Wildlife Photography
When photographing wildlife you may have the option of waiting for the right posture, change a angle, or even whole point of view. It’s not easy but you can try.
However, you have no control over the general environment. If the background is mud, the image will be mud.
When a bird chooses an interesting location it’s an added bonus.
It doesn’t matter how many Pelican photographs i have taken in the past.
The very fact that I can is still amazing.
And when the next opportunity comes along, I will do it again.
As a young adult in New York City I had gone away a few times to ‘sunny climates’. I marveled at the Pelicans. I still do, just more often.
Publishing on a web site has it’s own series of challenges in regards to image formats. Some Readers and other web sites typically don’t display larger sized ( 8×10 for example) without chopping off the top.
I held aside these photographs not sure if they would be used on-line at all. However, since I have a few and the first photograph here does fit now they are lumped together in this single article.
The first is a Little Blue Heron, a full adult with what remains of some breeding colors.
The next is a Great Egret. The long out stretched neck made a nice shot, just one that would be cut in half by outside web sites. I think a search thumbnail would show a white neck only.
The Great Blue in a 4×3 format came out nice, but same problem.
Last is an adult Tricolored Heron. I was disappointed the branches blocked a clear shot. The bird is an accurate presentation of the look and stance, so against my better judgement it’s included.
Anyway, by placing problematic formats together here I made the best use of these photographs I could.
I grabbed this shot as we took a shortcut through a plantation. The original gardens had several ponds, which they still maintain. It’s not a garden pond in the traditional sense, part is manicured but some a little wild (with the expected local critters).
One turtle had taken up residence on an old log, another wanted his space. I expected a slow motion tug of war.
I took the shot even though all they did was snuggle up, turtle style.
A Green Heron showing a little ‘attitude’.
I don’t think this has been a very good year for Butterfly’s. I have not seen many at all. Even in the plantations, which have a huge number of flowering shrubs, they have been scarce.
This was taken in a flower garden in front of the main house of Magnolia Plantation (down the road so it’s an easy visit).
Magnolia and Middleton plantations have had some of the most recognized and famous gardens since the mid 1600’s. Talk about pressure.
I always know we can find a few to photograph in their garden.
Disclaimer here, I assume this is the same less than pleasant Alligator. There are no distinguishing marks I have seen.
The marsh water is hidden by tall grass, but a little way down the dike is an open trunk with water flowing a little. You can see here and it’s clear. No Alligators.
Now when you walk back, well the big guy has heard you coming, and is waiting. This is a regular occurrence at Hog Island.
Once he climbed up and over with purpose, but it was a while ago. He did walk me down the trail back to the car. Obviously it made an impression.
These photographs were shot at strange, and really awkward angle.
The Heron was tucked in a thicket, hanging over marsh pond.
In order to shoot these I had to do much the same, hang over a marsh pond. Not something I would recommend with a heavy long lens.
I only grabbed a few quick shots, for obvious reasons.
When the Heron finally spotted me I quit. I considered that he could fly, I could fall.
There were other Herons nearby.
