MOBirdographer
MOBirdographer
Skimmer Flight

Skimmer Flight



cameraCanon EOS 60D

settings Aperture f/5 ISO 400 Shutter 1/4000 Focal Length 150/1 

upload_dateApr, 2016

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161

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Awards

Member Selection Award
Spring Selection Award
Absolute Masterpiece
alexdongondesquitado JTremoceiro toddbrush howardlonniegraham pameland rbsr1 pietnel
Superb Composition
sarahsmall UfoGlow Karra sarahdoan2111 dougplume alishaclarke
Peer Award
danshachar khalli SettingSky DoliqSeban DiorLPhotography
Top Choice
jillianmclaughlintilley kimhapps
Outstanding Creativity
jimroden_1068 0824806663
Magnificent Capture
jks32

Top ClassTM

Unique Sceneries Photo ContestTop 30 class week 1
Celebrating Nature Photo Contest Vol 3Top 30 class
The Battle Of Professionals Photo ContestTop 30 class week 3
New Community Member Photo Contest Vol 2 Top 20 class

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Tags

#bird #skimmer #canon #tamron #black #orange #florida #beach #flock #birds #white #flight

Behind The Lens

Location
I took this photo at the beach on Sanibel Island, Florida.
Time
This photo was taken right before golden hour that day which was around 6pm.
Lighting
I think the fact that I took the shot closer to golden hour cast a nice warm glow on the birds faces and wings as they flew past me.
Equipment
I used a Canon EOS 60D with a Tamron SP 150?600mm F/5?6.3.
Inspiration
The thing that most inspired me to take this photo was my lifelong interest in birds and nature. Ever since I was little, I have always enjoyed exploring creeks and woods looking for critters with my brother and best friend. About 7 years ago I decided to pick up a camera and record the animals I was finding. Living in Missouri, I did not see many coastal birds such Skimmers so when I found out that we would be taking a trip to Florida for Spring break I was immediately excited to be able to photograph these birds finally. Once there I was overjoyed to find them on almost all the less crowded beaches we visited.
Editing
Most of the time when I photograph wildlife, I try to make the photograph look as intriguing but natural as possible. In this case the only post-processing I did was brighten it up, at some saturation, and sharpen it. I felt there was no need for a crop because the skimmers were in such a pristine position in the frame (at 150mm).
In my camera bag
The equipment I normally have in my bag is a Canon EOS 60D with a Canon Battery Grip, 4 extra batteries, a Tamron SP 150?600mm F/5?6.3, a Tamron AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 (IF) Macro, and a Canon 18-55mm.
Feedback
Advice I would give to others trying to capture something similar is to keep your camera steady, have a high shutter speed, and stay patient. I would also recommend using a camera with a frame rate of least 7 or 8 fps so that you can get a full series of images where you can pick the best one with the best positioning and sharpness.

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