Common Loon

[Andrew Merwin]

Mrk 3
Exposure Bias Value: 0.33
Exposure Mode: Auto exposure
Exposure Program: Aperture priority
Exposure Time: 1 / 640
FNumber: 7.1
Focal Length: 700
ISO: 400
Metering Mode: Spot on the loon's eye
White Balance: Auto white balance
Gitzo w/ RRS head

Early AM shot with a hefty crop (~80%) as they were far away. Sharpened, adjustment in curves & levels. 5600K

[Randy Stout]

Andrew:

The colors are nice, shooting angle good,exposure OK, but it is tough to make this one work because of the overlap and the head positions.

Preening pictures generally work best when the head is parallel to the image sensor.

Overlaps can work, but generally they have to have matching head and body angles, and the almost universal issue of DOF with two birds, has to be worked around. Generally, you want the focus to be sharp on the front bird, as you have.

Were you shooting from a boat, or the shore?

cheers

Randy

[Andrew Merwin]

Thanks Randy. I appreciate your experienced comments. I was sitting on the shore when I shot the image.

Andrew

[Randy Stout]

Andrew:

Loons can be a bit of a challenge to approach. Much easier to get in close from the water side, they seem to tolerate our presence and seem less threatened. All of my loon pictures on BPN were taken from boats, either a pontoon boat or my Lund.

Another alternative would be a floating blind of some type, but they often move more or less constantly as they feed, so can be a issue to keep up with them!

Cheers

Randy

[Andrew Merwin]

Would a prairie schooner count as a boat? (e.g. conestoga wagon with sails) :D

A boat would be nice.

Andrew