Happy Monday everyone!
One word for the last challenge: WOW!!! I cannot get over how talented this group of photographers is and I'm sure there are many others out there who are equally impressed. It was great to see how our love of birds extended into general wildlife and nature.
I thought for this next one, we'd do those shots that we're most proud of because you "got it!". So did you spend hours or even days setting up a specific shot to eventually get what you were after, or was it spur of the moment sheer-luck that you captured that bird? Try and keep it to the last years worth of work if possible and don't forget to tell us why you chose your photo. Can't wait to see what you've got.
Cheers,
Monica
One of my favourite photos. The reflection of clouds in the sky, in the eye of a Curlew.
M-L
PART 1 I noticed a Willy Wag-tail contemplating a quiet bath in the calm waters of our garden bird-bath in the fading light one evening and thought I would practice a shot. I looked through the lense while making some adjustments and pulled the trigger just as I thought he was about to dip his toe in. At that exact moment the explosion of water had me guessing at what just happened until I looked back at the photos. While the detail in the photo is not perfect I thought the fact that I 'got it' was worth sharing.
Greg Griffiths - Mount View, Hunter Valley NSW
#birdsoftango
Your Curlew photograph is exquisite as are so many of the photo's in the last challenge. Very inspiring, think I need to buy some new camera gear to keep up!
Greg Griffiths - Mount View, Hunter Valley NSW
#birdsoftango
This was my first real wow shot taken with a point and shoot camera which got me into photograpy and birds in 2014. Since then I have taken thousands of photos of over 300 species of birds, learned more about our australian wildlife and have even won a few photo comps at some of the local shows for my wildlife photography. Needless to say this photo was the spark that set the Nature photography fire inside of me ablaze.
PART 2 The culprit making a quick exit!
Greg Griffiths - Mount View, Hunter Valley NSW
#birdsoftango
Thanks for the lovely compliment Greg.I don't know what kind of grear you use? I only have one camera & lens for bird photography.
An old Sony SLT-A77V, and a Sony 70-400mm G lens.
M-L
Managed to stake out a water hole at the local wetlands and catch this young night heron. The older Nankeens are a little harder to get close too. I was pleased that I nailed this shot though.
Rob.
I am most delighted with this shot. Not perfect but I got it despite the difficulties of focusing the long heavy lens on a small bird high in a tree... with my ankle in a Cam boot and a recently dislocated shoulder (due to a fall 4 weeks earlier) and having to travel all the way by car from Sydney to Cape York.
Sue
I have had an interest in photography for as long as I can remember and the same with birds. When I was young I collected birds eggs and was a keen shooter. Now the only thing I shoot is a camera. This Palm Cockatoo on a trip to Cape York re-ignited my interest in photography, particularly bird photography.
This was before I knew anything about Lightroom, noise, sharpening or anything really about post processing which is a whole new world but very much a part of digital photography.
Samford Valley Qld.
I have just returned from a two week roadtrip out into the Northern & Southern Tablelands plus the central west of NSW. Managed to add over 20 new species to my tally, most I have indentified but a few still needing clarification. The one I was really hoping for was a Wedge Tailed Eagle. We drove around a corner in the Warrumbungle National Park west of coonabarabran and this one was on the side of the road but flew into a nearby tree, I was able to pull over and sneek down to where it was but as soon as it saw me it took flight. I got a couple of shots off, although not great, I got it.
I had been trying to track down a Superb Lyrebird for a while. I was naturally delighted to chance upon this bird on a secluded track at Badger Weir Reserve. My first photo of a Superb Lyrebird and so a very special one.
Looks good for a Wedge Tail Brian
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
Thanks Dale, would of loved to have gotten the shot in the tree as well but not to be this time. Was a pleasure to see it up close though, the size of it shocked the daylights out of my wife, she didn't realize how big they are.
Lol! Yes they really are a big powerful bird. I thought the same thing when I saw my first bird up close.
Samford Valley Qld.
They certainly are Reflex, I still remember the day I was travelling the Bruxner Highway between Tenterfield and Casino. As I rounded a corner I spotted what I thought was a wallaby but instead of hopping away it flapped it's huge wings and flew off, just stunning.
I was very proud of this shot as I had just gotten my first DSLR and my Tamron 150-600mm lens. I was on a photography workshop up at the Bunya Mountains with Michael Snedic to learn some new skills. This by far was my best shot and I even entered it into a local photo comp and won.
Hi, ungb, if you go there early in the morning, before the people arrive to have a picnic, you will find some around and behind the toilets.
M-L
This is one of a few photos I took one early morning on a lake. The sun was just coming up behind me, and the Spoonbill was having his morning bath.
I like the darkness of the lake, and how the details of the white feathers are visible. I hope you like it Too?
M-L
Thanks for the info, Araminta. I read the Badger Weir Picnic Area is damaged in last December floods and is closed for now and likely to be closed for one year.
This is a special photo Araminta, I do like it.
elizabeth
I have been trying for some time to capture one of these Double-barred Finches in flight.
Greg Griffiths - Mount View, Hunter Valley NSW
#birdsoftango