Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Barnegat Harlequin Drake

  1. #1
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Blooming Grove, NY
    Posts
    263
    Threads
    17
    Thank You Posts

    Default Barnegat Harlequin Drake

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Took my first trip out to Barnegat Lighthouse yesterday - man was it windy! Eyes watering, tears down my face, trying not to fall in between the rocks... probably the most difficult conditions I have ever shot in! Having driven 2 1/2 hours, we decided to just find a place to sit down and wait. I was amazed at how the ducks braved the unrelentless chop. Unfortunately there was at least one casualty: one of the Harlequin drakes appeared to be paralyzed, most likely from being bashed against the rocks :(

    The combination of high tide and choppy water made it extremely challenging to keep anything in the frame and focused. I tried to wait for (possibly) good angles and fired off bursts, hoping for a miracle. Anyway, I think I ended up with a few decent shots. I set up my tripod low on the rocks and the waves actually helped lift the birds up high enough that the angle turned out much better than I expected. My number one priority was keeping the whites in check, very difficult with these contrasty little guys.

    Photographing ducks is a new thing for me - comments are welcome!

    Canon 1D4
    800/5.6
    1/1250s @ f/8, ISO 400
    toned down some of the brightest highlights and removed a few distracting water drops that were reflecting the sunlight

    thanks
    Charles
    Last edited by Charles Scheffold; 02-21-2011 at 08:46 AM.

  2. #2
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Hebron, CT
    Posts
    394
    Threads
    58
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Very nice image in "swell" conditions--lol. Good details throughout. Head angle could be a few degrees more toward viewer but not bad as is. Very well done in difficult circumstances.

  3. #3
    Avian Moderator Randy Stout's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    SW Michigan
    Posts
    14,112
    Threads
    820
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Charles:

    Interesting story to accompany your image. I like the framing with the swell in lower right corner, really gives a sense about the roughness of the water.

    Agree with Gary about the head angle, but is effective as shown.

    Ducks are great fun to work.

    Glad you survived the day!

    Cheers

    Randy

  4. #4
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Blooming Grove, NY
    Posts
    263
    Threads
    17
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks Gary and Randy - completely agree about the HA. I too was hoping for just a bit more head turn toward me, but this was the best I got. They were bobbing around so much that finding one with the right HA, in frame, and in focus is a major challenge!

    Appreciate the feedback and I look forward to doing it again (on a less windy day )

    thanks
    Charles

  5. #5
    Super Moderator Daniel Cadieux's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Ottawa, Canada
    Posts
    26,266
    Threads
    3,976
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Good job in tough conditions. Your text really put in perspective what you endured there! HA mentioned, but you know that already

    You don't indicated which mode you were in, but with the light constant on your subject "Manual" is the way to go...with no worries about exposure once correct techs are dialed in.

    I love photographing ducks, you'll find them to be entertaining subjects to deal with.

  6. #6
    BPN Viewer Pieter de Waal's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Swaziland, Southern Africa
    Posts
    1,677
    Threads
    91
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Lovely image Charles good exposure and IQ considering the conditions. Like the waves BG and FG framing the subject nicely.

  7. #7
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    New Jersey
    Posts
    23,119
    Threads
    1,523
    Thank You Posts
    Blog Entries
    55

    Default

    Charles, You did a great job considering the conditions. It is so hard to lock focus on the moving targets in the rough surf and you did well. Be careful out there that Jetty can be very dangerous.

  8. #8
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Blooming Grove, NY
    Posts
    263
    Threads
    17
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks Denise, Pieter, Daniel...

    Since it was my first time, I was a bit uncomfortable on the jetty. I shot with the 800 in the morning but switched to the 70-200 II + 2x in the afternoon. It's not easy dragging a big tripod and lens across those rocks! I'll be better prepared next time but I will offer one bit of advice to anyone going there: do not walk around while looking at the birds, keep yours eyes on your feet!

    Daniel - I always shoot in manual. Just had to keep adjusting because I was shooting gulls and brants in between the harlequins. Did not want to blow out the whites on that one good shot :)

    thanks
    Charles

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics