Hello everybody. This is my first photo post here so I thought an intro would do. Not counting some pigeons in NYC's Central Park many years ago and some more exotic trips, I don't often go out of my way to photograph. In fact I don;t currently own a camera. I attribute it to laziness though I do revisit my old RAW shots as they are and learned LR to an intermediate level over the years just editing those files. Every time I do that I realize I do love this hobby.
A good friend has been kind enough to lend me his older gear for a recent trip to Svalbard. I've used his old D750 and D500 when we traveled to Africa a few yrs ago and was expecting the same this time. Instead he provided a D850 and 3 zooms covering 24-500mm as well as the 20mm. He's now exclusively using Z system. The though of using that beast 200-500mm forthe first time especially in a Zodiac was terrifying so I left it in the cabin for the first few days opting instead for the 24-70 and 70-200 for Zodiac and treks. Of course that severely limited my reach resulting in many missed opportunities including a polar bear w cub.
Eventually I practiced w that lens on deck and kept it in the bag everyday we were out. I found that the 70-200 wasn't getting much use except for some very nice landscapes taken from the boat.
Anyway, I've gone through the bulk of my photographs and plan to post here only those I'm not much ashamed about. So below are examples of the colorful King eider males which I've learned are not so common in the area. The mostly brown birds are the females. Thanks for reading and viewing. TedGG
Welcome here
Looks like you had no problem getting up to speed quickly with the borrowed gear!
I too really like the last image, that cool colored ice really makes the colors on the King Eider pop
Karl Witt wrote:
Welcome here
Looks like you had no problem getting up to speed quickly with the borrowed gear!
I too really like the last image, that cool colored ice really makes the colors on the King Eider pop
Karl
Thanks. I had used a D750 in the past so was familiar w the Nikon menu, then again with the D850 during flight.
These birds were just lying around on this patch of pack ice and with the waters calm I was finally able to take focused shots at 500mm while in the zodiac. Very few flew as we approached.
And yes, the last one is best of group (I was testing focusing in first ones but included anyway). A King and this female Eider drifting toward this wonderful domed hollow in the background ice. Waited till positioned just right and fortunate was in focus. These were the only Eiders we saw the whole trip.
Wondering: I was supposed to go to Svalbard but Covid cancelled my trip. What tour booked your trip? I was to be on a boat too. I wish I had made the trip.
Wondering: I was supposed to go to Svalbard but Covid cancelled my trip. What tour booked your trip? I was to be on a boat too. I wish I had made the trip.
Good pictures
I booked directly w the company organizing the trip after a friend emailed me he's participating. They're Australia based (Tasmania) specializing in small(-ish) group polar journeys and kayaking. Very professional, well organized in all details. Going w them again next year to Greenland. Perhaps pricier than other similar trips. PM me if you want more details, and thnaks for the kind comments.
