Shooting at the rookery

HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
edited May 28, 2006 in Wildlife
Hi y'all,

I've been doing most of my recent shooting at the rookery up in St. Augustine. Shooting there presents some challenges I don't face in other locations. Usually you go out and look for a subject. At the rookery the problem is not finding a subject but of picking it out of hundreds of possibilities. Heres a section of one tree

70231433-L.jpg

The problem here is not finding a subject but isolating one.

70231410-O.jpg

I liked how these two were famed but I could have done w/o the 3rd hatchling on the right.

The wood storks chicks are hard to shoot becasue the storks nest on top of the tree. Its hard to get a shot that's not obscured by the nest and when they bring food to the young they drop it in the middle of the nest so when the chicks are feeding you usually only see their butts sticking in teh air as they turn towards the food.

70231483-O.jpg

The smaller birds nest lower in the trees but usually towards the inside where they are obscured or in the shade.

70231466-O.jpg


70231476-O.jpg

One thing the rookery is great for is flight shots. They is a constant flow of birds flying into and out of the nests,

70231447-O.jpg

70231528-O.jpg

It is kind of rough but I think that I will make a few more trips up there before the season ends.

67551888-O.jpg
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

  • SeefutlungSeefutlung Registered Users Posts: 2,781 Major grins
    edited May 23, 2006
    Kinda like shooting fish in a barrel Harry. The last is my fav. With all those photo opps ... maybe wasteing some memory on a pan or two ... just to see what you can get would be nice.
    My snaps can be found here:
    Unsharp at any Speed
  • Osprey WhispererOsprey Whisperer Registered Users Posts: 3,803 Major grins
    edited May 23, 2006
    Nice series Harry thumb.gifthumb.gif I do like that secondt one. The WSIF is always enjoyable. Amazing something that ugly can fly. rolleyes1.gif
    Mike McCarthy

    "Osprey Whisperer"

    OspreyWhisperer.com
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited May 23, 2006
    This one. thumb.gif

    70231476-M.jpg

    Nice to see you are out.clap.gif
  • wxwaxwxwax Registered Users Posts: 15,471 Major grins
    edited May 23, 2006
    Something's changed, Harry. Your blues are much deeper, richer, more pleasant. Look great!
    Sid.
    Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
    http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
  • evil eggplantevil eggplant Registered Users Posts: 464 Major grins
    edited May 23, 2006
    Beautiful, Harry. Just lovely.
    Harryb wrote:
    Hi y'all,

    I've been doing most of my recent shooting at the rookery up in St. Augustine. Shooting there presents some challenges I don't face in other locations. Usually you go out and look for a subject. At the rookery the problem is not finding a subject but of picking it out of hundreds of possibilities. Heres a section of one tree

    70231433-L.jpg

    The problem here is not finding a subject but isolating one.

    70231410-O.jpg

    I liked how these two were famed but I could have done w/o the 3rd hatchling on the right.

    The wood storks chicks are hard to shoot becasue the storks nest on top of the tree. Its hard to get a shot that's not obscured by the nest and when they bring food to the young they drop it in the middle of the nest so when the chicks are feeding you usually only see their butts sticking in teh air as they turn towards the food.

    70231483-O.jpg

    The smaller birds nest lower in the trees but usually towards the inside where they are obscured or in the shade.

    70231466-O.jpg


    70231476-O.jpg

    One thing the rookery is great for is flight shots. They is a constant flow of birds flying into and out of the nests,

    70231447-O.jpg

    70231528-O.jpg

    It is kind of rough but I think that I will make a few more trips up there before the season ends.

    67551888-O.jpg
    ___________________________________
    "exxxxcellent" -C. Montgomery Burns
    __________________________________________________
    www.iceninephotography.com
  • boogieboogie Registered Users Posts: 553 Major grins
    edited May 23, 2006
    Outstanding series. I simply love the lone Great Egret and the 3D effect.
    Beautiful. clap.gif
  • raianraian Registered Users Posts: 260 Major grins
    edited May 23, 2006
    Good to see you out and about again. Awesome series! I really like #3. The subtle colors of that bird are beautiful. Those woodstorks are some real ugly birds mwink.gif
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited May 23, 2006
    Seefutlung wrote:
    Kinda like shooting fish in a barrel Harry. The last is my fav. With all those photo opps ... maybe wasteing some memory on a pan or two ... just to see what you can get would be nice.

    Thanks. It is a place filled with photo ops. I got some memory to spare, I'll give it a go.
    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!"
  • Scott_QuierScott_Quier Registered Users Posts: 6,524 Major grins
    edited May 24, 2006
    I don't know Harry. You sound like some sort of spoiled child. You return with some of the most amazing bird captures (and just to prove the point, you include 6 or 10 more amazing shots). Then you complain about having to isolating one subject from another.:D The rest of us should have it so bad.

