Early morning takeoff

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Early morning takeoff

March 31, 2013 by Mike Powell

At a moment when the lighting was particularly beautiful yesterday morning, I sensed that the pair of geese was getting ready to take off from the pond. I readied myself and somehow my timing, composition, and focus clicked together with my shutter.

I ended up with some images that required almost no adjustments or cropping. I was particularly happy, because I have been experiencing difficulties capturing motion with my newest lens, a Sigma 135-400mm telephoto zoom.

Luck played a big role too, since I had no control over the way that the geese would move their wings (though I guessed correctly the direction in which they would take off).

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, Portraits, wildlife | Tagged Branta canadensis, Canada Geese, Canon Rebel XT, Huntley Meadows Park, Sigma 135-400mm telephoto zoom lens, takeoff | 12 Comments

12 Responses

on March 31, 2013 at 5:13 am | Reply Björn Törngren

Beautiful… Very good timing!
- on March 31, 2013 at 5:30 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. I was in the right place at the right time. (Most of the time my timing in not quite so good).
  - on March 31, 2013 at 5:32 am Björn Törngren
    
    Thats often the thing about timing! You never know when it will “apear”!
on March 31, 2013 at 8:48 am | Reply New Hampshire Garden Solutions

Maybe you’re just getting to know your subjects better and can anticipate their behavior. That’s what nature study does to us. These are beautiful shots!
- on March 31, 2013 at 7:53 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, and I think you are definitely right when it comes to familiarity with the subject helping to get better images.
on March 31, 2013 at 9:40 am | Reply Sue

Well done, Mike — the color and the reflections are fantastic!
on March 31, 2013 at 10:17 am | Reply Dina

Great!
Happy Easter! Enjoy the rest of your Sunday.
All the best
Dina
- on March 31, 2013 at 7:03 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, and a Happy Easter to you too.
on March 31, 2013 at 10:41 am | Reply krikitarts

Congratulations! That first photo is really outstanding, Mike. What a grand success!
on March 31, 2013 at 3:10 pm | Reply talain45

Nice job Michael, in catching the unbroken reflections of the geese taking off. Very difficult to get images of your subject while it’s moving, and get them so crisply. They’re wonderful shots 🙂
- on March 31, 2013 at 7:51 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. I have noticed more than once that we often shoot the same subjects, which means you understand really well my challenges as well as the sense of accomplishment when things click.
on March 31, 2013 at 11:47 pm | Reply Charlie@Seattle Trekker

This never gets old, no matter how many times I see it. Great action photos.