Yellow Sunshine

Across Departure Bay from my house is a small island called Newcastle Island.  One summer day I paddled across the bay to wander around with my camera.  I had been focusing on trying to photograph birds but eventually I turned around and noticed a lily blooming in the sunlight.  I took some pictures but noticed that if I got a little lower I could put the cattails, which were also catching the sunlight into a very pleasant background blur.  Together, the crisp yellow flower and the out of focus form of the cattails in the background really strengthen the image.  I really wish that I had gotten rid of the foreground foliage, I feel it really weakens the image.

-Russell Berg

Canon EOS 7D EF-S 70-300 at 300mm f/5.6 1/500 ISO 160 −1 ev

The blur in the background is produced by these molting, (not sure if that’s the correct term), cattails.  In some ways I like this image better.  It doesn’t have the strong focal point of the image above but the sunlight in the disintegrating felt provides a strong counterpoint to the dark green firs in the background and the light green of the grasses below makes an interesting 3 colour band.

Heron

A great blue heron grabs some lunch. Canon EOS 7D EF 70-300 at 300mm at f/5.6 1/2000 ISO 640

Flight

A Great Blue Heron takes to the skies near Newcastle Island. Canon EOS 7D EF 70-300mm at 100mm f/5 1/2000 ISO 100 -1ev

The heron stretches out its wings, slowly at first into that rushing of air and it lifts-leaps off the rock and into the air.  It’s neck drops into that familiar curve as it reaches for the skies and I am shown the perfect grace of an animal in its element.

I had spent most of an afternoon following a Great Blue Heron around Newcastle Island. And the bird finally took flight and headed off into the distance. The afternoon skies had darkened and the bird and the exposure that I needed to freeze the motion of the bird’s wings almost left the bird in silhouette.  I liked the way that the underside of the tips of the wings have gone almost to full black.  There is almost a sense of saying goodbye, of a sad parting in the muted colour cast and  content of the image.

A Hitch In The Neck

I follow herons around Newcastle Island from time to time and this time it paid off. EOS 7D, EF 70-300mm 4.5-5.6 at 280mm, f/5.6, 1/2000, ISO 500

I live in, Nanaimo, BC on Vancouver Island so I have ready access to the ocean.  There is an island about 2 km out into Departure Bay called Newcastle Island and I paddled across to it in my kayak. I spent the morning following Great Blue Heron around the island ant this one in particular was very comfortable with me hanging around, photographing it and watching.  I spent probably 30 minutes watching this one and taking pictures.  I noticed him, her? I don’t know, make a particular motion with his neck just before he stabbed his beak into the water in an attempt to get food.  I was ready the next time the motion came and I hammered down the motor drive.  8 fps provides coverage for a lot of action and this was the best one of the group.  The photo is not quite as sharp as I would like it to be but the action was so remarkable that I had to share it.

-Russell Berg