Waterfowl at the National Wildlife Refuge
Getting up early and heading out to photograph some waterfowl, I had high hopes for practicing some techniques I had recently reviewed. With my equipment, a towel to sit on, and my coffee, it was an exciting prospect to achieve the images for which I was so hopeful.
After arriving, I made my way to my planned location. As quietly as I approached the area, I still managed to scare the birds away. But, not being discouraged, I got settled in and waited for them to venture closer. Fortunately, as the birds came closer the light began to illuminate the area and I began snapping away.
Morning is the time for preening and feeding. You can see the many feathers floating on the water’s surface because of the tremendous number of birds there. The birds flew in and out, sometimes circling, and all the while being quite vocal.
northern shoveler
Eventually, I went back to the refuge three different mornings hoping to improve on my photos. So much depends on the light and the behavior of the birds. And, of course, me. On the third day, I set up my tripod. It definitely had some advantages; mainly, my arms and shoulders did not tire from holding the camera/lens. But, it also made it more difficult to get some of the bird behavior.
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As a published, featured northern California fine art photographer living in the greater Sacramento area, I specialize in fine art landscape, nature, and still life photography. My style is authentic, fresh and personality-driven. I offer several educational opportunities including workshops and photography mentoring. You can learn about them by going to SERVICES and WORKSHOPS. While currently living in rural northern California with my husband and a couple thousand walnut trees, I post regularly to Instagram.
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When we planned our trip to Montana/Wyoming in early May there were a few things we expected. We expected to see bison, maybe coyotes, beautiful scenery, and hoped for bears and other animals. We expected the weather to be chilly. And, we planned to stay in a comfortable hotel, eat good meals, and DRIVE A LOT! We didn’t expect to see the amazing Harlequin Ducks in Yellowstone NP. Thanks to our guide, we did!