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Courtship

Florida sandhill cranes courting at McKethan Lake Park

Florida sandhill cranes courting at McKethan Lake Park
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iPhone 11 Pro

settings

Aperture f/2 ISO 20 Shutter 1/841 Focal Length 6/1

upload_date

Dec, 2019

Views

716

Likes

+65

Awards

People's Choice in fleeting moment Photo Challenge

Peer Award

+20

Magnificent Capture

Superb Composition

Superior Skill

Top Choice

Absolute Masterpiece

Outstanding Creativity

All Star

Emotions

Impressed

Top Ranks

Top 20 rank

Top 10 rank

Top 20 rank week 1

Top 10 rank week 2

Top 10 rank

Top 10 rank week 1

Top 10 rank

Top 30 rank week 1

Behind The Lens

Location

This photo was taken at the McKethan Lake Recreation Area in the Withlacoochee State Forest.

Time

It was mid afternoon on a very bright sunlit day in Florida in November.

Lighting

Florida's winter sunlight is very intense and directional. Fortunately for this photo, the sun was more or less behind me and directly on the Sandhill cranes.

Equipment

I was using my iPhone 11 Pro without a tripod.

Inspiration

These are Florida Sandhill Cranes who live and nest here year round. Because this is a popular recreation area, the cranes are used to having people around them. I was able to walk through the grass to get very near to them. One of the pair would look up and the other would put its head down to eat. Not a very exciting photo. After about 15 minutes, I decided to wave a red hat that I was wearing. This didn't scare them away, but stimulated them enough to start their courtship dance. They did their dance long enough for me to get a very nice series of shots of them cavorting. When they were done, they went back to putting their heads down and eating in the grass.

Editing

This picture required very minimal post processing.

In my camera bag

My iPhone in my pocket is the equipment that I carried.

Feedback

Florida Sandhill Cranes are commonly seen along road sides and neighborhoods and are not particularly afraid of people. To capture this picture, I walked slowly toward the pair through the grass, stopping frequently as I got closer. My advice is to be patient and non-threatening.

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NatureCoast

NatureCoast

Courtship

Florida sandhill cranes courting at McKethan Lake Park

Behind The Lens

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