Canon EOS-1D Mark II N, Shooting Date/Time 6/26/2008 05:32:08, Shutter Speed 1/400Sec. Av(Aperture Value) F8.0, Evaluative metering, Exposure Compensation -2/3, ISO 400, Lens EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM, Focal Length 300.0 mm. From my Kayak, hand held.
If you want to get some sweet loon images, you need to get up early and be on the pond before they wake up for the day or they fly in and land. This morning, I hit the jackpot. I choose to go to another pond for a change and I am glad I did. Colcord pond is huge and it has a half dozen large islands perfect for aquatics, eagles, waders and sometimes moose. I found 3 adult loons and 1 nesting loon.
I purposely left the nesting site alone and just eyed it with my glass and then moved on. As I passed by the swampy areas I noticed several lady mergansers swimming ahead of me. Then I noticed a black blob in the brighter water slowly moving my way. It was a loon. I made my way over to within 30 feet and started taking images. after a 10 minutes it started to wail, then hoot at me. It soon became apparent why. It's mate was flying in and landed almost on top of me.
The sun was in my eyes so I missed out. But for the next 30 minutes, they played within 20-30 feet of me and was able to make 150 images. It was a sweet gift. As I went back to the landing to go home, I came across another loon in the swampy area and it came to within 20 feet. I was so mesmerized I just watched it for 5 minutes, then took it's picture. I can't ever recall a more relaxing and serene moment on the waters up here in Maine in all my 20 years of residing here.
This one is cropped for a 9x12. I like this one a lot, as it shows the loon giving a low hoot to it's mate. It's mouth is barely open. The emerald green water was just perfect. It was so nice I just could not pass up another image of this behavior. I hope you enjoy it. Please leave comments or suggestions.
Thanks for sharing the story and image, it sounds like a wonderful morning. Did you use a throw-over blind? Very nice eye contact and pose, I assume the crop is for a print, otherwise I would have suggested to crop a bit off top and bottom. I think another round of sharpening might make it even better.
I have a throw over blind but did not use it here. I only use the blind while on land. I think it to dangerous for the kayak, camera that is. it would be a huge dollar loss to drop it in the drink. The presented crop is for a print, as all of my presented crops are. :) I used a round of USM, maybe a second is due.
By the way. No babies here in Maine yet. About July the 8-12th we get them. Hopefully I will get some images them of mom and rider.
Last edited by Grady Weed; 06-25-2008 at 04:18 PM.
Reason: spelling
Grady, That is some fine exposure on one of the toughest to get the DR right. Love the pose. Where are you in ME?
I am on the SW coast in Biddeford. Bob
Common Loon...1 of 4
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