First I would like to thank John Dalentech,Gene O, Romy, Jody Melanson in particular and the rest of the posters here and at dpreview for inspiration and advice. I have found an activity to take me into the next part of my life. This photo really got me started in the right direction. It is hard to believe I took this this year. It seems an eternity ago. Thank you everyone for providing me inspiration and allowing me to share your part of this world. Happy Holidays!!!
Wow - such talent on this board. It's inspirational to see all the great photos and read the stories that go along with them.
Here is my favorite shot of 2007. A birding group that I often walk with in our local wetlands area met at 8 am one Sunday morning in September. However I couldn't join them until noon. When I arrived, they all told me that I "missed" a rare sighting of a peregrine falcon doing some (unsuccessful) fishing in the foggy morning light.
We had lunch and explored the area until about 4 pm, when everyone disbanded. I decided to go back to the wetlands pond area to see what I could find. Had my 500 mm set up on a tripod at the water's edge and was seeing mostly slow moving birds - killdeer and such - with my eye to the viewfinder most of the time.
Suddenly, I heard a loud ruckus of noise straight ahead. I panned as fast as I could to see some sort of bird (I thought it was some sort of hawk) attacking a killdeer and before I knew it he was flying off with his catch. I was trying desperately to keep sight of him in the viewfinder - no easy task for me!! It all happened very fast. I found out later I had experienced my first-ever sighting of a peregrine falcon. Wow - so cool, except for the killdeer.
I was shooting the slower moving birds at 1/1000th and I was in "one shot" mode, so only got 3 half-decent shots of the whole episode. How I wish I had been in servo with a faster shutter!! Oh well, it was a great experience and this is my best shot of the event.
When I sent the photo to my friends that evening, they all wish they had stuck around for the 2nd sighting of the peregrine!!! It was a rewarding day.
I picked one of my less spectacular ones because of the difficulty in getting this kingbird. I had been trying to get a Western Kingbird, and then some Eastern ones flew in and I spent a good three hours trying to get the shot of the Easterns. It was hot, buggy, etc. but I felt a lot of good satisfaction on this non backyard bird shot. I lurk here all the time, post less and less, but always like this thread.
Still REALLY hard to pick one favorite, however...
After taking hundreds of Snowy Egret shots in all possible positions, this one still stands out on account of those outstretched wings. I don't have another one like it.
Edited by Rob Keaton on Dec 16, 2007 at 02:01 PM GMT (Reason: pic link was bad)
eyelaser wrote:
While not technically a great photo, waiting over 3 hours hoping for something special then capturing this magic moment was for me the highlight of 2007 and any other year for that matter.
I love this thread and the opportunity to see such incredible images from all of you talented people.
Eric
C'mon, something like this happens every millenium.
Jody Melanson wrote:
Plenty of spectacular shot here folks! Great job all.
This isn't technically my best shot, but it was a great deal of fun and adventure getting it! ( if you weren't here the first time I posted this, do a search for my ealier thread called Hawkowl)
This is my favorite shot of 2007. As I was refilling the bird feeder this Titmouse landed on my shoulder and stayed with me all day long as if s/he knew me for long time. I will never forget that little bugger.
Socrate
Talk about amazing, and inspiring!
Oh, and Chris, Way to go on that Canon National Parks Contest, . . . What? ? Your Kidding, right?-- --Two years in a ROW !?! Rockr-!
I AM SURROUNDED here by Greatness.
Thanks to you ALL. --And Mr. FM himself, Fred, Thank You, Sir. Truely!
Febuary 6th. 2007
Farmington Bay Bird Refuge, Utah
This guy is one of many that show up here to feed on carp, as the Wildlife service folk "poison" (or suffocate) the large numbers of carp with a product called Retonal, I think. Which simply causes the oxygen to be released from the water.
Usually the Eagles are far-far away from most vantages, however this guy came right up the waterway at me, then pulled up, out, and around.
I'm an action sports photog but LOVE what I see here from EVERYONE. Fabulous photos, just fabulous. All I can offer up for my favorite in this category is this. It's special to me b/c for the past three years I get to go back home to Hawai'i and work with these amazing animals for research purposes. If you've ever seen Nat Geo's Crittercam series you'll have an idea of what I'm doing here; placing a crittercam on a Humpback off Maui! It's been a fabulous life experience to say the least.
