Seagull shadow

Ted Szukalski

When photographing birds in flight the most challenging task is to keep them in focus while tracking them in the flight path. A bit of patience and practice will allow photographers to get reasonable results. Digital photography has introduced something that birders loath – the shutter release delay.


Owners of prosumer grade cameras not only have to track the bird via electronic viewfinder with low refresh rate, they also have to anticipate the lapsed time between the shutter release and the actual photograph. Admittedly recent cameras are quite good in this department and owners of digital SLR cameras don’t really have a problem at all.


The photograph attached to this article was taken with Canon dSLR and Sigma 70-200 lens using AI-Servo focusing mechanism. I must admit the amazing shadow was an added and surprising bonus for what I considered was a practice shot.

Skippy

Ted Szukalski wrote:

When photographing birds in flight the most challenging task is to keep them in focus while tracking them in the flight path. A bit of patience and practice will allow photographers to get reasonable results. Digital photography has introduced something that birders loath – the shutter release delay.


Owners of prosumer grade cameras not only have to track the bird via electronic viewfinder with low refresh rate, they also have to anticipate the lapsed time between the shutter release and the actual photograph. Admittedly recent cameras are quite good in this department and owners of digital SLR cameras don’t really have a problem at all.


The photograph attached to this article was taken with Canon dSLR and Sigma 70-200 lens using AI-Servo focusing mechanism. I must admit the amazing shadow was an added and surprising bonus for what I considered was a practice shot.

Hi Ted.........great shadow, looks more like an Eagle in the Shadow doesn't it..... Skippy (Australia)

Ted Szukalski

Hey Skippy,

yes the shadow reminds not so much of an actual eagle but one of these emblematic eagles used in crests or coins. I was very pleasantly surprised when I looked at this photo on my monitor for the first time.

LCD

Very Cool Shot, Ted!!

The color and detail in the sand is another nice element.

Dick on Aruba

Beautiful capture Tedd. THe shadow is awesome.

Thanks for sharing.

Dick.

Ted Szukalski

It is one of these rare cases when you get the shot and you were not even aiming for it.

Dick on Aruba wrote:

Beautiful capture Tedd. THe shadow is awesome.

Thanks for sharing.

Dick.

Ted Szukalski

Thanks, my sigma is pretty sharp but I do add some USM in post processing.

LCD wrote:

Very Cool Shot, Ted!!

The color and detail in the sand is another nice element.