Sandhill Crane pair - 4 shot series

[Canon_Bob]

Here's a pair of Sandhill Cranes that I see from time to time near my home. They posed well for me today in the evening light. C and C welcome...and appreciated!

http://home.comcast.net/~bob.blanchard/sandhill_pair3_sm.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~bob.blanchard/sandhill_pair4_sm.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~bob.blanchard/sandhill_pair5_sm.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~bob.blanchard/sandhill_pair6_sm.jpg

[Reyno]

Great series Bob...Happy New Year.

[lcpete]

lovely series esp the third great composition nice light
Pete

[Alex Paul]

Bob: I love everything about these!!!! What a beautiful bird......Alex

[Billginthekeys]

nice shots. id sure like to see some of them. gorgeous birds

[Canon_Bob]

Thanks for the replies guys. I agree with Pete that #3 is the best. Believe it or not, I shot about 200 pics of these two today. I've just begun going through the PP work, so I'm sure I'll find some more nice ones. I have two pair of these cranes that live near my home. I see at least one pair almost every day. They'll have little ones soon, and the camera will be ready.

[kr88]

Nice shots Bob
The third and fourth are my favorites of the set for the poses. They are beautiful birds and I can't wait to see the shots when the little ones arrive. I have never seen one alone as they seem to travel in pairs. I can see how you shot 200 pics as these are very pretty birds and intersting to say the least. Great shots!

[Canon_Bob]

Thanks Keith,

Those are my favorites too. This pair is the friendliest of the two, and I've shot them several times. They are usually in a field, but this time I caught them down by the water, and decided to spend some time working toward better composition with them. It's funny, I actually talk to these two while I'm shooting them, and they always act like they're interested. I'd love to get them in the air, but I'm not willing to startle them just so they'll fly for me. I'm sure my working with them will pay off once they have the young ones out for a stroll.

Anyway, Thanks for the comments, and stay tuned....I had a banner day out at Ding Darling this morning. Even though it was overcast and rainy, there were no people, and TONS of bird activity. I even saw the American Crocodile at mile marker 3, but he jumped into the brush before I could get out of my car with the camera.

[Greg_C]

Nice shots. Nothing like striking up a relationship with your subjects to make things easier;)

[highlandpiper]

Love the third and forth shots. they are all very nice but I think you got the exposure best on those two and the composition is great. What wonderful birds!

[Canon_Bob]

Thanks for the comments Greg and Highlandpiper. Highlandpiper, it's interesting that you make the observation about the exposure on the last two versus the first two. Here's the hidden truth: The first two were shot at ISO 1000, and 1/2000th shutter speed, the last two were at ISO 200 and 1/320th shutter speed. I've been using opportunities such as these to experiment and study effect. There you have it! I like the last two best as well :) .

[Gary Fairhead]

Lovely series of these great looking Cranes. I would love such an opportunity. Great Work!!

[Canon_Bob]

Thanks Gary - You'll be seeing a lot more of these two once they have chicks! They usually hang out year round within 1 mile of my home. I've gotten pretty good at figuring out where they hang out at different times of the day.

[dancad]

Oh yeah! Very nice work on these two individuals. #3 would be my favorite of a good bunch here. Excellent exposure...

[TenaCJed]

Very nice series. Like all of them but I really like the 3rd and 4th, great pose for poth of them.

[Stephen Stephen]

Very good series Bob. I'm still hoping to see one of these birds here someday.

[Canon_Bob]

Thanks Dan, John and Stephen!

[downywp]

Very nice series of some very beautiful birds! I am getting excited because they will return to our state in a couple of weeks, thanks for sharing!

[canonloader]

Wonderful series Bob. PBS just had on that Nova special from when they flew the Whoopers down to Florida with the ultralites. They had some greats shots of the Sand Hills too. By the hundreds. They looked just like that. :)

[Canon_Bob]

Thanks Dan and Mitch. I'm very lucky in that these two are year-round residents here. I can pretty much shoot them whenever I want. I see them almost daily. I can't wait until they have their young ones this year! I'm not going to bore you guys with a lot of shots of the same birds, but they sure are nice subjects. I can usually get within 7 or 8 feet of them before they slowly move away.

[canonloader]

Thats so neat that they let you get that close. :)

[Kiddpsychotic]

Good shots, (I too, like 3 and 4 the best); nice work.

[cfcRebel]

Congrats on capturing these beautiful birds Bob. It's my dream to photograph one.:)

[Canon_Bob]

Thanks for the comments Kidd and cfcRebel. I'm surprised you all don't have more of them over in TX? The pair in these pics are year-round residents here.