Tag Archives: sky

Pilings, Hudson River

Image September 20, 2018 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

Old pilings stand in the water of the Hudson River with New Jersey in the distance

We were staying at the lower tip of Manhattan, and on the morning of our first full day there this past August we decided to head out for a walk. We more or less followed the shoreline along the Hudson, eventually getting up into the streets numbered in the twenties before heading back toward the center of Manhattan.

These days the walk along the Hudson is mostly quite scenic, with walking/jogging paths along the waterfront and occasionally even more park-like facilities. In many places there are great views across the river toward New Jersey and some other areas. (The views back toward Manhattan are mostly up…) When we started our walk there was a threat of rain, but by the time I made this photograph the clouds were breaking up.

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Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

Egret Among Clouds

Image September 5, 2018 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

An egret flies into early morning winter sky with fog and clouds

In some ways the great white egrets seem less special than some of the birds that arrive and depart in huge flocks each season. The first sight of these birds in impressive — whether it is a solitary bird flying past with its characteristic slow wing motion, a bird hunting in grassland or shallow water, or perhaps a small group in a winter field. But eventually you figure out that they are far from rare, and you can find them in many areas that have the right combination of water and food.

However, in flight they have a remarkable degree of gracefulness. They almost always fly alone, and they tend toward slow-moving, steady flying, often coasting or moving wings slowly. There landings are momentarily very beautiful as wings flare just as they hit the ground. This bird took to the air nearby and then flew slowly into a cloudy golden hour sky.

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

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

Two Sandhill Cranes in Flight

Image August 31, 2018 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

Two sandhill cranes in synchonized flight against blue sky

Photographing birds in flight can be rewarding in a number of ways. Careful attention to the birds may reveal a species you haven’t seen before or an interesting variation on a familiar bird. I have developed a greater awareness of the infinite variations of wing position and motion and the relative positioning of birds in groups. And, to be honest, there is the technical challenge of trying to keep the critters in the viewfinder, get focus, and produce a decent image.

Other than the fact that they tend to not come as close as I might like, sandhill cranes aren’t among the most difficult birds to photograph in flight. There are the usual issues of light (it tends to leave the bottom of the birds in shadow except early and late in the day) and distractions from extraneous subjects. But they move fairly slowly and steadily. The pair flew above me, uncharacteristically close to my position, and I made the photograph as their wings were almost perfectly synchronized.

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Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

Within The Flock

Image August 30, 2018 G Dan Mitchell 2 Comments

Inside the tumultuous take-off of a flock of migratory geese

When I first started photographing migratory birds, I was astounded by the sheer numbers of them and how the flocks behave. I still am. While individuals and smaller groups are sometimes spotted, it is the very large flocks that seem the most remarkable. Sometimes they assemble slowly, a few birds at a time, until there are thousands or tens of thousands of birds. Sometimes they disperse the same way. On other occasions whole flocks move at once, and the visual and auditory experience is astonishing when it happens.

This group took off as a group, in response to some stimulus that escaped my attention. This sort of photograph is a “type” among bird photographers — a long lens photograph that tries to get inside the environment of the flock and what appears to be wild tumult as the birds move all at once.

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G Dan Mitchell Photography

Tag Archives: sky

Pilings, Hudson River

Egret Among Clouds

Two Sandhill Cranes in Flight

Within The Flock

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