One of the best color harmony I know is pink and blue! Having a chance to create images of breeding colors Spoonbills around blue water does not happen everywhere. Join me in January to get your chance. 🙂
ISO 1600 | f/5.6 | 1/4000 sec. | Manual mode | AF-C Zone Focus Area
Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS with 1.4x extender and the Sony Alpha 1
During weekends with very low tides, the birds will be more likely to land in the blue water. The image above is a perfect example. It is in fact one my favorite landing stances: wings fully extended backward with the beak well ahead of the body. This situation creates a nice diagonal movement in the image.
ISO 1600 | f/5.6 | 1/4000 sec. | Manual mode | AF-C Zone Focus Area
Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS with 1.4x extender and the Sony Alpha 1
In my opinion, the color harmony from the image above is absolutely breathtaking! The bird has some of the brightest breeding colors possible, combined with a very clean and pleasing blue from the water for the backdrop. My only wish is that the wings would have been fully extended vertically. And even with the fastest burst rate that exists, the next frame did not capture that exact moment! So, even with the best equipment there is, creating an image with the perfect timing can still be up to chance. What a way to keep it fun 🙂
ISO 1600 | f/5.6 | 1/4000 sec. | Manual mode | AF-C Zone Focus Area
Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS with 1.4x extender and the Sony Alpha 1
It feels good to create images with more than one subject. With long lenses, it is very tricky to have all birds on the same plane field and the narrow depth of field rarely allows for multiple birds to be in complete focus. One has to think of ways to incorporate other subjects in a pleasing way, despite the fact that the other birds might be blurred. Hence why I am happy with the image above, where there is a feel for the overall mood of the moment, while keeping things well balanced.
Tampa Bay Spoonbills Rookery Photography Tour – $1,590
January 13th-14th 2024 / limit 5 people – 2 open
February 10th-11th 2024 / limit 5 people – Full
March 23rd-24th 2024 / limit 5 people – 4 open
3 shoots and 1 over-the-shoulder Photoshop tutoring => 3 shoots at the Tampa Bay Spoonbills rookery. We typically shoot while wading in the water in the mornings and from the boat in the afternoon. $250 deposit. Send me an email at steven@stevenbirdphotography.com .
Ospreys / Spoonbills mix Photography Tour – $1,490
April 20th-21st 2024 / limit 5 people – 3 open
3 shoots and 1 over-the-shoulder Photoshop tutoring => 2 boat-based Osprey shoots at the Vero Beach Cypress Lake + 1 land-based Spoonbills shoot at a local rookery. $250 deposit. Send me an email at steven@stevenbirdphotography.com .
Black Skimmers Colony Photography Workshop – $1,090
June 8th-9th 2024 / limit 6 people – 2 open
3 shoots and 1 over-the-shoulder Photoshop tutoring => 3 shoots at the Sarasota Bay Black Skimmers colony. We shoot along the beach, where the nesting colony is easily accessible. $250 deposit. Send me an email at steven@stevenbirdphotography.com .
