Takeoff
As I approached the pond adjacent to Naruna Way on the prairie in northeast Austin on May 9th I noticed a white egret (Casmoderius albus) on the near bank. Hoping for a picture, I switched from a wide-angle lens to a 100–400mm telephoto and slowly advanced. As soon as I raised the camera to try for a photo, the egret apparently didn’t like my sudden motion and took off. The one picture I managed to get is at least dynamic. Notice the drops of water clinging to and falling from the bird’s toes.
© 2019 Steven Schwartzman
Portraits of Wildflowers 
It’s hard to communicate to birds that we photographers are not a threat. And they are better off for it but frustrating for us.
Steve Gingold
May 16, 2019 at 4:56 AM
I thought about you when I saw the way this shot came out. I wish I’d caught the bird a fraction of a second earlier in order to keep a slight separation between the highest part of the egret’s left wing and the tip of its bill.
Steve Schwartzman
May 16, 2019 at 5:22 AM
I actually got a couple of images of a raven the other day with more or less the same result. Not taking off same, but not the pose or position I desired either. A flight shot is always interesting, even if the subject is leaving the room.
Steve Gingold
May 17, 2019 at 4:07 AM
You suddenly made me realize that if I’d had the foresight to set the camera to rapid-fire shutter mode I could have taken a bunch of closely-spaced shots, one of which might have caught a better position.
Steve Schwartzman
May 17, 2019 at 5:41 AM
During takeoffs & landings, egrets and herons always seem to display a combination of awkwardness and grace.
Robert Parker
May 16, 2019 at 5:39 AM
I suspect that an observer could make the same comment about me while I rambled around taking pictures in nature.
Steve Schwartzman
May 16, 2019 at 6:39 AM
🙂
Robert Parker
May 16, 2019 at 7:44 AM
On second thought, the awkwardness would probably far exceed the grace.
Steve Schwartzman
May 16, 2019 at 7:49 AM
It’s a fantastic picture! 🙂
Pit
May 16, 2019 at 8:45 AM
Thanks. As I recall, I panned slightly to follow the takeoff before pressing the shutter release. While I was one for one, I wish I could’ve extended it to two for two or three for three.
Steve Schwartzman
May 16, 2019 at 8:58 AM
Very pretty shot!
montucky
May 16, 2019 at 5:12 PM
I’m no bird photographer but once in a while I get lucky.
Steve Schwartzman
May 16, 2019 at 5:25 PM
This is fabulous, well done. It looks like it’s going for a jolly ole’ hop around the pond instead of taking off. I’d be proud. 😉
eLPy
May 16, 2019 at 6:30 PM
In what you said you weren’t far off, and neither was the egret after it quickly flew across to the other side of the pond and promptly landed. At times it struck graceful poses over there but I’d have needed a much longer lens to zoom in that extra amount. In any case, I’m pleased you like the one shot I was able to get.
Steve Schwartzman
May 16, 2019 at 9:23 PM
One thing your photo does communicate well is the strength of those wings. The birds are so pretty, it’s easy to assume they’re delicate, but they’re not. I watched a couple of white-faced ibis fighting recently, and by the time one had the other pinned to the ground and was standing on its head, I wasn’t sure it would make it out alive. It did, but it was a good reminder of just how strong they are.
The other thing I noticed is the breeding plumage trailing behind. This image almost has the feel of a courtship display rather than a “let’s find another pond” takeoff. In courtship displays, they’ll take to the air vertically as well as horizontally; they’re clearly showing off, and this fellow certainly has a lot of nice feathers to show off.
shoreacres
May 16, 2019 at 9:29 PM
[…] the same May 9th foray to the pond at Naruna Way on the prairie in northeast Austin that led me to the white egret you saw last time, the vibrant green of the fresh growth along the pond’s shore also called out to be […]
More from Naruna Way | Portraits of Wildflowers
May 17, 2019 at 4:35 PM
Steve, in situations like these, do you shoot using AV or TV mode dial? Also, using AI Servo AF or One-Shot AF? Thanks.
Maria
May 19, 2019 at 7:42 AM
I almost always shoot in Tv mode, and not just for situations like this. If necessary, I raise the ISO so I can maintain the desired shutter speed. I’ve experimented a little with AI Servo, which some photographers swear by. I should probably try using it more often. What about you?
Steve Schwartzman
May 19, 2019 at 8:17 AM
I always shoot in AV mode. I tried TV mode but found AV gave me more control of apertures and DOF. I also tried AI Servo once but found it was designed for action shots and I wasn’t doing that anymore. However, when I did shoot birds, I kept on using AV and One-Shot AF because with egrets I managed to still shoot with a bit of flash. It was mainly as fill-in and with high speed sync. I did this in the past. Today I would just raise the ISO because it’s less complicated than high speed sync.
Maria
May 19, 2019 at 8:38 AM
Also, it’s more environmental-friendly to use natural light. I was younger when I used so much fill-in flash. If I were to do it now, I would rather use direct ambient light.
Maria
May 19, 2019 at 8:45 AM
My Canon cameras before the full-frame models had built-in flash, which was convenient for the occasional fill. Now I have to lug around a separate flash just for those rare occasions when I need extra light. Like you, I much prefer the natural look.
Steve Schwartzman
May 19, 2019 at 9:31 AM
It sure is dynamic …what a super shot! 😃
Julie@frogpondfarm
May 21, 2019 at 4:30 AM
Thanks, Julie. Now that I think about it, it’s still impressive that people have figured out how to make cameras fast enough to stop a bird’s takeoff.
Steve Schwartzman
May 21, 2019 at 5:02 AM
Oh, I love Great egrets – we don’t see them up here, except for birds that are really lost. 😉
bluebrightly
May 23, 2019 at 8:56 PM
This one would have to be really, really lost to end up in Washington state.
Steve Schwartzman
May 24, 2019 at 4:59 AM
What a lovely capture this is! These birds are surprisingly skittish. In all my years of stalking them I’ve never gotten a good photo of them.
melissabluefineart
July 3, 2019 at 8:16 AM
The bird’s skittishness had already led it to take off, so this was one of those times when I managed to get a single decent shot. Fortunately I’d seen the egret from a distance and had time to put on my long lens before walking forward. Your day may yet come.
Steve Schwartzman
July 3, 2019 at 11:43 AM
Yes, probably, when I decide to focus on it. I should, too, I realize now that I see your lovely shot. Like Linda, what strikes me in your photo is the power of the bird.
melissabluefineart
July 4, 2019 at 8:37 AM
And to match the power of birds you normally need a high-power lens. People who photograph birds a lot have lenses that zoom in closer than any lens I have.
Steve Schwartzman
July 4, 2019 at 11:10 AM
Yes, and the tripods to support them. I think I’ll stick to my sketchpad and leave that sort of thing to the experts.
melissabluefineart
July 5, 2019 at 7:42 AM
Actually they make lightweight point and shoot cameras now with a huge zoom range that you would be comfortable using.
Steve Schwartzman
July 5, 2019 at 8:37 AM
For example:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MS16V42/?tag=aboutcom02lifewire-20&ascsubtag=493676%7Cn7ab13ac129e943ac945d8f60219ffb7914
https://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerShot-Digital-Camera-Optical/dp/B00ZM1E46I
Steve Schwartzman
July 5, 2019 at 9:31 AM
I’d have to go look at it, but I think the Canon Powershot is the one I bought. It takes pretty good photos. It is what I used to get reference shots of the pelicans last spring. Thanks for the links.
melissabluefineart
July 5, 2019 at 10:32 PM