Spur of the moment shoot with Andy

Steve CaviglianoSteve Cavigliano Super Moderators Posts: 3,599 moderator
edited February 9, 2005 in Wildlife
Hello all,
I was just sitting at work, minding my own business when my cell phone rang. "Hey, it's me, Andy" I looked at the clock and it was around 2:30. "I'm at the airport and will be picking up my car in about 20 minutes, you want to go shoot some?" Oh man, he went for my weak spot right off the bat :lol

So we met up an hour later and headed over towards Half Moon Bay. It was overcast, but we thought we might get some breaks in the cloud cover nearer to the beach :rolleyes Worse case, we'd eat well :rofl

We got there after 4 and the light was going pretty fast. We saw a Great Egret but he spooked while we were parking the car. Before the light got too bad I saw this Red Shouldered Hawk. So while Andy was changing lenses, I followed him with the Bigma attached. Caught up to him (or got fairly close, like 60 ft) and got a few decent shots. I would have loved to get closer, or have had better light. As it was I shot him wide open :uhoh Oh well....lol
39570158.jpg

The Egret returned and let us shoot our fill (a fence kept us from getting closer) while he munched on tadpoles and baby frogs :eat


39568706.jpg

Shooting into the Sun, I caught a shot Andy shooting seagulls. Or, maybe it was nude sunbathers :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl
39569776.jpgI

Before the light went completely, I caught this runner stirring up the gulls :lol3
39569018.jpg

No dramatic sunset :cry No major colors :cry Just a bit of orange and pink :cry
39569733.jpg

Not the best day of shooting. But as late as we got there, it wasn't too bad. And, like they say, the worst day of shooting is better than being at work :D:D

So we headed over to one of favorite places to eat and made sure the day ended on a positive note :) We're going to try and shoot again on Thursday. Maybe the beach again, but further South :dunno I don't know what kind of pics we'll get, but the seafood is great on the wharf :thumb :thumb

Thanks for looking,
Steve
SmugMug Support Hero

Comments

  • NirNir Registered Users Posts: 1,400 Major grins
    edited February 9, 2005
    Hey Steve!

    The hawk is a beauty! I also love the sunset with the gulls lined up at the bottom!
    __________________

    Nir Alon

    images of my thoughts
  • gusgus Registered Users Posts: 16,209 Major grins
    edited February 9, 2005
    Steve...nice shots as always. What are all the black spots though..noise ?
  • gusgus Registered Users Posts: 16,209 Major grins
    edited February 9, 2005
    Hot pixels maybe ?
  • ginger_55ginger_55 Registered Users Posts: 8,416 Major grins
    edited February 9, 2005
    Good pictures. I really like that first bird. Pretty thing. Egrets are getting to be a dime a dozen. I have to shoot them, though, just gotta, I don't see things like your first bird.

    I like your sunset, I am getting tired of orange sunsets, too. Maybe I should move to a different planet...........or Africa, I just do the same old fishing holes.

    I like your photo of Andy, too.

    Andy, what lens do you have on to shoot gulls?

    Nice to see you all enjoying yourselves. Are photographers lucky, or not!

    ginger
    After all is said and done, it is the sweet tea.
  • DeeDee Registered Users Posts: 2,981 Major grins
    edited February 9, 2005
    The hawk is great!
    I hardly ever see them close enough to shoot. Mostly sitting on the telephone pole tops!

    No, boring sky and ocean today, that's for sure. We got back from Fremont around 4:30, pretty light on the water but then it turned kind of gray, just a hint of coral.

