Jacana

[gail bisson]

1DMKIV
F 4.0 500mm and 1.4x convertor
SS 1/2500
f 7.1
ISO 800
Small crop ~ 20%
I took about 1600 images of these birds and I think I have 6 keepers. Shooting these birds is the ultimate in frustration.
Firstly, they continuously zig and zag. There is always a lily or debris in front of the raised foot or an OOF flower in front of the face or a lily stem intersecting the neck. A clean BG in this lily pad infested environment is as likely as winning the lottery.
You are hanging over the edge of the boat, hand holding your gear to get that low POV ,and the aluminum trim on the boat is searing hot in the 44C weather and burning your inner arm (and delicate upper body lady parts) as you hold your camera.
Your knees are also burned and scraped from the floor of the boat and the guide thinks you are certifiable as you swear and curse at the little basta@#$ ( the jacana, that is). Drops of sweat mixed with sunscreen trickle into your eyes and so you rub your eyes thus applying sunscreen directly to your eyeballs. The stinging then makes my eyes water even more and now I can't see a **** thing. Not only are my shots out of focus, the world is as well.
Then the bird moves away from the boat or the sun is no longer at your back so you ask the guide to reposition the boat. He does so gladly and starts the boat up but the roots of the lily pads are caught up in the propeller and now the guide is upset and struggling with the motor and by the time he gets everything going again the bird has flown off.


Comments and critiques are always appreciated and learned from with thanks
Gail

[Karl Egressy]

I like your story and I like your picture a lot. After reading about your frustration and hardship I appreciate the result even more.
Striking image, Gail. What does it carry?

[Don Nelson]

I have found gardeners Kneepads work wonders while kneeling. Great story. I like the position of this bird with prey. Nice one!

[gail bisson]

I like your story and I like your picture a lot. After reading about your frustration and hardship I appreciate the result even more.
Striking image, Gail. What does it carry?

I should have mentioned that- it is a lily bud. He pulled it out of the water, ran with it for a meter or so, then dropped it.

[Richard Stern]

Hi Gail,

A nice description of the problems getting the picture, and a very nice picture. Sharp, detailed, nice and low, and well placed in the frame. As I presume this wasn't in NS, where did you take it?

Richard

[gail bisson]

Hi Gail,

A nice description of the problems getting the picture, and a very nice picture. Sharp, detailed, nice and low, and well placed in the frame. As I presume this wasn't in NS, where did you take it?

Richard

Hi Richard,
This was taken in the Okavengo Delta in Botswana 2 weeks ago.

[Dan Busby]

I feel your pain Gail! I had a good try at a related species in Costa Rica last year and can relate to nearly every one of your story lines. So many frames come out with blurry feet. But when you take 1600 shots you certainly increase the odds that timing on a few will be spot on and in this one you got it, including a glint in the eye (was that a wink?). I'm really glad you caught a great view of that foot - that's what really makes these critters what they are. After all that story there's no way I am going to say anything critical!

[Grace Scalzo]

I may be risking a lashing when I offer this idea after reading of all your hardships, but I think a trim from the bottom (To just above your sig) might be something to consider. It really is a fine image, full of color, environment, motion, and story. I bet you can tease a bit more detail out of the whites in the face. Your efforts paid off handsomely!

[Melissa Groo]

I was laughing so hard as I read this and feeling like I was right there with you experiencing all that too. I know what it's like to be uncomfortable as all get-out but to still persevere to try to accomplish one's vision; in fact sometimes the challenges make you more resolute! I think your perseverance really paid off. I really like the action captured here, that monstrous foot raised in mid stride, the lily pad in the beak, the water droplets everywhere. I think you are well enough separated from the background and I love all the clear and vivid details. A wonderful portrait, Gail, nice work!
I could see another version with some trimmed off the out of focus bottom (while still allowing for the virtual foot).
After I posted this I saw that Grace was writing at same time, with same suggestion!

[Randy Stout]

GAIL:

Very nice capture, love that foot, low angle, colors, item in bill, and of course the story!


Agree about a small trim off bottom.

Cheers

Randy

[dankearl]

Wow, I would not change a thing. The environment is very nice to me. I think the
mudflat looks great.
The IQ is first rate and the lily is a plus.
Your story is very nice to hear, the seeming idiotic things we do to get Bird pictures?
We have a niche hobby, a very rewarding one and your photo is evidence.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Gail, I may not have shot from a bobbing boat, but Ive certainly had sunscreen in my eyes, and it stings. Your low perspective has turned out well, and well timed to capture and show the large raised foot. This is a good open capture, and part of a lily pad in the beak adds. Colours are spot on, and agree, coming up from the bottom.

Just got to laugh at your introduction - classic.

[Satish Ranadive]

Gail:
Absolutely superb image of jacana with beautiful colors.
Love the pose with raised foot,water droplets all over and lily bud in the beak.
Very nice story of your hardship.

Regards,
Satish.

[arash_hazeghi]

well looks like a pain in the bu** but it paid off.

Jim and I were shooting eagles in Alaska, it was about (20F) with snow, if you forget to put your hands in your pockets your fingers become numb in a few minutes so when the action happens you can't even press the shutter! I think we took something like 2.5K shots to get the interaction frame we wanted.


fine image, dynamic and with all the elements. well done

[David Salem]

Welcome back Gail. Very funny story only because we can all relate. Good job going the extra mile. Those Freddy Krugger feet are awesome. Exposed well and sharp. The lily flower in its mouth is cool too. Good work...

[Vivaldo Damilano]

Fantastic story Gail, had a good laugh. I have been on the Chobe river several times but havn't been successful getting this species. Once I managed to get a good shot of a Juv Jacana. Great photography though, well worth the pain LOL, love the low angle, full beak, colors, BG and raised foot well done.

[gail bisson]

Thanks all for your helpful comments. Here is a repost with crop from the bottom and Detail Extractor (Nik Color Efex) at 4% on the whites.

[Grace Scalzo]

Great re-post. You should print this one, first because it is so interesting, secondly to remind you of your efforts!

[Arno Ellmer]

Welcome back,Gail ! Superb capture and everything came together on this one.I love the low angle and the foot up position.
Had a quiet chuckle when reading your story . Been there done that -- same location ,same boat, same temperature , same birds ,same frustration.
Did you get any Lesser Jacana , the less common of the two ?

[Jim Crosswell]

Great image and story Gail! I like the action, sharpness and composition in the repost.

[Shawn Zierman]

Really great text to go with image....and congrats BTW. If this was the only image out
of 1600 that was a keeper, I'd say it was well worth it. The behavior captured is excellent.
The repost rocks even harder than the OP.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Gail, I empathise but there is a sort of reward that comes with success after suffering - your shot is excellent and it will mean all the more to you having remembered what it took to get it. Th extra crop helps emphasise those enormous feet. A truly first class shot.

[Robert Holguin]

Excellent shot!!!
Had a good laugh as I read your story and you did a magnificent job on this shot.
Excllent low angle, love the raised foot, the bud really adds more interest to an already great shot.
Repost is terrific.
Well done.