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Thread: Loon Portrait

  1. #1
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    Default Loon Portrait

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    Canon EOS-1D Mark II N, Shooting Date/Time 7/16/2008 13:212, Shutter Speed 1/1250Sec. Av(Aperture Value) F8.0, Evaluative metering, Exposure Compensation -1 2/3, ISO 400, Lens: EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM
    Focal Length: 300.0 mm. Hand held from the Kayak as I drifted by.

    Sad news. This loon has lost 1 egg of 2. I captured on digital file the loon checking both eggs several weeks ago. She left the nest today to fish and change with her partner. I was only 10 feet away and saw the one lone egg on the nest, no broken shells or remnants lay nearby. I saw a hawk in the area about 1 week ago as I pulled up at the shore to check on the nest with binoculars.

    I was able to get some very close up portraits on water as well. As each loon parent checked me out, they came close as 6 inches and softly called. Each fished nearby for 3 hours. I just could not believe the whole thing. They are mesmerizing, exquisitely beautiful and breathtaking. When they called I just looked at them,

    I am trying out the cut in frame method, not clipped. Let me know what you think please. Cropped for a 9x12. the original RAW is darker overall. Did I lighten it too much? I was trying to lighten up the head area.
    Last edited by Grady Weed; 07-15-2008 at 05:26 PM.

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    Hi Grady, not sure quite what you mean by the cut in frame method but I love what I see in this image. Beautiful colours and very arresting pose. What a gorgeous bird!
    Regards, Nicki

  3. #3
    Jill Davis
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    Beautiful Image! Love those colors.

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    Grady, cutting is much better than clipping (something I didn't realize until this web site but can now recognize). Another thing I know nothing about is flash, don't own one yet but, I think I am seeing rather harsh light here and would ask the experts if fill flash might not have a positive effect on this image? Other than that I am jealous of every single loon image you post.

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    BPN Member Steve Maxson's Avatar
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    Sounds like you are getting a lot of enjoyment (as well as great photo ops) from being around these loons. These are very impressive birds to be close to. This is a nice portrait though I would wish for softer light (the shadows are very harsh) and a background that was less in focus. From your description, this sounds like a very late nest (a renesting attempt?). Here in MN, in a normal year, most loons would be hatched by early June. I wonder if the remaining egg is viable - time will tell, I expect. Another issue is whether a chick hatched this late will be grown enough to fly before the lake freezes over (this is a real issue here in MN, though maybe not in your location?). Keep us posted.

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    I thought of offering this more true to light image. Yes the light was bright, I just wanted to see what I could do with it and check on the eggs and momma at the same time. As for the lone egg, it might not hatch yes. They normally are due around July Th, my anniversary. Since I never, and can't forget that date, I know to always go out around that time period to check on the known nesting sites. The pond and lakes here do not freeze over till around Late November or mid December. So they will have time to grow and fly away on their own.
    Last edited by Grady Weed; 07-16-2008 at 07:13 AM.

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