    Hey, you got out of work, right? clap.gif
    http://www.deegolden.smugmug.com
    http://www.twitter.com/deegolden
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 9, 2005
    Hey Steve,

    Some very nice shots there. I liked the water action in the egret shot. I hope it wasn't too tough on Andy watching the egret eat. rolleyes1.gif

    Great shot of the kid with the camera. The shot of the jogger and the gulls flying is wallworthy.
    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!"
  • ehughesehughes Registered Users Posts: 1,675 Major grins
    edited February 9, 2005
    Great Shots Steve, and I agree with Harry, the jogger and the gulls is awesome. thumb.gif

    I'd say you made the right decision, looks to me like that would beat an afternoon at work any day.
    Ed

    www.edhughesphoto.com
  • fishfish Registered Users Posts: 2,950 Major grins
    edited February 9, 2005
    Here's how it really went down...
    39569776.jpg

    Andy: "Okay Steve, I'll put down the ribs and grab my camera. You shoot me as though it were candid, okay?"

    Steve: "Uh, sure Andy. Do I have to?"

    Andy: "Yes and I want you to post it as big as possible on dgrin."

    Steve: "okay boss...if you say so. But that lens is kinda short, don't you think people will question the authenticity of the shot?"

    Andy: "nah, they're a bunch of dopes. Just pull the trigger. Oh wait...can you get over to my left so you can get my bling in the shot? Thanks. Okay on the count of three, I'll look away. One...two..."

    Steve: "click rolleyes1.gif"
    "Consulting the rules of composition before taking a photograph, is like consulting the laws of gravity before going for a walk." - Edward Weston
    "The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."-Hunter S.Thompson
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 9, 2005
    fish wrote:

    Andy: "Okay Steve, I'll put down the ribs and grab my camera. You shoot me as though it were candid, okay?"

    Steve: "Uh, sure Andy. Do I have to?"

    Andy: "Yes and I want you to post it as big as possible on dgrin."

    Steve: "okay boss...if you say so. But that lens is kinda short, don't you think people will question the authenticity of the shot?"

    Andy: "nah, they're a bunch of dopes. Just pull the trigger. Oh wait...can you get over to my left so you can get my bling in the shot? Thanks. Okay on the count of three, I'll look away. One...two..."

    Steve: "click rolleyes1.gif"
    Sounds about right. When I shot with Andy in NYC a typical shoot went like this. I would meet Andy at Starbucks around 9

    me: "ready to go/"

    Andy: "I need another Latte"

    10:00 AM we start to shoot. 10:30 AM

    Andy:" I see a Starbucks over there I need a Latte."

    Me: "But Andy ..... " Andy starts to hold his breath and tears start forming in the corners of his eyes.

    11:00 AM we start to shoot again

    11:30

    Andy: "time for Lunch"

    12:30 we start to shoot again

    1:00

    Andy: "time for Starbucks"

    1:30 we start to shoot again

    1:45

    Andy: "its time for lunch"

    Me: "but Andy we already ate"

    Andy: "I'm hungry, I'm hungry, I'm hungry"

    2:45 we start to shoot again

    3:00
    Andy: "lets go to B&H. I want to buy a new camera."

    4:00
    Andy: "lets hit Starbucks before we go home"

    I shot with Andy for over a year and never had to change the CF card on my camera. I did gain 50 pounds and a nervous tick from too much caffine.
    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!"
  • Steve CaviglianoSteve Cavigliano Super Moderators Posts: 3,599 moderator
    edited February 9, 2005
    Nir wrote:
    Hey Steve!

    The hawk is a beauty! I also love the sunset with the gulls lined up at the bottom!

    Thanks Nir :D

    Like I mentioned, I wish I could have gotten closer to the hawk. I threw away 90% of that shot ne_nau.gif


    Thanks for taking the time to comment,
    Steve
    SmugMug Support Hero
  • Steve CaviglianoSteve Cavigliano Super Moderators Posts: 3,599 moderator
    edited February 9, 2005
    Humungus wrote:
    Steve...nice shots as always. What are all the black spots though..noise ?
    Laughing.gif Gus,
    I think what you are seeing is either gulls resting on the water or driftwood. We had some storms, last week and there's still crap floating around in the water. Andy and I saw alot of dead gulls at this particular beach :cry

    I'm sure I have a pile of dirt on my sensor, but I seldom shoot above F10. So I never see it :)

    Thanks for the nice comments and don't worry about sensor dirt/dust. It is much less of an issue than I used to believe :D


    Steve
    SmugMug Support Hero
  • Steve CaviglianoSteve Cavigliano Super Moderators Posts: 3,599 moderator
    edited February 9, 2005
    ginger_55 wrote:
    Good pictures. I really like that first bird. Pretty thing. Egrets are getting to be a dime a dozen. I have to shoot them, though, just gotta, I don't see things like your first bird.

