Once upon a time, in a marsh not so far away, I photographed a Ring-billed Gull flying in heavy fog. It was the densest fog I have ever photographed in.
If you have never been there, you should know that Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge can be quite foggy at times. Especially during the fall and winter. If you have been there, you most likely already know just how foggy it can get.
Adult Ring-billed Gull flying in heavy fog – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 800, +1.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
When I am out in the field and find myself in less than optimal lighting conditions for bird photography, I simply do the best I can.
The heavy fog that morning challenged me. I had to experiment with my exposure compensation. I also had to have enough shutter speed. Then I had to try to focus on moving birds with a moisture-laden curtain of fog between myself and my subjects.
I’ve shared some of the Great Blue Heron photos I took on that cold, foggy morning before, but I’d never shared this Ring-billed Gull.
This Ring-billed Gull was harder to photograph in the fog than the herons.
The herons flew in slowly; but this gull? It didn’t fly in slowly at all. Tracking the gull’s movements in the gloomy gray fog was not easy, but somehow my camera and I were able to lock on to the gull in flight for just two frames.
Now, there are probably some folks who wonder why I even bothered to photograph birds in such heavy fog. They might argue that the light isn’t beautiful, that not many details of the gull’s plumage can be seen, and that images like this one might not ever grace the pages of a book or the cover of a magazine.
I took the foggy photos because I can, and I like these kind of images. I find them visually appealing.
As for an image like this one gracing the pages of a book or the cover of a magazine? You just never know.
Life is good, even when it is foggy.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Ring-billed Gull photos plus facts and information about this species.
Such a beautiful shot, Mia. I love watching seabirds fly in the fog.
Terrific shot. It is amazing to me how you can coax such wonderful images out of less than optimal conditions. Some of my favorite pics of yours were those taken in the snow or fog or in low light. To me the fun is in accepting the challenge and making it work. This shot is a case in point. Thanks Mia.
I love it! But I do love fog and its effects.
Wow. Well done.
I love this photo of the Ring-billed Gull in the fog. It’s soothing, yet dramatic.