Sometimes you can get lucky

in animalphotography •  6 years ago  (edited)

Taking Flight (Little Egret)



Taking Flight.jpg Be sure to click on the image to view full screen!


Categoryanimalphotography
Settings1/6 sec | f/13 | ISO 200 | 150mm
CameraOlympus OMD EM1 Mark 2
LensOlympus 40-150mm F/2.8 Pro + 1.4 TC
LocationCassiobury Park, Watford, UK

Like the title says, sometimes you can get lucky, this was one of those times and it was a total fluke. Should I admit that? Bit late now.

If you have a look at the settings I've showed above, you'll see the longish shutter speed and a small aperture of f/13. The reason for those settings was because I had been taking scenic shots where I wanted front to back focus and a small aperture is what you need for that. I was about ready to pack up and go home. While I was walking across a river bridge, a stranger showed interest in my photography when he see the camera gear I was carrying, so we had a little chat.

It was at that time that I spotted the Little Egret wading in the shallow water of the river and so I tried to sneak up and take a shot. I totally forgot about my settings. Just as I pressed the shutter it took off and when I see the result on the back of my camera I got quite exited. Had I thought about my settings prior to shooting, I would have raised my ISO and set my aperture to f/2.8 to enable as short a shutter speed as possible, I was going for a sharp shot.

As I said, sometimes you can get lucky and I certainly was. I think I owe that stranger some thanks for saying hello to have a chat. I don't think I've ever been grateful for having messed up settings before, always a first time I guess.

Thanks for reading

Richee

Website https://www.richeewilson.com/
Instagram

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Oh, man! That is a wonderful accident.

Before I clicked the post I assumed it was your brilliant idea to do a long exposure of the bird in takeoff. So ethereal; I love it!

Thank you, it's good to have some luck.

That's incredible! It's funny that you were going for the crisp shot (which would have been cool) but this was amazing! I think the most interesting part is that even though the wings are blurred, it's like watching a GIF. You can imagine the movement. And the head is fairly still, so it's a neat contrast/complement.

Thankyou. Without the head relatively still, it would not have worked quite so well. Even if it was intentional, you might have to be lucky to get that.

Love this! It's absolutely beautiful... reminiscent of Swan Lake actually (even if it is an egret!) Bravo!

Thank you :)

Hahaha....luck can knock at you anytime. No doubt grest shot as the bird was about to fly in among the smoky water.
This shows whatever happens is always for good. ...steem on

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Luck is weird it can be good or bad, but nearly always unexpected.

Certain unexpected event always bring surprises....and make many happy

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Congratz, your post has been resteemed, upvoted and… featured in The Daily Spotlights of October 24 2018! Check it out to see who nominated you…

Thanks and I have done so.

haha! howdy from Texas richee! That's so funny that your distraction because of the stranger is what caused you to take this awesome shot, remarkable! Great job.

You obviously take alot of photos, do you specialize in outdoor or wildlife photography?

Thank you very much, I don't really specialise so far, but much of my photography is outdoors and scenic.

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and its excellent so thank you!

Great that your photography was born from something natural and unexpected, this work is very engaging, it's another level, it has too much poetic magic. Jajaja, I congratulate you and thank you for sharing, I hope to continue appreciating your work.

Thank you very much. :)

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That's excellent and incredible :-)

Thankyou

A great photo, captured just the right moment to see the circular flow of this egret's movement. Beautiful, ethereal, and graceful :).
                         
Congratulations for your curie vote ^_^.

Thanks :)

This is such a beautiful shot. It feels more like swan lake the ballet than a photo !

Thankyou :)

Too cool! Resteemed!

Thanks

Never admit it.
100% skill and what a photo you managed to get. Not many people are that good with a camera.

Thanks :)

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Wow this is a beautiful picture and great story. Thanks for sharing.

You're welcome and thanks :)

Such an amazing "accident"!
You couldn't have done it better if you were trying to get this result :)
Excellent!!!

I totally agree, but I think I might have to go a prove to myself that I can do it real. Thanks

Wonderful photo. The motion blurr is fantastic.

Thanks :)

this is just WOW.
everything came together and it looks great.

Thanks, I don't feel worthy, it was pure luck :)

So beautiful and lovely Richee!
You're very lucky!

I guess you're lucky in many things and ways, right?

Thanks, I get good and bad luck in roughly equal measure. :)

Oh really?
I'm wrong lol

But balance is great I guess in my own opinion.
But most people don't like balance, we want much and even too much good.

Hello @richee this is an amazing shot you made. Even if you admit a mistake, there is not a single thing I can't find fault in the image. I don't have a good sense in photography but I just see things and decide whether I like the image.

I have to be honest, I don't understand more than half of what you said in the post especially about camera settings. Must be a photographers language I'm missing but I don't need that to appreciate your image. Great work here :D

Thankyou very much :)

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Great shot👍

Thanks

You' ve been selected always in support of good work

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Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.
- Ryunosuke Satoro.

Do not forget to use our tag #phototalent

You can see our daily report in this link

Thanks very much :)

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Hi richee,

This post has been upvoted by the Curie community curation project and associated vote trail as exceptional content (human curated and reviewed). Have a great day :)

Visit curiesteem.com or join the Curie Discord community to learn more.

Wow, thanks :)

That looks really gorgeous!!! Swans in general are very beautiful but you caught the unique moment of starting to fly and as you mentioned yourself your camera setting made a magic, I must say the reflections in water also very beautiful it is so calm that you can recognize the shape of swan too. Thanks for sharing this moment

Many thanks for your kind words, the bird is a Little Egret, but no matter.

  ·  6 years ago (edited)

This photo is amazing! I'm in love with it, congrats, @richee! I'm following you, of course! Cheers, this not so stroke of luck made wonders! Resteemed!
And nominated it to the #dailyspotlights by @pixresteemer!

Thanks very much

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Hello that is a pretty amazing photo!!! At first sight i though it was a digital art not a photo i love that you explain how you shot it and how you would have shoot if you didn't forgot about your settings:)

Thanks, I said in my Steemit introduction post that I'd be doing tutorials on Photography and Photoshop but I've been struggling to find time, so I guess this loosely counts as a tutorial? That might be a bit of a stretch ;)

Wow! I would have thought that this was the effect that you aimed to achieve. What a great coincidence and it shows us that we shouldn't try to always be in control of things. Sometimes it's good just to go for something without thinking.. and then the magic can happen.. you are a perfect example of it! If I were you, I would print and frame this photo :)

Thank you for sharing and looking forward to seeing more photos from you!

Thanks, I wonder if I can do it intentionally, I'll give it a go when I get the opportunity.

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Hi richee,

This post has been upvoted by the Curie community curation project and associated vote trail as exceptional content (human curated and reviewed). Have a great day :)

Visit curiesteem.com or join the Curie Discord community to learn more.

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