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Archive 2019 · Intimate Dunlin Images

morris
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Intimate Dunlin Images

Most people are familiar with sandpipers as the little birds that run behind the waves to grab a little food before running back to shore as another wave chases them. Here on Long Islands South Shore Dunlin and Sanderling sandpipers winter in the thousands. Today I'm showing close up images of dunlin on a very windy day and tomorrow I'll share some environmental portraits where you can see them covering the beach.

Getting very close takes patience and time. I set my tripod low in a position that allows me to kneel and walk up till I see them start to react to me. Then I place the tripod on the sand and take some photos. This allows them to get used to my presence. Once there used to me I move a foot or two closer and stop. I repeat this process till I've cut the distance in about 1/2. Then I flatten the legs on my tripod so that they are nearly level with the ground and then I wait again as this gets the dunlin's attention. When I was using my D500 I used to lay flat on my belly with my eye to the view finder. With the X-T3 I sit with the LCD tilted up so I can site through it while sitting or kneeling. I slowly move the tripod closer a foot or two at a time while watching the birds and stop any time I see a reaction. It takes about an hour to be close enough to fill the frame with a bird or two.

-1

02152019DSCF2255 by Morris Bennett Altman, on Flickr

-2

02152019DSCF2080 by Morris Bennett Altman, on Flickr

-3

02152019DSCF2103 by Morris Bennett Altman, on Flickr

-4

02152019DSCF2089 by Morris Bennett Altman, on Flickr

-5

02152019DSCF2124 by Morris Bennett Altman, on Flickr

-6 this bird is shivering

02152019DSCF2237 by Morris Bennett Altman, on Flickr

-7 dug in to get out of the cold wind

02152019DSCF2205 by Morris Bennett Altman, on Flickr

Comments and suggestions welcome,

Morris

Feb 20, 2019 at 09:31 AM

armd
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Intimate Dunlin Images

Fun series. Nice, cold sand no doubt.

Feb 20, 2019 at 09:37 AM

kwilliam8
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Intimate Dunlin Images

Wonderful images, Morris! And thanks, once again, for sharing your approach to the images!
Keith W.

Feb 20, 2019 at 12:56 PM

birdied
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Intimate Dunlin Images

So very nice Morris. I love the first image. Your patience to get close certainly paid off.

Birdie

Feb 20, 2019 at 01:02 PM

Fred Amico
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Intimate Dunlin Images

Very, very nice, Morris, and thanks for the additional info.

Feb 20, 2019 at 02:23 PM

surfnron
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Intimate Dunlin Images

Very nicely done Morris ~ Ron

Feb 20, 2019 at 05:22 PM

eyelaser
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Intimate Dunlin Images

Intimate in a pg way....great low level perspective
Eric

Feb 20, 2019 at 05:24 PM

kdacharya
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Intimate Dunlin Images

Your patience paid off Morris
Lovely

Feb 20, 2019 at 06:14 PM

Don George
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Intimate Dunlin Images

Beautiful bird and images. Enjoyed your explanation of how you achieved capturing the images. I've used the same method approaching Bighorn Sheep and other large Mammals. It takes a lot of patience and endurance at times but as your images show its well worth it when it comes to the final product.

Feb 20, 2019 at 06:20 PM

KCollett
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Intimate Dunlin Images

Nice work, Morris.

Feb 20, 2019 at 10:38 PM

golfnphotog
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Intimate Dunlin Images

Interesting composition......glad you have the patience!

Feb 22, 2019 at 11:29 AM

morris
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Intimate Dunlin Images

armd wrote:
Fun series. Nice, cold sand no doubt.

Thank you armd,
The sand has been colder. It was the wind that was making it feel cold

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kwilliam8 wrote:
Wonderful images, Morris! And thanks, once again, for sharing your approach to the images!
Keith W.

Thank you Keith,
It is my pleasure to share

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birdied wrote:
So very nice Morris. I love the first image. Your patience to get close certainly paid off.

Birdie

Thank you Roberta

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Fred Amico wrote:
Very, very nice, Morris, and thanks for the additional info.

Thank you Fred

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surfnron wrote:
Very nicely done Morris ~ Ron

Thank you Ron

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eyelaser wrote:
Intimate in a pg way....great low level perspective
Eric

Thank you Eric

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kdacharya wrote:
Your patience paid off Morris
Lovely

Thank you KD

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Don George wrote:
Beautiful bird and images. Enjoyed your explanation of how you achieved capturing the images. I've used the same method approaching Bighorn Sheep and other large Mammals. It takes a lot of patience and endurance at times but as your images show its well worth it when it comes to the final product.

Thank you Don,
All the concentration on there behaviour gives you something to do as you get closer

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KCollett wrote:
Nice work, Morris.

Thank You Ken

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golfnphotog wrote:
Interesting composition......glad you have the patience!

Thank you Golfn,

Morris

Feb 25, 2019 at 09:01 AM

genemiller
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Intimate Dunlin Images

Wonderful images, Morris! Once again you stalking techniques paid off big time. Thanks for sharing your photos, and stalking techniques.

Gene

Feb 25, 2019 at 10:01 AM

StephenS_CP
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Intimate Dunlin Images

Great series...as usual.

Thank you for the process description. Your posts recently have been reminding me that I need to stop "practicing" how to get the best technical results from my equipment and get back to focusing on composition and story.

Feb 25, 2019 at 03:56 PM


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