Loon Jockey

[Roy Priest]

From this am. around 5:30.
NikonD300s
500 F4
ISO 400
F4
1/60 sec
Low tripod

[Jamie Douglas]

Brilliant Roy! What a lovely image. Might be inclined to crop differently though, add more to the left and positon the subject a little to the left and also straighten the horizon a touch. Exposure and head angles look spot on but just noticed the youngsters eye could maybe be sharpend.

I have to ask where this was shot (if you don't mind sharing)? I spend a bit of time each summer at my father-in-laws cottage in NB and we get a lot of loons but I dont have a 500mm :(

Bad joke so excuse me but you should have called this shot "Toonie"

[Lance Peters]

Hi roy - sweet image and lots to like - agree with Jamies comments and would add - feels like it needs just a little CW rotation - they feel like they are swimming uphill just that little bit.

Did well with the low SS - might have bumped up the ISO a little to provide some safety margin - tough bird in anything but soft light.
Good show!!

[Dave Mills]

Hi Roy, Good angle on the loon and well handled exposure. I agree with the CW rotation.
If this were mine I would add a bit more canvas to the front and crop a bit off the top...
Nice one!

[Harold Davis]

the guys above have well covered all the points. big congrats on getting this!! i love the rider!! would love to see this some day myself.

[Roy Priest]

Brilliant Roy! What a lovely image. Might be inclined to crop differently though, add more to the left and positon the subject a little to the left and also straighten the horizon a touch. Exposure and head angles look spot on but just noticed the youngsters eye could maybe be sharpend.

I have to ask where this was shot (if you don't mind sharing)? I spend a bit of time each summer at my father-in-laws cottage in NB and we get a lot of loons but I dont have a 500mm :(

Bad joke so excuse me but you should have called this shot "Toonie"

Thanks Jamie, I've noticed that loon chick eyes always look a bit funky:) but good suggestion as is the horizon.
I am at Lac Le Jeune in B.C. between Merritt and Kamloops.

[Roy Priest]

Hi roy - sweet image and lots to like - agree with Jamies comments and would add - feels like it needs just a little CW rotation - they feel like they are swimming uphill just that little bit.

Did well with the low SS - might have bumped up the ISO a little to provide some safety margin - tough bird in anything but soft light.
Good show!!

Thanks Lance. I do have some with higher ISO

[Roy Priest]

Hi Roy, Good angle on the loon and well handled exposure. I agree with the CW rotation.
If this were mine I would add a bit more canvas to the front and crop a bit off the top...
Nice one!

Thanks Dave, I am with my laptop so I tend not to do as much work on them as time is limited with the schedule we have.

[Roy Priest]

the guys above have well covered all the points. big congrats on getting this!! i love the rider!! would love to see this some day myself.

Thanks Harold. It's well worth coming to see them, let alone get to get so close to them. Great experience.

[Bill Dix]

Wonderful image; wonderful experience. Rotation and crop noted; otherwise no nits to pick.

[Roy Priest]

Wonderful image; wonderful experience. Rotation and crop noted; otherwise no nits to pick.

Thanks for the kind words Bill. It has been a great 4 days, shooting Loons morning and evening and anything else we can find in between.

[Roy Churchill]

A very nice image Roy - rotation is the only thing that hit me, otherwise a super shot.

[Jamie Douglas]

Thanks Jamie, I've noticed that loon chick eyes always look a bit funky:) but good suggestion as is the horizon.
I am at Lac Le Jeune in B.C. between Merritt and Kamloops.

Thanks Roy, I need to get out camping. Lac Le Jeune looks very nice indeed and another place to eventually explore. I still havent used my tent yet but have plans to go camping this summer as I have been in BC for nearly 3 years and not camped yet. Canadian Tire here I come. Not many things come close to sitting beside a lake in the small hours listening to Loons.

[Roy Priest]

A very nice image Roy - rotation is the only thing that hit me, otherwise a super shot.

Thanks Roy. I don't get to meet many Roys.:D

[Roy Priest]

Thanks Roy, I need to get out camping. Lac Le Jeune looks very nice indeed and another place to eventually explore. I still havent used my tent yet but have plans to go camping this summer as I have been in BC for nearly 3 years and not camped yet. Canadian Tire here I come. Not many things come close to sitting beside a lake in the small hours listening to Loons.

Lac le Jeune is a nice spot and there are many other lakes around and goes from Forest to sage brush flats.