Ring-billed Gulls in a snow storm fighting over a crayfish – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 2500, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
My Thanksgiving Day was cold, dreary, snowy and I only saw the shape of the cold looking sun for about three minutes yesterday through the gray clouds. I did attempt to photograph birds yesterday at the local pond but there weren’t many there plus a vehicle was in the way.
I actually like photographing birds in a snow storm because the low light situations test my skills, the limits of my gear and the resulting photos often have a moody feeling to them. Ten years ago I wouldn’t have been as comfortable pushing my Nikon D200 up to ISO 2500 like I did with this Ring-billed Gull photo taken two years because with that body I know the images would have had far more noise than they do with my Nikon D500. Now, I find the challenge of photographing birds in low light situations fun.
November 29, 2019 – Radar/Satellite
Which is probably a good thing when I look at the radar/satellite images from this morning. If I do get out today to photograph birds I know that I will have clouds and low light to deal with. Not that long ago if I had seen a weather map that looked like this I would have simply stayed home.
November 29, 2019 – Hourly
And if I had seen an hourly forecast that showed clouds, rain, and snow for every daylight hour I may have grumbled a bit and looked at the long term forecast for when the forecast predicted that there might be some sunshine ahead.
Now… I think of the moody, snowy images I might possibly take and smile.
And life is good.
Mia
I like thrm, too…theybtrmind me of Japanes prints…
Gorgeous image – and thank you for your tenacity.
I am staying home.
Through rain, through sleet, through snow Mia preservers. It has been dreary but no matter what, I always love your images. Thanks Mia!