Daily Archives: January 10, 2014

Big Birds & Wind-shaped Oaks

Every year for the past decade of so, I’ve been showing photographers how and where to capture images of Texas’ largest bird, the endangered whooping crane.    The whooper trip offers a variety of photographic opportunities including water birds and coastal landscapes.

I’m doing two trips this winter, one in December and one in late January.  Both were filled, so this is a good time to make your reservation for next winter.  The photography, comradery, food and nice lodging at the Fulton Hampton Inn,  always leave us eager for the next trip.

Here are some images from the December excursion.  If you click in the upper right portion of an image, it will enlarge and sharpen.  From there, you can advance to the next image.  **  WordPress, which provides this template, is temporarily having problems showing the enlargements through Windows computers.  Most Mac computers are enlarging the images with no problems.  Of course, I’m hoping someone will come up with a fix in the next few days.

Whooping Crane pair feeding in the shallows of Sundown Bay.
Whooping Crane pair feeding in the shallows of Sundown Bay.

 

Whooping cranes landing in salt marsh at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas.
Whooping cranes landing in salt marsh at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas.

 

Whooping cranes preening.
Whooping cranes preening.

 

Excited Whooping Crane chasing another bird from its feeding territory.
Excited Whooping Crane chasing another bird from its feeding territory.

 

"Backlighting" provided some nice feather color and rim-lighting effects on the 5' tall birds.
“Backlighting” provided some nice feather color and rim-lighting effects on the 5′ tall birds.

 

One whooper to another, "You can't stay this close while my mate and I are feeding".
One whooper to another, “You can’t stay this close while my mate and I are feeding”.

 

Part of my job is to get the photographers positioned and ready for that magic moment.  Occasionally, some coaching on camera and lens settings are helpful, too.

A half hour of patient observation paid off when the birds gave us great action.
A half hour of patient observation paid off when the birds gave us great action.

Our afternoons were dedicated to finding other birds and some pleasing landscapes for photo subjects.

These liveoaks have been shaped by decades of coastal winds blowing inland from the bay.
These liveoaks have been shaped by decades of coastal winds blowing inland from the bay.

 

Brown Pelicans are another of the big birds the present good action photography opportunities.
Brown Pelicans present good action photography opportunities on Aransas Bay.

 

While we try to get the exposure, focus and composition right, it is wing positioning that ultimately determines whether a  “bird-in-flight” photo is a pleasing capture.

Full moon rising behind the masts of pleasure boats moored at Fulton harbor.
Full moon rising behind the masts of pleasure boats moored in Fulton harbor.

 

Fishing pier at night, Fulton, Texas.
Fishing pier at night, Fulton, Texas.

Plan to join us next year.  Keep watching my Photo Tour schedule at www.larryditto.com  for an update later this spring.

Larry