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Photographs: Birds, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

Two Cranes, Morning Sky

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Two Cranes, Morning Sky
“Two Cranes, Morning Sky” — Two lesser sandhill cranes in flight against a morning sky.

If you follow my photographs, it is possible that you recall another photograph of these two cranes in morning sky a few weeks ago. Sometimes I use burst mode to photograph birds as they fly past. One advantage is that you have a better chance of getting that perfect moment when things happen quickly. However, a disadvantage is that you end up with a lot of photographs to review! When this pair flew over, out of perhaps a dozen frames there were two that I liked.

The photograph, and its near-twin, are slightly unusual for me. For one thing, I tend to include some landscape or foliage with the birds. But here it is just birds and sky, albeit with some lovely, fluffy clouds. The angle and color of the light were just about ideal. It was coming at a low angle from my right, where the sun was just over the horizon. As a result the warm, early light shone upwards onto the undersides of the birds.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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

Black-Necked Stilt In Flight

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Black-Necked Stilt In Flight
“Black-Necked Stilt In Flight” — A black-necked stilt flies above Central Valley wetlands.

This black-eyed stilt was one of a pair of birds I tracked as they flew across this wetland pond. I’m intrigued by the stilts, with their striking black and white bodies set off by orange legs. Their long legs and bills equip them to forage in shallow wetland ponds. The feed quietly for long periods and then suddenly launch into very quick flight just above the water.

These characteristics make them easy to photograph when they are feeding, but very difficult to catch when they are flying. The pair flew across the scene in front of me, and because I was ready for them I managed to get a sequence of photographs. Of course, bird photography is, in my experience, marked by more failures than successes — and there’s a ‘failure story” to accompany this photograph, too! The birds landed in the pond together with ballet-like grace as I squeezed of one final shot — a photograph that was completely out of focus!

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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

Final Approach

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Final Approach
“Final Approach” — A trio of snow geese lining up to land in a Central Valley pond.

Snow geese and Ross’s geese were my first interest years ago when I began paying serious attention to photographing birds. I had been tuned into California’s natural world for decades, but somehow I had missed the annual bird migrations, so “discovering” them was a thrill. Eventually the geese didn’t like the only thing worth photographing, and I no longer chase after them reflexively. But they still can be compelling — and there’s nothing quite like the sight and sound of thousands of them taking to the sky at once!

I photographed this trio on a late-December day when the numbers of geese were steadily increasing. There are more things to attend to when photographing these birds than you might think. Exposure can be tricky, as their brilliant white plumage can blow out in bright light or turn gray against the sky. Light needs to shine on them from the right direction or their features get lost in shadows. And, of course, you hope that the geese aren’t facing away from you! For this photograph I was in just the right spot as the birds turned toward me and into the breeze to land.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

Blog | About | Instagram | Flickr | Facebook | Threads | Post | Email

Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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Photographs: Birds, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

Two Cranes in Synchronized Flight

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Two Cranes in Synchronized Flight
“Two Cranes in Synchronized Flight” — Two lesser sandhill cranes in synchronized flight above California’s Central Valley.

Sandhill cranes always excite me. Aside from backyard birds like robins, they are the first birds that intrigued me — years ago when I read about them in Leopold’s “A Sand County Almanac” for a college class. Although I had not ever seen the birds, Leopold’s description stuck with me, and years later I was thrilled to learn that they are abundant in parts of California. I had not realized this, and it was an accidentally “discovery” made back when I started to photograph migratory geese.

Given that geese first brought me to the places where the cranes are found, the differences between the habits of these kinds of birds caught my attention. Geese often assemble noisily in flocks containing thousands of birds, but most cranes stick to somewhat smaller groups. (Though there are exceptions.) While geese flocks often take to the air in huge numbers, most of the time I see cranes in groups of a few dozen or less. Their pattern of flight usually (though, again, there are exceptions) features slower wing motion and often extensive periods of gliding. I photographed this pair flying above me in the very early morning light.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

Blog | About | Instagram | Flickr | Facebook | Threads | Post | Email

Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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