Journal 275
Jan. 15 - Pea Soup and Duck Shoot
For all of December we were plagued with the white stuff - snow, snow, and more snow. Now it's January and we are plagued with another kind of white stuff - fog, fog, and more fog. If you're at a higher altitude, it could be glorious sunshine. If you are anywhere low and close to sea level, it's socked right in. It has been like that for days. It wasn't the best day to go to Victoria, or vice versa for anyone coming up to photograph the scoters at Qualicum. But, I had books to deliver to BOLEN BOOKS, and I wanted to donate my poster to the SWAN LAKE NATURE PROGRAM. Despite the cost, I was really excited to see my finished poster at ARCPRINT. Pardon the bias, but it looked GREAT! Can you imagine 54 high resolution images plotted onto a sheet of satin photo paper 54"x34"? I wanted to place it where it would have some inspirational and educational value. The best place I could think of was the SWAN LAKE NATURE HOUSE. I was happy when the executive director, Terry Morrison, responded positively to my email. He felt it would be a good addition to their programs and a showpiece for their upcoming open house program. If you want to see the poster, it's on the wall just to the right as you enter the main entrance.
After delivering the poster to its new home, it was time to bird, or was it? Fog still enveloped Swan Lake and the entire landscape. It was even too dark for a eye-ball to eyeball photo of a male Wood Duck at King's Pond. The Bulb Field was a little better as it was almost above the fog, but a walk down row one and up two only flushed one Sky Lark and a handful of Savannah's. My main interest was the Sky Lark. It disappeared under the dried up gladiola stalks several rows over. I knew enough to give up. Viaduct Flats was fogless, but already in the shadows by the time we got there. My last chance was Esquimalt Lagoon. What were the chances of it being sunny? I though my chances were better with a LOTO ticket, but what a pleasant surprise. It was clear, crisp, and sunny, and I had at least an hour of sun left. A quick reconnaisance trip from the bridge to the washrooms didn't reveal anything unusual so I decided to spend my time on a DUCK SHOOT. For all you wannabe photographers (myself included), this is the best place to practice your duck shots. First of all, there are ducks. You can count on Mallards, American Wigeons, Northern Pintails, Lesser Scaup, Buffleheads, and Common Goldeneyes. Secondly, the ducks are partially acclimatized to homo sapiens. If you are patient, you will be getting full-frame images. Thirdly, the sun is at your back, but don't wait until it gets too low when the sky (and water) starts to darken. My focus was on the Buffleheads and Common Goldeneyes. The challenge was to get the right exposure (no white blowout) and interesting positions (no straight side views).
Pintail Pose - While I was waiting for the Buffleheads or Common Goldeneye to get close, I spotted a Northern Pintail at the perfect angle for a shot. If you don't know what I'm talking about, most ducks don't look good with the direct side view or profile. Their bodies are too long for aesthetic balance. They look the best with a quarter-view where the body is angled from you - at least, that's my opinion. Take it or leave it, there's no charge. Mind you there are times when you can't be choosy, but today, it was just a fun day, and I could be choosy. I only took one shot at a Pintail and was quite pleased with the result.
Bufflehead Challenge - The Bufflehead is the smallest duck on the continent, and it is a very difficult photographic subject. The challenge was to avoid white blow-out, catch the rainbow of colours around the head, and to avoid a standard side view shot. If you're not familiar with Buffleheads, usually their heads are down and flattish with the Hunchback of Notre Dame look. I like this view from the back quarter. Its head is actually stretched up during one of its show-off routines.
Blowout - This is an excellent back view with the head stretched up again and the rainbow colours nicely captured, but there's a touch of blow-out just behind the eye. Speaking of the eye, notice the spot of light reflecting from the eye. I rarely post a photo without the reflection of light. In fact, I usually don't even take the picture unless I can see the reflection. My buddy, Joe, calls the lack of reflection, "dead-eye," and that is literally the truth.
