Mixed Flock
A result of the drought in South Africa? I don't know...but I can say that this is the first time in my life that I have seen so many stork, Maribou storks...
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A result of the drought in South Africa? I don't know...but I can say that this is the first time in my life that I have seen so many stork, Maribou storks and Ibis together in one spot.
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Mar, 2016Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken on the outskirts of Pretoria, South Africa.Time
It was approximately 10;00 amLighting
It was a bright sunny day, but because it is a rather dangerous area, I was afraid to go earlier or later in the day and decided to take a chance on the lighting.Equipment
The equipment used was a Canon 450D with a 70-300 lens. Because I shot from the car, it was handheld, with no extra equipment.Inspiration
There is a rubbish dump on the outskirts of Pretoria and it was amazing to me that there were so many storks there.I never saw these birds as scavengers. I parked on the side of the highway to capture them sitting on the rubbish heaps and flying around. After taking all the photos I went down to the next turnoff to turn around and on passing the rubbish dumps again, I happened to glance to the left and saw all these storks and ibis drinking water from the stream. So, once again, I pulled off into the emergency lane to take photos, since this was an opportunity not to be missed! Dangerous and illegal, but how could I not take this chance!Editing
The only post processing I did on this image was to adjust the lighting, since it was a bit bright due to the time of day.In my camera bag
At that stage the Canon 450D was my main camera and I always had the 70-300 mm lens, since I do prefer taking wildlife photos. These days I also have a Canon 7D with a 500mm Sigma lens. I normally carry a small tripod that gives me stability when photographing from my vehicle.Feedback
Always be open to opportunity, no matter where you are or what you are doing. I noticed this site while driving from one appointment to the next during a normal working day. Do not ever think that you will come back to this at another time...I have lost many a photo opportunity by not taking the time to stop and capture it. Be ready. I always have a camera in the car to catch the unexpected gems that would otherwise be lost forever. Be aware of your surroundings and conscious of your safety. I have done things that would make my family's hair stand on end, had they known...but in the moment I knew that the risks were acceptable to get that perfect shot. When in doubt, don't do it...your life is worth more than any photograph. Knowing the behavior of your subject will enable you to spot anything that is out of the ordinary and that is where you will get the photo that stands out from the rest. Never lose your passion.
