lara_ckl wrote:
Geoff, Were you on (or in) the water when you took these shots? Blinds? Hot tub?
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Miko_Skye wrote:
Amazing. I just dont know how you get soooo low!!
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juankgigo wrote:
Itīs hard to pick a favorite! all look awesome and in some lovely light. Let me ask you something: are your in the water as it looks like you are at eye level with them?
Thanks.
I was not in the water, in a blind or in a hot tub
I was at the shoreline and using the flip screen to compose and shoot with the camera resting on the toe of my shoe. The lens is just a few inches above the water. I usually have the camera on my shoe and then left hand holds the upper edge of the lenshood for the bigger lens or just the lens for the smaller lens. I have moved focus to the shutter so I only have to use my one finger to focus and not try to hit a back button. With the R5's bird eye-AF and the A9II's Zone AF, I don't have to move around focus points so composing is fairly easy.
I was not in the water, in a blind or in a hot tub
I was at the shoreline and using the flip screen to compose and shoot with the camera resting on the toe of my shoe. The lens is just a few inches above the water. I usually have the camera on my shoe and then left hand holds the upper edge of the lenshood for the bigger lens or just the lens for the smaller lens. I have moved focus to the shutter so I only have to use my one finger to focus and not try to hit a back button. With the R5's bird eye-AF and the A9II's Zone AF, I don't have to move around focus points so composing is fairly easy....Show more →
This extra effort you put it to do that puts your shots from merely nice to awesome.
lighthound wrote:
Another amazing set Geoff! Just gorgeous work. #12 & 2 are extra nice.
So do you sleep in a tent on the beach and just wake up in the morning, unzip the bottom a little, stuff your lens through the opening and start clicking?
Dave
Thanks Dave...haven't tried the tent technique yet. The ducks are tame enough here (although the hoodies and grebes are still shy) that I can just waltz up to the shoreline at sunrise, crouch down and start shooting. A little hen scratch doesn't hurt either.
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louie champan wrote:
Some real beauties Geoff, love Pintails.
Thanks Louie
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Dave_E wrote:
Fantastic stuff Geoff. These are some great shots of some beautiful ducks. Love your crops and framing.
surgemaster wrote:
That's just ducky, Geoff.
You've got a good spot or more for these and take great advantage of it. Gorgeous images. I struggle to find anywhere to get low near waters edge.
Rex
Thanks Rex. Maybe one day they will reopen the border and you can make a trip to the island in winter for some low-angle duck shots at Esquimalt Lagoon (where all these were taken).
Fantastic photos! #10 is my favorite. I've come back to look at it a few times. Thanks also for sharing how you captured these photos, I would have thought you were in the water.
arbitrage wrote:
A little hen scratch doesn't hurt either.
Damn it! I knew I was missing a critical tactic all this time.
So for those amazing owl shots you've been nailing, I'm guessing a mouse or 12 are involved? < --joking of course
But I would like to know more about how you and others are finding and capturing those owls in broad daylight like you do. I'd love to find any kind of owl action around my area like that but it just doesn't exist. In daylight at least.
lighthound wrote:
Damn it! I knew I was missing a critical tactic all this time.
So for those amazing owl shots you've been nailing, I'm guessing a mouse or 12 are involved? < --joking of course
But I would like to know more about how you and others are finding and capturing those owls in broad daylight like you do. I'd love to find any kind of owl action around my area like that but it just doesn't exist. In daylight at least.
The Short-eared owls in our area seem to always be out in the daytime. There are a number of estuary areas on Vancouver Island that have some SEOs but in recent years there have been less and less. The bigger numbers are found on the mainland near Vancouver. There are a couple popular spots where all day they are out hunting along with the N. Harriers.
In the location I've been going to this year I'm seeing higher numbers than any previous year I've been there. I've been seeing up to six in the air at one time. Many more making their calls tucked away in the grass. I believe these same types of environments are also found down in Washington State with the owls hunting in daytime. I don't know if SEOs hunt in daytime everywhere or just in some locations. I know Long-eared owls are rarely seen out hunting in daytime. We have some LEOs near these locations but every time I've seen them in the daytime they are tucked deep in the bush sleeping.
You are pretty consistent, Geoff! Always a joy to see your images and you set a very high bar! 
!