alanpeterson
FollowA Barn Swallow feeding its fledglings at the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary.
A Barn Swallow feeding its fledglings at the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary.
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Awards
Chatter Award
Zenith Award
Top Shot Award
Contest Finalist in Anything Birds Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Small Wildlife Photo Contest
People's Choice in rule of thirds Photo Challenge
People's Choice in Contest Finalist (so close to the win) Photo Challenge
Featured
Member Selection Award
Contest Finalist in Animals And Rule Of Thirds Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Multiple Photo Contest
Winner in Birds at Lunch Photo Challenge
People's Choice in Feeding Time Photo Challenge
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Superb Composition
Magnificent Capture
Top Choice
Outstanding Creativity
Superior Skill
All Star
Genius
Virtuoso
Top Ranks
Categories
AvigayilPhotography
March 05, 2018
Congratulations! This is such a sweet photo. :) Keep up the good work!
LauraMK
March 10, 2018
Oh my word this absolutely stunning! Precious & proud moment! So talented !!!
crue_la
September 23, 2018
Nice job! The slight blur of mom's wings just add to the feeling of movement and the colors are also gorgeous.
MaryAnne306
October 31, 2018
Outstanding capture and great composition. Congratulations on all your awards!
LindieK
November 03, 2018
Great shot! Technically difficult because of the sheer speed everything happens. They are like flint, these birds. Well done!
IreneNo
November 11, 2018
There are just no words. Incredible is a word that just doesn’t give it justice. Congrats on an amazingly awesome capture
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
I found these swallows on an abandoned railroad trestle crossing Butcher's Slough at the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary. The Barn Swallows nest on the municipal buildings across the slough, and these fledglings were probably taking one of their first flights outside of the nest.Time
I took this photo during the early evening. I try to time my photography outings to coincide with the pleasant evening light and the concurrent uptick in animal activity.Lighting
Only natural light is at work here. This was taken on an overcast day, which helps control harsh highlights and shadows.Equipment
I shot this with a NIkon D800 and Sigma 300-800mm zoom lens, handheld.Inspiration
The Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most prolific wildlife hotspots on the Pacific coast, and it's a rare occurrence when I don't find something new to marvel at there. During an evening walk, I spotted some small birds on the old trestle, and moved as close as I could without disturbing them. As I looked through the viewfinder, I realized that they were young swallows, and I stood ready to capture a feeding session when the parents returned.Editing
I made basic color balance and contrast curve adjustments to this image and cropped it for composition.In my camera bag
For photographing birds in the wild, I usually use a Sigma 300-800mm zoom lens, handheld. I have shot much of my wildlife photography on a Nikon D800, but I recently upgraded to a Nikon D500.Feedback
Barn Swallows create cup-shaped nests out of mud which can often be found under the awnings of buildings during the summer in North America. Their young tend to fledge in late summer and remain near the nesting site for several days until they can fly properly and feed themselves. During that period, their parents continue to feed their young, which is your best opportunity to get a feeding shot like this.