    I think I would like to suffer through a day or two of those kinds of challenges. rolleyes1.gif

    In fact, the wife and I are going to do just that next spring, assuming creek don't rise.
    Scott
    My Photos
    Thoughts on photographing a wedding, How to post a picture, AF Microadjustments?, Light Scoop
    Equipment List - Check my profile
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited May 24, 2006
    Bird Man Photographer wrote:
    Nice series Harry thumb.gifthumb.gif I do like that secondt one. The WSIF is always enjoyable. Amazing something that ugly can fly. rolleyes1.gif

    Thanks Mike. I got to tell you that after a while the wood storks don't look so ugly. Anything is better than some tired old osprey. :lol:poke
    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!"
  • Trish323Trish323 Registered Users Posts: 908 Major grins
    edited May 24, 2006
    Hi Harry,

    Looks like you have had a great season at the rookery! Wonderful shots!
    I keep hoping I will get to go..maybe next week....barring no new babies, fires or rain...............
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited May 24, 2006
    Thanks Ric. These shots were taken before I got sick but I am up and about now.
    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 May 25, 2006
    wxwax wrote:
    Something's changed, Harry. Your blues are much deeper, richer, more pleasant. Look great!

    Thanks Sid. Its funny I posted a shto from this day at another site and got jumped on for oversaturating the blues ( I hadn't, honest). :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!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited May 25, 2006
    evil eggplant wrote:
    Beautiful, Harry. Just lovely.

    Thnak you Rich.
    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 May 25, 2006
    boogie wrote:
    Outstanding series. I simply love the lone Great Egret and the 3D effect.
    Beautiful. clap.gif

    Thnaks Andrea. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
    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!"
  • gildcogildco Registered Users Posts: 179 Major grins
    edited May 25, 2006
    Nice captures, Harry. I particularly like the little Blue Heron. Your pictures are always fun to look at because you capture so many birds that I rarely see, and because they are great compositions. Good work, and keep them coming.
    Gil
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited May 25, 2006
    raian wrote:
    Good to see you out and about again. Awesome series! I really like #3. The subtle colors of that bird are beautiful. Those woodstorks are some real ugly birds mwink.gif

    These were taken before my illness but I'm up and about and I went out shooting today. Thanks for the kind words.
    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 May 25, 2006
    I wish we could find a rookery here but not yet headscratch.gif great shots Harry thumb.gif
    Jeff W

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

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • PhotosbychuckPhotosbychuck Registered Users Posts: 1,239 Major grins
    edited May 26, 2006
    Hi, Harry
    Great Photos!
    I have decided to take more nature and wildlife photos.
    I love how your photos capture the natural habitat for the animals.

    Take Care,
    Charles Cassidy,
    Marshall, NC
    D300S, 18-200mm VR, 70-300mm VR

    Aperture Focus Photography
    http://aperturefocus.com
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited May 26, 2006
    Great series, Harry. I really like those egret family shots. And the stork is something you don't see very day. Great photos, all of them.

    Regards,
    -joel
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
    Link to my Smugmug site
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited May 26, 2006
    Scott_Quier wrote:
    I don't know Harry. You sound like some sort of spoiled child. You return with some of the most amazing bird captures (and just to prove the point, you include 6 or 10 more amazing shots). Then you complain about having to isolating one subject from another.:D The rest of us should have it so bad.

    I think I would like to suffer through a day or two of those kinds of challenges. rolleyes1.gif

    In fact, the wife and I are going to do just that next spring, assuming creek don't rise.

    Scott I spent 57 years in NYC. Complaining is an art form up there. You will have a blast when you get to the rookery next year.
    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 May 26, 2006
    Trish323 wrote:
    Hi Harry,

    Looks like you have had a great season at the rookery! Wonderful shots!
    I keep hoping I will get to go..maybe next week....barring no new babies, fires or rain...............

    Hey Trish,

    Thanks and its good to be hearing from ya again. wave.gif

    Now is a great time to get up there. The great egrets chciks are all over the place at various satges of development, the wood stork chicks are big enough to shoot, the snowy egrets and the little blue and tri-colred heron chicks are hatching and the cattel egrets also should have hatched by now.
    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 May 26, 2006
    gildco wrote:
    Nice captures, Harry. I particularly like the little Blue Heron. Your pictures are always fun to look at because you capture so many birds that I rarely see, and because they are great compositions. Good work, and keep them coming.

    Thanks much Gil. Its great living down here with the variety of wildlife that we have.
    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 May 27, 2006
    jwear wrote:
    I wish we could find a rookery here but not yet headscratch.gif great shots Harry thumb.gif

    Thanks Jeff. If I were king everybody would have a rookery to shot at.
    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 May 27, 2006
    Photosbychuck wrote:
    Hi, Harry
    Great Photos!
    I have decided to take more nature and wildlife photos.
    I love how your photos capture the natural habitat for the animals.

    Take Care,
    Charles Cassidy,
    Marshall, NC

    Thaks Charles and I'm looking forward to seeing your nature/wildlife shots.
    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 May 28, 2006
    kdog wrote:
    Great series, Harry. I really like those egret family shots. And the stork is something you don't see very day. Great photos, all of them.

    Regards,
    -joel

    Thank you very much Joel.
    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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