Out of the corner of my eye, I detected some movement and, glancing upward, caught sight of this Great White Egret (Ardea alba) flying almost directly overhead. Normally I see egrets in flight only when I spook them and prompt them to fly away from me.
The early morning light helped to illuminate the underside of this gorgeous bird, which is usually in the shadows, revealing some of the details of the feathers. It is always tricky for me to get the proper exposure with these very white birds and I was happy that I managed to avoid blowing out too many of the highlights.
As I recall, I was pointing the camera almost straight up for these shots and that provides an unusual perspective. In the second shot, for example, it almost looks like the egret is imitating a fighter jet and is flight straight up into the air.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved
Mike Powell 
You’re getting quite good at flying birds. I can see how getting the correct exposure for these shots could be a nightmare, especially with no time to expiriment.
Thanks. It is one area in which I am consciously trying to improve my skills and reaction time. Some bird photographers will plant themselves in a location with enormous lenses and heavy tripods. I prefer more of a reactive style of shooting.
Excellent shots, I love it when you can capture the birds body parts thanks to the sun shining through..:-)
Thanks, Ed. I’d like to say that it was all planned, but, of course, it was not. I did manage to have time to make a quick adjustment to the camera, thanks to the relatively slow flight speed of the egret.
Being nature photogs our best shots are spur of the moment..:-)
Tell that to the bird photographers I see with the 600mm lenses and heavy tripods with the special swiveling heads. I am not sure they do anything spur of the moment (although I might not mind having one of their lenses).
Well I do have a Sigma 175-500mm but 90% of the time its free handed. Unless I’m at my folks house and stalking bluebirds its mostly no tripod for me..:-)
Nice shots!!
That is a beautiful bird. It’s great you were quick enough to get it.
I keep thinking that I “need” a 500mm lens, but this is the kind of shot that would be tough to get with such a lens.
You do need it! Every fixed focal length lens forces you to adapt. Last weekend I was scrambling away from an elk to avoid a beheading and also using it as a landscape lens!
Looks like a ballerina pointing her toes…lovely portraits in flight!
Thanks, Sue. Egrets always strike me as elegant–why is there no ballet called “Egret Pond?” The swans get all the visiobility.