Lockdown has been an opportunity to go through the hard drive, revaluing shots that include some context. I've come to regard birds against a plain sky as a bit meh.
Shy Albatross x 2, Swamp Harrier at dawn.
Lockdown has been an opportunity to go through the hard drive, revaluing shots that include some context. I've come to regard birds against a plain sky as a bit meh.
Shy Albatross x 2, Swamp Harrier at dawn.
What a wonderful opportunity you had - to photograph Albatross! When you photographed the Albatross, were you on a boat, or standing on land?
Boat, Tom. Yes, it was.
There are regular pelagic day cruises from several parts of Australia.
This one was 3 hours out, to the edge of the continental shelf, a stop for throwing out bait and taking shots, and return. Sometimes the boat is dry and stable, sometimes the opposite!
Ziggy,
My friend and I took his boat 50 miles off shore into the Pacific to photograph Albatrosses. We had a little success, but were not able to get images as good as yours. I kept wishing I could get lower - MUCH lower, and photograph from just above the water's surface. But of course that was not possible, because the floor (deck?) of the boat was several feet above the ocean's surface. Made me wish I was out there in a small inner tube or something ...... but then the salt water getting on gear is a problem. Very difficult, these pelagic shoots, when one wants to shoot from water level, but has not the expensive housings to protect the gear.
Indeed Tom. A long lens with the bird at a distance is the easiest option. Then a bit of luck with the waves!
As for finding them, that takes knowledge and also some luck. Down Under where I am the target is where deep water ends, say at the shelf or end of a trench. There the upwelling of water creates a rich environment for fish and squid to flourish.
We also throw out bait for them and may drag berley on the way to deep water. They like shark liver!