Turkey Day

Gallery: AvianPosted November 21, 2009101 views7 comments

While coming home from a day of shooting in the John Day River area in Oregon, I spotted a group of wild Turkeys in a farmers field. My husband used his turkey call to get this group in closer so I could get a few photos. With the high winds and rain/snow showers, I was surprised to see this group of jakes and a few hens out braving the storm.

Nikon D300
Nikon 300mm f4
1/320 at f4
ISO 200

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on November 21, 2009 at 2:05 AM

I like your choice of dof, with the back bird a little less in focus. I also like the vertical format, but I wonder if a little more room to the right in front of the turkeys would give them something to look into. The dried grasses in the foreground looks great with the black feathers.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Carrie O'Brien-Sib on November 21, 2009 at 8:32 AM

Very nice! I love the story behind it, too!

Registered on August 4, 2009, 149 Posts, 889 Comments

Comment posted by Neil Rossmiller on November 21, 2009 at 8:36 AM

Hello Marcy,
Nice shot of a difficult subject.
The vertical format works well for the tall birds and I like both birds being included. I would prefer a little more space on the right side.
They are very fascinating to observe and have enjoyed the interaction of a flock of 44 hens and jakes recently.
These appear to be Merriams, but I understand that Oregon has Rio Grands as well as a hybrid cross. Perhaps someone can shed some light on which these are.
Well Done!
Neil

Registered on October 30, 2009, 156 Posts, 749 Comments

Comment posted by Marcy Ugstad on November 21, 2009 at 9:42 AM

Thanks Gary, Carrie, and Neil, for the nice comments on the photo.

I am pretty sure these are Rio Grande's but not positive - they are the most numerous in this part of the state.

I agree that a little more room on the right would have added to the photo, but I was shooting with a fixed focal length and the darn turkeys kept coming in closer and closer while my husband was calling them. I didn't have room in the frame to include the birds and space! LOL! (I was using the car as a "blind" so couldn't move for a better angle which I could have done if I had been outside with my tripod.)

Thanks again,

Marcy

Registered on September 10, 2009, 27 Posts, 54 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on November 21, 2009 at 2:54 PM

The turkeys stand out very well from their surroundings. Agree with some more room on the right but understand that is sometimes easier said than done. The colors are very nice and the portrait layout works very well.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on November 22, 2009 at 9:05 AM

Pretty interesting to get these similar poses front to back Marcy. I agree about the comp but boy can I identify with the challenges of vehicle shooting you describe when the subject moves too far left or right when you're shooting out the window. I swear there have been times that if I'd had a hack saw with me I'd have cut off my outside mirror to get it out of the way of my lens.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Marcy Ugstad on November 22, 2009 at 10:18 AM

Thanks, Sally and Ron - really appreciate your comments. Turkeys are funny birds and fun to shoot. These guys just new one of their "buddies" (or a gal turkey) was on the other side of the fence. They really high-tailed it over to the fence to check the sound out. LOL!

Ron, I know what you mean. LOL! I've thought about making a hole in the roof and putting a seat up there with a ladder up to the chair. (Or something out front like in the John Wayne movie - I think it was Hatari or Daktari - something like that)

Thanks again,

Marcy

Registered on September 10, 2009, 27 Posts, 54 Comments