Heads-Up - This is almost a side view, but the head is still stretched up, and the body is at a slight angle.
Gender Equality - I only took one shot of the female. Is that discrimination? I guess it is, but the gals weren't very active. Notice how the patch of white is blown-out. It's difficult to avoid blow-out when the rest of the duck is dark. I have the same problem with Harlequins and scoters.
Side Show - This is a side view, but the head is angled up to make it more interesting. The sun is also getting weaker and the sky a little more gray than blue. I don't try to adjust the colours of my photos so what you get is what the camera sees. I suppose if I were shooting RAW, a white-balance adjustment might be the fix. I still don't have any software to download RAW so haven't bothered trying to shoot in RAW.
Wing-shot - It's always fun to catch the duck during its wing exercise or other forms of yoga. Again, the lighting is dull, but I like the pose.
Two For One - I usually don't bother trying for a couples shot because of the poor depth-of-field of my lens especially with the birds on different planes. I was quite pleased that both the female and male Common Goldeneyes are in reasonable focus. I was using aperture priority set at f-8, but at close range I expected the male to be quite out-of-focus.
The Common Goldeneye is one duck that doen't look bad from the side view. The angled view looks even more interesting.
This was almost a good shot. It's not quite in focus probably because the shutter was too slow for the action. Another possible problem was that I might have been too close.
Mute Interference - As I was focusing on a Lesser Scaup, the flock of Mute Swans decided it was time to rest and preen right in front of me. That was because I was standing on their resting area. Anyway, my view was blocked, my fingers were numb, my wife was waiting in the car, and I was already overdue so I decided to pack it up.
Mute Jr. - I didn't notice any other juvenile Mutes in the group, but I wonder if the population is increasing. If it is, someone needs to monitor the situation and make sure the population doesn't get out of hand. It is a majestic bird, but it is also an invasive species and overpopulation can have diastrous consequences for native species.
Redwing Time - On the way back I checked the Redwing flock. You never know when you might find a Yellow-headed or Rusty in with the Redwings and the Brewers. Today was not my day. I had to settle for an immature Redwing.
Brewer Time - On the other side of the road where I was parked, a few Brewer's Blackbirds were on some driftwood logs catching the last rays fo sun. It was a good setting for a couple of shots. I liked the irridescent reflection of the sun off their feathers.
Can't Forget the Gal - After all these years I don't think I've ever bothered taking a picture of the female. It was about time I remediated that situation. Nice eye colour.
Jan. 19 - A Spot of Sun - Even with the fog, I always carried my camera in case I found a spot of sun. I had business in Nanaimo today and noticed some clearing at Buttertubs. I actually checked Buttertubs twice - once in the morning and once in the afternoon. The marsh was still frozen so there were no waterfowl. There were still a few trees with hawthorne berries, but hardly any birds around. My best find was a pair of Downy Woodpeckers foraging on an alder tree. The female was closest.
The female was in the open on a nearby branch. I managed a couple of clicks before the male flew over and chased her away.
Knock, knock - anybody home?
The Last Shot - Just one parting shot of Mr. Downy.
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Once again the weather has conspired to limit the scope of my photography. My many efforts were regularly defeated by the fog. The waterfront up our way has been enshrouded with fog ever since our snow problems abated. Where I did find sunshine inland, like Kaye Road, there were no birds. Hopefully, the situation improves by the time herring season rolls around in 5 weeks. It's one of my favorite times of the year for bird activity. Maybe this will be the year for the Ivory Gull to visit (dream on). Meanwhile, the rubber chicken circuit is shaping up. I have a presentation with the Ladysmith PROBUS on Jan. 21, Vancouver Island Carver's for Feb. 21, and North Island College for some time in March ... I have been asked many times about publishing another book. All I can say is anything is possible. It all depends on how well my present inventory of Volumes I & II sells this year. I expect a slow year with the recession. It also depends on how many new birds I find. I don't have any definite plans at this point.
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There's sun in the forecast, but I won't count the rays until I feel them.
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