Shooting nature photography can be quite frustrating especially in respect of the weather.
At this time of year the weather can change overnight and on occasions bares no resemblance to the previous night's weather forecast. An example was two consecutive days in the last week. On the first it was a foggy dull day with light misty rain throughout and not the sometimes 'sunny periods' that was expected. You can see from this distant shot of a Common Buzzard perched in a tree and refusing to fly anywhere, how miserable it was.
Trying to make the best of a bad day I went searching along a river bank adjacent to the Buzzard for Stonechats which I had seen previously in that area. Fortunately I found this male below. I had to conduct a lot of post production work on these images to make them even a little presentable.
Having had enough of that day I decided to try again the next day in the local Parkland where I walk.
The weather forecast got it more or less right on that occasion and you can see the result.
The female Stonechat which is our Winter resident Stonechat this year was on display and finding plenty of food as well.
A great shame it wasn't like this yesterday.
Nothing looks as grumpy as a buzzard on a wet day - except perhaps a photographer. I quite like the finished results on the male Stonechat photos, they look like finely detailed paintings. Love the one where the female appears to be jumping for joy!
ReplyDeleteYes Grumpy is the word amongst other words John.
DeleteYes I liked them for that, if not for being a reasonable photograph.
Lovely pictures Roy. Lighting is certainly challenging at the moment, rapid change even from hour to hour on the same day.
ReplyDeleteThanks John.
DeleteSuperb images Roy, femal is very very beautiful with the sun.
ReplyDeleteThanks Nathalie.
DeleteRoy, wouldn't it be a drag if we had endless sunny warn days ?!?!
ReplyDeleteCracking images of those beautiful Stonechats...[;o)
Maybe Trevor, just maybe!!
DeleteThanks.
Ilmat vaihtelee todella paljon! Mahtavat kuvat! Terveisiä.
ReplyDeleteStunning images, Stonechats do take a nice photo. Thick fog here today for me.
ReplyDeleteAmanda xx
Beautiful array of pics.. Regards..
ReplyDeletepreciosas imágenes..muy bonitas..un saludo desde Murcia.
ReplyDeleteGracias
DeleteSuper shots! I see them around here but they are never close enough even using max zoom. They have a tendency to perch on fence wire but when you get a bit closer they will fly along a bit further away from you, and continue doing that as you walk along, the little buggers! :-)
ReplyDeleteYes, know what you mean Mandy.
DeleteI was using a 600mm lens with a 1.4 converter (840mm in all) to get these.
It can indeed be very frustrating as a nature photographer when the weather is so gray. Yet I see a grandiose series of Stonechat here. Beautiful pictures!
ReplyDeleteThanks Helma.
DeleteThanks Nora.
ReplyDelete