White Ibis with green mangrove reflections – Nikon D200, f6.3, 1/320, ISO 250, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light
I’ve written before about how moving just a little can improve an image because of the light or the background and the same can be said about the subject moving just a little too. These two White Ibis images were taken 19 frames apart and the color of the water changed dramatically as the ibis and I moved north towards and group of mangroves that hung out over the tidal lagoon. These were taken at Fort De Soto’s north beach in March of 2009.
This frame shows the White Ibis foraging in water where the dark green leaves of the mangrove were reflecting on the water and a touch of the blue sky overhead showed near the ibis’s legs.
White Ibis feeding with dark mangrove reflections – Nikon D200, f6.3, 1/640, ISO 250, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light
This frame shows the ibis with the dark roots and trunks of the mangroves were reflecting on the water. Both images are appealing to me despite the very different color of the water and in just 19 frames and three minutes it can look like the subject and I were in a completely different location.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my White Ibis photos plus facts and information about this species.
Both are magic. And testament to your persistence and the beauty of the moment.
Mia, very nice demonstration of how much difference a few meters can make! Same bird, same water, very different outcomes!
I really like the first image, but — like you — I always take extra shots for the reasons you stated, a great advantage of digital cameras!
I’m waffling…love the pose, simplicity and reflection of water on the body of the bird in second shot… Guess each one id my “favorite” for different reasons…
These are both woderful images of a beautiful bird in one of my favorite settings…mangroves and warm, shallow water…how I miss lying on my belly i that warm water with a face mask on, looking for and watching tiny life forms go about their business in and out of the mangrove roots… right under my nose! I especially like the first image, with dripping water, the reflected mangroves and sky blue in the water’s swirl…my favorite of all, however, is you sitting in the water, fully dressed, making a “capture”, in spite of any obstacles…who took that photo? I love it!!!