Snow Goose

Gallery: AvianPosted December 13, 2010412 views26 comments

Hi everyone. I've just returned from leading a trip to Bosque and then doing some shooting down at Cave Creek with a couple of friends. This was taken at the North end of the farm loop at Bosque where we had some good opportunities with landing geese. I'm ambivalent about the shadow on the neck, I'd rather not have it but at least the shape of it is interesting to me. This is full frame.

MkIII 500F4 1.4x 1/1600 F7.1 iso 500, manual exposure, handheld

Comments

26 comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on December 13, 2010 at 7:35 PM

Very nice Nate - especially to get it FF with such pleasing comp. Interesting flight posture and background. The shadow is a non issue for me.

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

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on December 13, 2010 at 7:37 PM

Fabulous Flight Shot Nate!

Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments

Comment posted by wade pettitt on December 13, 2010 at 7:56 PM

Great shot nick, the shadow is not a big deal for me. I love the wing position here.Well done!!!

Registered on May 6, 2009, 184 Posts, 471 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on December 13, 2010 at 8:02 PM

Congrats on a fine image - the shadow, I like a lot! Our Snow Geese land, too, but there's no good light like this, at the moment!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Carol Hyman on December 13, 2010 at 8:36 PM

Ah, Nate, this is to die for LOL

If nothing else, I have a much better appreciation of what it takes to get a shot like this. Maybe someday with enough practice under my belt, I'll be able to get a capture like this.

I'm so-o-o-o envious

Cheers,

Carol

Registered on January 18, 2007, 597 Posts, 8062 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on December 13, 2010 at 8:57 PM

What shadow? Did not even notice it until I read your comments Nate. Great FF shot with the detail to go with it. Love the BG. Very well done.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on December 13, 2010 at 9:39 PM

Hi Nate: Pretty sweet shot. Gotta love the opportunities at the Bosque. Nice pose and a nice complimentary background.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on December 13, 2010 at 9:42 PM

Great position of the wings and really nice background.

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on December 13, 2010 at 10:23 PM

Great landing pose and background Nate. The shadow is the tiny price you pay for this excellent light. Excellent photo.

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

Comment posted by Dottie Short on December 13, 2010 at 11:03 PM

This is such a beautify and interesting shot that I didn't notice the shadow on the neck. Nice expose and composition. I continue to be amazed that one can hand-hold that big lens. Very nice.

Registered on April 12, 2010, 61 Posts, 375 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on December 13, 2010 at 11:44 PM

Nice flight image, Nate. The shadow was a bit off-putting in the smaller image, but there's a lot more detail showing in that area in the larger image, and it doesn't bother me there.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Pete Bengeyfield on December 13, 2010 at 11:44 PM

Classic landing snow goose. I like the shadow because it shows the outline of the head. I like the mottled BG as well.

Registered on December 2, 2003, 1247 Posts, 3439 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on December 14, 2010 at 1:37 AM

Welcome back Nate, hopefully your house hasn't floated away yet.

Sweeeeeet!!! Snow Goose

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on December 14, 2010 at 6:50 AM

Great FF comp, the shadow you mention is nonstarter

Beautiful work

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on December 14, 2010 at 8:50 AM

Beautiful pose and lovely light. I don't see the shadow as a bad thing. I love looking at images like this because my mind then adds all the sounds like I am there.

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

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on December 14, 2010 at 9:06 AM

Nate- what a great shot! I love the angle of the wings and that some of the underwing feathers are ruffled, the dangling feet and the position of the neck all point to an imminent landing, and the BG is soft and nicely muted. The shadow is a non issue IMO.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on December 14, 2010 at 9:59 AM

Outstanding image of a Snow Goose. I am partial to Snow Geese. I grew up just south of DeSoto Bend National Wildlife Refuge in Iowa and have been there when there were 600,000 to 700,000 geese on the lake. The last two to three years they have not had any on the refuge. The must all go to Skuaw Creek in MO now

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on December 14, 2010 at 11:10 AM

Very nice flight shot for handholding the 500 lens and good job handling those difficult white colors. I kind of like the neck shadow and probably would of not even noticed it. Well done.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on December 14, 2010 at 12:35 PM

Excellent. Love the raised wings. The background provides a very nice setting for the bird. Actually the shadow is rather cool.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Karen Summers on December 14, 2010 at 1:10 PM

A great capture love the pose you have caught

Registered on December 3, 2009, 83 Posts, 818 Comments

Comment posted by Geoffrey Baker on December 14, 2010 at 1:26 PM

A great flight shot

Well done.

Geoff.

Registered on August 20, 2010, 192 Posts, 980 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on December 14, 2010 at 3:18 PM

Exposure and shutter speed are spot-on, good position in the frame.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Christopher Dodds on December 14, 2010 at 7:33 PM

Terrific flight image, Nate. It's a personal thing, Nate, but I might warm it up a bit - those Cottonwoods should be more orange and warm.

Registered on October 14, 2010, 9 Posts, 46 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on December 14, 2010 at 11:34 PM

Very nice. Great pose by the bird and I like the background, which almost looks explosive. Great detail in the larger version.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on December 15, 2010 at 3:24 AM

Amazing shot, Nate. Looks like its flunking flight school. They are so graceful, usually, that this image is startling for how awkward the bird looks. Tack sharp as usual....

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Graham Brown on December 15, 2010 at 5:24 AM

You've done very well to follow this full frame Nate. I've been watching the Whooper Swans recently and they really look awkward in landing and it appears quite a strenuous procedure and this comes across to me in your image. Detail and exposure looks great as usual. Graham

Registered on November 20, 2007, 275 Posts, 1365 Comments