Timing

Gallery: WildlifePosted June 8, 2011174 views7 comments

This evening I went for a kayak near my home and checked out a salt pond which is only accessible at high tide. There is a least tern colony there which provided a lot of interest, but as I was heading toward the small inlet to leave the pond I saw this Diamond-backed terrapin scurrying back to the water (presumably after laying eggs). I've only ever seen these turtles crossing the road so this was a cool experience and certainly cool to have my camera with me. If I had been a few moments earlier or later I would have never known it was there. . .

Nikon D300s 300 f4 + 1.7X TC HH from Kayak
f/7.1
1/640s
ISO 640
-.33 EC

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by Carol Nichols on June 8, 2011 at 10:48 PM

Perfect setting to shoot this turtle Luke. Your low perspective really makes the image work and you captured him in a nice position.

Registered on November 7, 2007, 161 Posts, 1420 Comments

Comment posted by Barb Pflaum on June 8, 2011 at 10:58 PM

Great pose, comp, and detail. Nicely done.

Registered on January 14, 2009, 316 Posts, 2724 Comments

Comment posted by Harshad Barve on June 9, 2011 at 12:45 AM

beautifully done

Registered on July 25, 2010, 39 Posts, 210 Comments

Comment posted by Anand Narayanan on June 9, 2011 at 4:23 AM

I really like this and its one of images that tells a story. What makes it special for me is the perspective from the water.

Hats off for pulling this off from a kayak

Registered on October 25, 2009, 110 Posts, 835 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on June 9, 2011 at 1:23 PM

You have captured this is lovely evening light Luke. Shooting from a kayak or canoe is not the easiest, but you did well here. The coloration is very pleasing and I like the framing on top and bottom by the blue water. If above was not blue water like below I probably would have suggested a pano crop.

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on June 9, 2011 at 5:02 PM

This image has much more impact for me in the large version, Luke. I think its because I get a much closer view of the terrapin and can better appreciate the wonderful detail and coloring. You might consider cloning out the copper colored cannon ball in the bg. That's just a nit because it is very OOF anyway. Lovely comp. I like how the terrapin stands out very well despite the similar coloring of the bg. Beautiful and interesting.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on June 10, 2011 at 8:06 AM

Hey Luke,

Good job getting this from a kayak. I like how the terrapin blends in with its surroundings here and agree with the comment that the larger version shows a little better. I do see "pano" here - if the image was mine I'd probably crop off some of the water in the foreground...but that's a personal preference issue...

Cheers...thanks for sharing this...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments