Tag Archives: birds

Photographs: Abstract, Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Flight, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

Twilight Flight

February 10, 2018 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

A rushing blur of birds at the end of the day

First, I do know how to make sharp photographs of birds, too… ;-)

There are many things I can’t really explain about winter bird populations. But as I have watched them (and listened to their remarkable sound) from Washington to California, I am starting to at recognize a few more patterns. At times some birds become increasingly active, and at the end of the day, as light fades, there may be opportunities to depict the motions of individual birds and flocks in a different way — rather than trying to stop motion I just go with longer shutter speeds, pan with groups as they fly by, and let the motion blur take over. Frankly, in many ways I think that this confusing blur may better evoke the wild actions of these evening flocks.

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

Two White-Faced Ibises

February 9, 2018 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

Two white-faced ibises interacting in a San Joaquin Valley wetland pond

The white-faced ibises have intrigued me since before I knew what they were — in fact, I suppose I could say that I photographed them before I realized that they existed. Some years back, on my very first more or less accidental exposure to bird photography, I found myself “out there” on an early morning, with no more clue about what was going on than “someone told me I should go here and see the birds.”(That someone was a colleague where I taught.) I barely knew a goose from a swan, at least when they were flying quickly overhead, but I was amazed by the number and variety of birds that morning. I photographed like a madman, not really knowing at all what I was photographing. Later on, back home and looking at files, I recall finding a series of photographs of a line of birds overhead that had oddly long and curving beaks. I wondered what they were. It turns out they were ibises.

Ibises are not always the most common specimens. In addition to their unusual beaks, they have another particular visual characteristic. In many situations you would regard them as dark and fairly drab-looking birds. Photographing them in flight is often difficult, partly because they frequently just end up looking black against any lighter background. But catch them in the right light and the texture, patterns, and colors of their feathers begin to appear. On this morning I happened upon a group of ibises, perhaps a couple dozen, in shallow water. I stopped and watched quietly and was able to photograph a variety of behaviors, including this interaction between two of the birds.

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

Two Black-Necked Stilts

February 7, 2018 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

A pair of wading black-necked stilts and their reflections

For decades I did not think of myself as a “bird person,” much less a “birder.” I’m still no birder — I’m not great at identifying the critters and I don’t necessarily seek out new sightings as much as photographic opportunities. However, my fascination with them has increased as I have spent more time photographing them. The first time I intentionally went out to photograph birds, I had basically no idea what I was seeing — it was just, “Wow! Lots of birds!” And that was exciting. This led to a focus on photographing migratory birds, and ,ore recently I’ve become more aware of some of the smaller birds, too.

One of the first to these “smaller birds” was the black-necked stilt. At first I only noticed them tangentially while looking for other things. On a few occasions when those “other things” were nowhere to be found, I turned my camera toward the stilts. They are attractive, though sometimes gangly, birds, with their stark contrast of black and white feathers. They often permit a relatively close approach, and they frequently work their way slowly around a small area, making it easier to photograph them. But getting somewhat unusual photographs of them requires patience and some luck. They do fly, but when they do it is often sudden and very quick… and not at all easy to keep them in the viewfinder. And while one feeding stilt is interesting, that is a pretty common sight. It is more challenging to try to photographs groups of them in ways that are visually linked and interesting. This pair obliged for a moment to two, coming close together and moving in parallel before separating and going their separate ways.

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

Two Geese Landing

February 6, 2018 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

Two geese descend to land in a wetland pond

Since we’re well into my “bird season,” focused on migratory and other birds, I’ll stick with that theme a bit longer. I photographed this pair of geese (I’m pretty sure they are Ross’s geese) back at the beginning of December. Near the end of the day I moved to where the light would come in from the right, highlighting light and shadow and the textures of the birds features. Not too long before sunset, geese began to arrive and land in the pond, and I was able to photograph their descent.

I often marvel at the contortions of these birds during the final instants of their flights. In the air they are often graceful, but the landings vacillate between that grace and nearly-out-of-control clumsiness as they transform from creatures of the to earthbound animals. They glide in, instinctively facing into the breeze, and can sometimes then seem to almost drop right out of the sky. Wings go upwards, feet extend down, and necks stretch forward, and quickly they are on the ground.

G Dan Mitchell Photography

Tag Archives: birds

Twilight Flight

Two White-Faced Ibises

Two Black-Necked Stilts

Two Geese Landing

Photographer and visual opportunist. Daily photos since 2005, plus articles, reviews, news, and ideas.