Least Bittern in a wetlands – Roosevelt County Wetlands, Pinellas County, Florida
D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/200, ISO 250, 80-400mm at 400mm, natural light
As a bird photographer, I often strive for images where the subjects are out in the open, without distractions in the foreground or background. But, like any photographic “rule,” that one’s made to be broken. There are times when a hidden treasure can be very appealing.
Least Bitterns are elusive birds. You’ll most often see them tucked in among reeds, cattails, rushes, or long grasses along the shorelines of freshwater lakes, ponds, and wetlands. With their plumage patterns and coloring, it can be tough to spot them when they’re hidden in the vegetation.
I took this image knowing the bittern wasn’t out in the open, but I still think it has appeal.
Tricolored Heron in Spartina – Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/250, ISO 200, 70-300mm VR at 300mm, natural light
I was sitting in the water of a shallow lagoon at Fort De Soto’s north beach photographing some shorebirds when I noticed this Tricolored Heron making its way toward me through the Spartina on the shoreline.
Even though I knew I wouldn’t have a clear view of the heron, I took photos anyway, thinking the grasses would be out of focus enough to avoid being distracting. I liked how this image turned out.
Juvenile Burrowing Owl in dried grasses – Antelope Island State Park, Utah
D200, f7.1, 1/750, ISO 250, 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
The juvenile Burrowing Owl above was one of four chicks in the brood at this location. Its siblings were more out in the open than this one, but I liked the color of the dried vegetation, the lacy patterns the plant material created, and how the bird’s face was basically in the clear. So I took several images of it before turning my lens back to the other owls. The green tones in the background complement the warm tones of the Burrowing Owl and the dried plant material.
Gray Partridge in fresh green grasses – Glacier County, Montana
D200, f6.3, 1/750, ISO 500, 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
Gray Partridges are not native to North America. They were introduced in the latter part of the 18th century, and after repeated introductions, some populations survived and have become stable. Glacier County, Montana has a mix of agricultural and fallow fields that Gray Partridges seem to thrive in, and that’s where I saw this one walking through some grasses.
Ideally, I would have liked to show the entire body of the bird without any obstructions in front of it, but in this case, this is where the species is often seen in the wild, and maybe more importantly, how it’s seen.
For me, this image works because of the clear view of the partridge’s head and eye, the way the grasses in the same focal plane show some sharpness and fine detail in the seedheads, and how the other grasses in the foreground and background are out of focus.
Images like these aren’t always appealing to others, but I find them compelling in their own way. Since the size of my portfolio is only limited by the size of my hard drives, I often take photos where I see potential, even when I know I might be bending or breaking some rules.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my bird photos in their galleries.
I think these are great images! It’s closer to what you see while birding (or at least it is for me – I get way more “heads in grass” views than I do looks at the whole bird!) and your photos have a lovely, intimate feel to them.