Great Blue Heron...

IMG_9174, a photo by Michel (Mike) Soucy on Flickr.

Ok. It's that time of year where I can start putting some time shooting around sunrise before going into work.

First I'll check the local weather for the the following morning. I'm looking for mostly clear skies. Since I'm shooting with a 400 with perhaps a 1.4TC, I need as much light as I can get. My aims is to be on site when the sun is coming up, I don't always make it, but I'll aim for at least 15 minutes after its come up.

I know where I'm heading, though don't always know what I'm going to get, nature will dictate that. My job is to be ready for the unexpected, and, I'm usually rewarded with *something*.

This morning I'm standing near the water with a bed of reeds about 20ft from me. Robins are pecking the soild for worms, seagulls are making their way around. Lots of Red Wing Blackbirds. Off comes the lens cap, extend the hood, turn on the camera, check to make sure i'm secure to the tripod and mount is locked, pump up my iso to 1600 to get a bit more speed....and watch.

Then, this heron flies by. Wait, it's turning. Then lands no more than 50 or so feet from me unaware of my presence. I'd like to keep it that way....they can spook easily.

I shoot 2 dozen frames...my lens is hunting a lot due to low light with the TC, I switch to manual focus, grab a few more shots, then leave. As I walk away, the heron flies off and lands 100ft away on a rock.

Time to head to the office for my day job. :)

Cheers, and happy shutterbugging!