [ hell for fish] nice stuff of late Harry thumb.gif things are real slow here :cry
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited November 25, 2013
    jwear wrote: »
    a crowd scene that maybe be a caption of [ hell for fish] nice stuff of late Harry thumb.gif things are real slow here :cry

    Thanks much Jeff and things here were very slow until they drained the click ponds.
    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!"
  • EphTwoEightEphTwoEight Registered Users Posts: 552 Major grins
    edited November 25, 2013
    Ditto what PGM said!! Fantastic
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 5, 2013
    EphTwoEight wrote: »
    Ditto what PGM said!! Fantastic

    Thank you very much
    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!"
  • grimacegrimace Registered Users Posts: 1,537 Major grins
    edited December 6, 2013
    Great captures Harry!!
    -Adam
    www.adamstravelphotography.com

    Facebook
  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited December 7, 2013
    Beautiful series Harry! Love that bald eagle and spoonie image while it takes off!
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

  • rwellsrwells Registered Users Posts: 6,084 Major grins
    edited December 7, 2013
    All great images, but that first one is really special.

    It is so nice that it looks like a first rate composite image. A capture like that is indeed unique thumb.gif
    Randy
  • bhowdybhowdy Registered Users Posts: 658 Major grins
    edited December 8, 2013
    Great images Harry ... Sweet light!
    ________________

    Bob
    Maryville, TN.
    http://bhowdy.smugmug.com/
  • jonh68jonh68 Registered Users Posts: 2,711 Major grins
    edited December 10, 2013
    I hope to take a pic like the first one.
    www.jonimages.com
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 10, 2013
    grimace wrote: »
    Great captures Harry!!

    Hey Adam,

    Thanks and I've been following you on Facebook and been impressed by your great pictures.
    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 December 10, 2013
    Maestro wrote: »
    Beautiful series Harry! Love that bald eagle and spoonie image while it takes off!

    Great hearing from you Stephen. Hope all is well and that you are having a great holiday season.

    Glad you enjoyed the pics.
    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 December 10, 2013
    rwells wrote: »
    All great images, but that first one is really special.

    It is so nice that it looks like a first rate composite image. A capture like that is indeed unique thumb.gif

    Thanks Randy. The response I'm getting to that image has been incredible.
    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 December 10, 2013
    bhowdy wrote: »
    Great images Harry ... Sweet light!

    Wow, I haven't heard from you for a bit Bob. The light has been amazing down here. I love shooting in winter when our light isn't so harsh.

    Hope is going well for you.
    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 December 10, 2013
    jonh68 wrote: »
    I hope to take a pic like the first one.

    I was very lucky. I had the light, the reflections and then the sandhills decided to march against a BG of spoonbills. Everything just worked out perfectly.
    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!"
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited December 10, 2013
    Harry, I have looked at this photo probably 25 times at least--it is so spectacular. One thing I have been wondering. The few pieces of grass or reeds or whatever they are on the far side of the spoonbills in the upper right part of the photo--it looks like it is growing upside down. Is it a reflection of grass growing on a bank just outside your frame, or is it actually grass growing in the water at what seems to me odd angles. This, of course, is not my focus in the photo--I truly love the light and the colors and the improbability of the spoonbills marching in front of those spoonbills in such a perfect way. You have so many stunning photos, but even among the ones I have seen this one is a standout.

    Happy Holidays! Pam
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 11, 2013
    PGM wrote: »
    Harry, I have looked at this photo probably 25 times at least--it is so spectacular. One thing I have been wondering. The few pieces of grass or reeds or whatever they are on the far side of the spoonbills in the upper right part of the photo--it looks like it is growing upside down. Is it a reflection of grass growing on a bank just outside your frame, or is it actually grass growing in the water at what seems to me odd angles. This, of course, is not my focus in the photo--I truly love the light and the colors and the improbability of the spoonbills marching in front of those spoonbills in such a perfect way. You have so many stunning photos, but even among the ones I have seen this one is a standout.

    Happy Holidays! Pam

    I've had a few comments on the grass. I thought about taking it out but it was too close to the spoonies to do easily and I didn't want to mess around with the image. The grass is not a reflection, that's just the way it was growing
    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!"
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited December 12, 2013
    Harryb wrote: »
    I've had a few comments on the grass. I thought about taking it out but it was too close to the spoonies to do easily and I didn't want to mess around with the image. The grass is not a reflection, that's just the way it was growing

    I'm glad you didn't take it out. It is just such a fascinating photo, and the grass is a small part of what makes it so interesting. Best, Pam
  • VinceFowlerVinceFowler Registered Users Posts: 2 Beginner grinner
    edited December 13, 2013
    Amazing Shots, They are giving me good inspiration for my future. I am just beginning and seeing such wonderful shots gives much inspiration!
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 15, 2013
    VinceFowler wrote: »
    Amazing Shots, They are giving me good inspiration for my future. I am just beginning and seeing such wonderful shots gives much inspiration!

    Thanks very much Vince and good luck with your photography.
    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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