Young American avocets
Cute pair of American avocet juveniles at Gilbert Arizona's Riparian Preserve.
Cute pair of American avocet juveniles at Gilbert Arizona's Riparian Preserve.
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Dec, 2015Views
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Contest Finalist in Two Of The Same Photo Contest
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken at the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch in Gilbert, Arizona. The preserve was created to promote awareness and appreciation of Arizona’s ecology and natural history, particularly desert and riparian environments, through: •Education and recreation programs for a diversity of visitors, and •Research and development of strategies to reserve and protect these unique environments Our town's treated waste water is put to a very good use - it truly is an oasis in the desert.Time
I had arrived at the Preserve around sunrise this morning with hopes of finding the young avocets that had been spotted earlier in the week. Good luck had allowed me to bump into my friend Lewis who had helped fuel my passion for photographing birds, and who also recommended the zoom lens that was used to capture this image.Lighting
The morning was clear and the sun, in the valley of the sun, was shining bright as is usual. Since the water is reclaimed waste water, my ability to maneuver for a better angle was severely hindered. After spotting these two cuties, my friend and I were happy to see them wander closer to our position as they fed in the shallow water.Equipment
I shot this photo with my Canon 70D and a Sigma 150-500mm lens - hand held.Inspiration
I was Inspired to attempt to photograph these cuties by the news that others had seen them at my favorite location. But this location has 7 ponds spanning a total of 70 acres so I knew that I would need some luck to find these little birds.Editing
Like many wildlife photographers I've met, I try to get the image right in the camera. But I haven't had a photography class in over 30 years so I do tend to make some adjustments. I've used GIMP to help with the white balance, contrast, HSV and almost always a little sharpening never hurts.In my camera bag
I usually take only my Canon 70D and Sigma 150-500mm lens. I enjoy shooting birds in flight so I'm always shooting handheld.Feedback
Knowing when and where the species is likely to have its young will certainly help you be in the right place at the right time. Joining various social media groups where people share sightings can also be a valuable resource for information. I usually wear a camo shirt and khaki pants, but at this location the birds are very used to people standing on the edge of the ponds. If you have a location that both wildlife and people frequent, you may be luck enough to get close to some of the best nature has to offer.