    I like your sunset, I am getting tired of orange sunsets, too. Maybe I should move to a different planet...........or Africa, I just do the same old fishing holes.

    I like your photo of Andy, too.

    Andy, what lens do you have on to shoot gulls?

    Nice to see you all enjoying yourselves. Are photographers lucky, or not!

    ginger
    Thanks Ginger,
    Yep, I don't see many red shouldered hawks either. Nice change of pace from those oh-so-common egrets....lol Although, as you point out, they are there so we're gonna take pics of it. Common, or not.

    Lemme know when you get your ticket for Mars. I'd sure like to see a sunset from there too mwink.gif

    We always have a good time. Sometimes we even come back with a good pic, or two, as well as full stomachs lol3.gif

    Thanks for taking the time to look,
    Steve
    SmugMug Support Hero
  • Steve CaviglianoSteve Cavigliano Super Moderators Posts: 3,599 moderator
    edited February 9, 2005
    Dee wrote:
    I hardly ever see them close enough to shoot. Mostly sitting on the telephone pole tops!

    No, boring sky and ocean today, that's for sure. We got back from Fremont around 4:30, pretty light on the water but then it turned kind of gray, just a hint of coral.

    Hey, you got out of work, right? clap.gif
    Thanks Dee :)

    Yeah, this guy was sitting on one of those little chimney vents on top of the ranger station when I first saw him. I got too close and he flew to that bush. Got too close again, and he split for good :cry He was very pretty. Another 20 feet closer and I think I could have gotten some nice detail. Oh well, guess I'll have to do that some other day....lol

    The light wasn't the worst we've had, but you are right, it was flat. But as you point out, it was wayyyyyyyyyy better than work :lol


    Thanks again,
    Steve
    SmugMug Support Hero
  • Steve CaviglianoSteve Cavigliano Super Moderators Posts: 3,599 moderator
    edited February 9, 2005
    Harryb wrote:
    Hey Steve,

    Some very nice shots there. I liked the water action in the egret shot. I hope it wasn't too tough on Andy watching the egret eat. rolleyes1.gif

    Great shot of the kid with the camera. The shot of the jogger and the gulls flying is wallworthy.
    Thanks Harry :D

    Well, Andy asked what I thought this guy was eating (he couldn't see with his wide lens and no multiplier rolleyes1.gif ) I said, remember all the frogs we heard last time we were here? I think he's eating tadpoles and baby frogs. Andy then asked if anywhere nearby served frog legs lol3.gif The boy is always thinkin...about food that is......lol

    J/K I am as bad as Andy is. The good thing about shooting with him is that he, like me, wraps it up early, so we are never late for dinner....lol

    Thanks for the nice comments and start saving your pennies for the next Dgrin get together mwink.gif So yes, that means no 500mm until after the get together....lol

    Steve
    SmugMug Support Hero
  • Steve CaviglianoSteve Cavigliano Super Moderators Posts: 3,599 moderator
    edited February 9, 2005
    ehughes wrote:
    Great Shots Steve, and I agree with Harry, the jogger and the gulls is awesome. thumb.gif

    I'd say you made the right decision, looks to me like that would beat an afternoon at work any day.
    Thanks Ed :D

    You betcha. Plus Andy is always fun to talk to (did I mention we always eat well too? :lol ) I agree that a blah day at the beach is much nicer than a blah day at the office thumb.gif


    Thanks for your comments,
    Steve
    SmugMug Support Hero
  • Steve CaviglianoSteve Cavigliano Super Moderators Posts: 3,599 moderator
    edited February 9, 2005
    fish wrote:
    39569776.jpg

    Andy: "Okay Steve, I'll put down the ribs and grab my camera. You shoot me as though it were candid, okay?"

