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.

Twins

Black Oyster Catchers in the sun on Vancouver Island Canon EOS 7D EF 70-300mm f4-5.6 at f9, 1/250, ISO 200On a fine morning in the middle of May last year my daughter and I went out in our kayaks to do a little exploring around Departure Bay.  We were out interested to see if there were any seals out sunning themselves on the rocks as paddled by one of the small islands in the middle of the bay.  I was watching for birds and seals to photograph as we paddled out with my dry bag open between my knees I had my telephoto lens on the 7D ready to yank out and fire away if we saw something.  I place my cameras lens down into my bag in such a way that when I reach in to grab them I am holding on to the grip and it comes up to my eye ready to fire.  I have missed too many shots while I was fumbling for my gear.  This did require some careful paddling to prevent the water from dripping into my open bags but it wasn’t too difficult.  When I move out into open water or I am paddling for speed I close up the dry bag which holds my whole camera bag.  Anyway as I looked up two Black Oyster Catchers walked up over the rise.  The Island sloped up from the water so I was below them and I think this adds to the visual interest of the frame.  I snapped off a few pictures and then the one bird moved behind the other and I knew I had the image I wanted.

-Russell Berg

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