Minnesota Loons (56K warning)

SteveF · August 9, 2006

Hello,

I recently had a few mornings to try and get some pictures of the Common Loon - the state bird of Minnesota. It is a tough one (for me) to photograph for several reasons - contrast of the white breast and black feathers, the fact that they move quite quickly around the lake and the fact that I've been chasing them by myself in a canoe, which can be a bit tipsy.

Anyway, here are several put together to show some of their behaviors and looks in different types of light.

1. Landing - they land with their necks extended and feet behind them. This makes for a nice splash. I liked the warmth of the sunrise light on this one's breast as well.

2. Taking off #1 - they "run" on the water for some time before getting airborne. The "footprints" they leave on the water were pretty cool I thought.

3. Take off #2 - I lost the detail in the head on this one, but it was a different angle and so I put it in.

4. Take off #3 - I liked this one as you could "see" the feet running and the footprints left behind.

5. Drying the wings while looking at the sunrise. Actually they just turn into the wind to do this - it just happened that the wind and sun were lined up this particular morning. I was disappointed that I couldn't save the highlights in the breast, but really wanted to capture the light coming through the wings.

6. Drying the wings with the wind from the opposite direction - gives a very different look

7. The saying "crazy as a loon" comes from the sound of a loon's call - on a still quite lake it might sound eerie to some. (I love it, but hopefully that doesn't mean anything.) Here's three swimming together in the fog just as the sun rose when one of them did the "call"

I don't have the classic shot of a loon which is of the babies riding on the back of their mother, but I'm sure I'll take a shot at it next spring.

Some were taken with a tripod in the canoe, but after my tripod and gimbal head fell in the lake they were mostly handheld with a 500/4. :uhoh No biggie as I was able to dive for them and get everything back. Wimberly has even cleaned and shipped the head back within a week - great service.

c/c more than welcomed - esp ways that you would think to improve things.

mushy · August 9, 2006

What a great series of photo's and they tell a bit of a story about the bird too

As far as ways to improve I can't really help with, except that maybe in photo #4 the bird seems a little dark and gets a little lost in the background. Perhaps a little photoshop tweaking would lift him off the background.

Am sure those in the know will have more helpful advice:D

Harryb · August 9, 2006

Wonderful shots Steve. The last one is a real stunner.

Dick on Aruba · August 9, 2006

Awesome series Steve. My favorites are 3, 5 and 6.

Good work.

Thanks for sharing.

Dick.

Cinda · August 9, 2006

Wonderful shots and I liked the explanations of their behavior, too. Thanks for sharing.

pathfinder · August 11, 2006

Superb series of shots. Very nicely captured and explained.

You have to have tried to do this kind of shooting, to really realize just how difficult it can be to capture. Well done!!