    Steve: "Uh, sure Andy. Do I have to?"

    Andy: "Yes and I want you to post it as big as possible on dgrin."

    Steve: "okay boss...if you say so. But that lens is kinda short, don't you think people will question the authenticity of the shot?"

    Andy: "nah, they're a bunch of dopes. Just pull the trigger. Oh wait...can you get over to my left so you can get my bling in the shot? Thanks. Okay on the count of three, I'll look away. One...two..."

    Steve: "click rolleyes1.gif"

    Laughing.gif Fish,
    Andy had such a wide angle lens attached that I think he got the whole California coast in the frame rolleyes1.gifrolleyes1.gifrolleyes1.gif

    Actually, he was sort of miffed that I took this shot. You know he's a private sort of guy.....lol Plus, I think he knew I'd post it and that you and Harry would come up with exactly what you came up with :lol :lol :lol :lol


    Although we did have to stop at Starbucks on the way home. It's sort of a tradition. We eat a fantastic meal and then stop for a latte on the way home rolleyes1.gif Which is fine by me since Andy is usually driving and he's prone to jet lag. I say drink all the latte's you want. It's those roadside pit stops, they cause, that scare me.....Laughing.gif

    Thanks for looking,
    Steve
    SmugMug Support Hero
  • gusgus Registered Users Posts: 16,209 Major grins
    edited February 9, 2005
    Steve Cavigliano wrote:
    Laughing.gif Gus,
    Thanks for the nice comments and don't worry about sensor dirt/dust. It is much less of an issue than I used to believe :D


    Steve
    thumb.gif cool ...cool. I was concerned about that dust given the enviroments i shoot in.
  • Steve CaviglianoSteve Cavigliano Super Moderators Posts: 3,599 moderator
    edited February 9, 2005
    Harryb wrote:
    Sounds about right. When I shot with Andy in NYC a typical shoot went like this. I would meet Andy at Starbucks around 9

    me: "ready to go/"

    Andy: "I need another Latte"

    10:00 AM we start to shoot. 10:30 AM

    Andy:" I see a Starbucks over there I need a Latte."

    Me: "But Andy ..... " Andy starts to hold his breath and tears start forming in the corners of his eyes.

    11:00 AM we start to shoot again

    11:30

    Andy: "time for Lunch"

    12:30 we start to shoot again

    1:00

    Andy: "time for Starbucks"

    1:30 we start to shoot again

    1:45

    Andy: "its time for lunch"

    Me: "but Andy we already ate"

    Andy: "I'm hungry, I'm hungry, I'm hungry"

    2:45 we start to shoot again

    3:00
    Andy: "lets go to B&H. I want to buy a new camera."

    4:00
    Andy: "lets hit Starbucks before we go home"

    I shot with Andy for over a year and never had to change the CF card on my camera. I did gain 50 pounds and a nervous tick from too much caffine.
    Harry,
    I'm not touching this one :uhoh

    But I did laugh my large behind off about this one deal.gif

    3:00
    Andy: "lets go to B&H. I want to buy a new camera."

    Hey, he only went through 5 cameras last year. That's normal behaviour, isn't it? :lol4


    Steve
    SmugMug Support Hero
  • ian408ian408 Administrators Posts: 21,948 moderator
    edited February 9, 2005
    Nice shot of the hawk there Steve!

    Ian
    Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
  • Steve CaviglianoSteve Cavigliano Super Moderators Posts: 3,599 moderator
    edited February 9, 2005
    ian408 wrote:
    Nice shot of the hawk there Steve!

    Ian
    Thanks Ian :D

    He sure was pretty, but really shy :cry Sometimes, hawks will let you get really close if they are perched high. Not this fella. He must have not liked that longggggg black lens pointed at him....lol


    Thanks for looking,
    Steve
    SmugMug Support Hero
  • pathfinderpathfinder Super Moderators Posts: 14,708 moderator
    edited February 9, 2005
    Great images and a great story Steve. I hope Harry really is a good friend of Andy. If not he is really pushing the envelope, don't ya think? rolleyes1.gifrolleyes1.gif
    Pathfinder - www.pathfinder.smugmug.com

    Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
  • ian408ian408 Administrators Posts: 21,948 moderator
    edited February 9, 2005
    Steve Cavigliano wrote:
    Thanks Ian :D

    He sure was pretty, but really shy :cry Sometimes, hawks will let you get really close if they are perched high. Not this fella. He must have not liked that longggggg black lens pointed at him....lol


    Thanks for looking,
    Steve
    I was hunting one perched on a wire out here at the dump...I'm sorry, Waste
    Transfer Facility (:D) here in Sunnyvale. I got just to the point he would have
    filled the frame and poof! Gone.

    BTW, the first Wednesday of the month there's a bird walk led the Santa Clara
    Audobon Society. Noon (so not the best for pitchas).

    Ian
    Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
  • AndyAndy Registered Users Posts: 50,016 Major grins
    edited February 9, 2005
    pathfinder wrote:
    Great images and a great story Steve. I hope Harry really is a good friend of Andy. If not he is really pushing the envelope, don't ya think? rolleyes1.gifrolleyes1.gif

    harry used to be a really good friend of mine. i've moved on, he was too high maintenance, y'know what i mean? deal.gif
    Andy

    Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 9, 2005
    pathfinder wrote:
    Great images and a great story Steve. I hope Harry really is a good friend of Andy. If not he is really pushing the envelope, don't ya think? rolleyes1.gifrolleyes1.gif
    Andy knows that I was kidding (I hope). He has done a few numbers on me in the past and he probably will do a few more in the future. Andy is the only thing I miss about NYC. I do miss shooting with him.
    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!"
  • fishfish Registered Users Posts: 2,950 Major grins
    edited February 9, 2005
    Harryb wrote:
    Andy knows that I was kidding (I hope). He has done a few numbers on me in the past and he probably will do a few more in the future. Andy is the only thing I miss about NYC. I do miss shooting with him.

    :sweet:feelgood


    rolleyes1.gif
    "Consulting the rules of composition before taking a photograph, is like consulting the laws of gravity before going for a walk." - Edward Weston
    "The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."-Hunter S.Thompson
  • AndyAndy Registered Users Posts: 50,016 Major grins
    edited February 9, 2005
    steve staring down that egret
    15624842-L.jpg
    Andy

    Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
  • AndyAndy Registered Users Posts: 50,016 Major grins
    edited February 9, 2005
    Harryb wrote:
    Sounds about right. When I shot with Andy in NYC a typical shoot went like this. I would meet Andy at Starbucks around 9

    me: "ready to go/"

    Andy: "I need another Latte"

    10:00 AM we start to shoot. 10:30 AM

    Andy:" I see a Starbucks over there I need a Latte."

    Me: "But Andy ..... " Andy starts to hold his breath and tears start forming in the corners of his eyes.

    11:00 AM we start to shoot again

    11:30

    Andy: "time for Lunch"

    12:30 we start to shoot again

    1:00

    Andy: "time for Starbucks"

    1:30 we start to shoot again

    1:45

    Andy: "its time for lunch"

    Me: "but Andy we already ate"

    Andy: "I'm hungry, I'm hungry, I'm hungry"

    2:45 we start to shoot again

    3:00
    Andy: "lets go to B&H. I want to buy a new camera."

    4:00
    Andy: "lets hit Starbucks before we go home"

    I shot with Andy for over a year and never had to change the CF card on my camera. I did gain 50 pounds and a nervous tick from too much caffine.

    this from the man who can't pass thru midtown without a stop at john's pizza lol3.gif
    Andy

    Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
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