Geese and Loons and All

Kind of a cool thing happened this morning. I woke up early, so this time I did take the screen off the window and climb out on to the roof to take some pictures of the dawn with the tripod and the Mamiya 7II. I'd forgotten I was at the end of a roll, so, two pictures later, I had to climb back inside again. As I was changing the film I heard a ruckus up the shore, gradually getting louder—Canada geese. Back on the roof, the cacaphony was loud and getting closer fast. Just as soon as I clipped the camera back on the tripod the flock appeared, flying fast and close right along the shoreline, no more than thirty feet from where I stood on the roof. I can't swear to it, but I think the entire flock got itself into the frame of the picture, just for one shot, and then they disappeared behind the trees and the noise got more and more distant until I couldn't hear them any more.

A little while later, one lone goose came paddling by in the water in the same direction, honking forlornly.

They're the only geese I've seen this trip.

The shutter speed was 1/30th—the sun still hadn't come up—so I'm imagining all the birds will be partially blurred. I hope so. (Think "Homage to 'Running White Deer.'") I think I might have to wait a while before I develop that one—I like the thought that it might be something special, even though...well, even though, you know, it might not be.

Yesterday my sister-in-law Basia and I saw ten loons swimming down the shore. I know little about birds, but I'm going to guess it was one or two mating pairs and their now-largish brood(s). I tried to take a picture or two, but let's just say a 6x7 camera with a normal lens is not the proper tool for bird photography.

Except when it comes to random near-flying flocks of Canada geese.

Mike

UPDATE: What I was convinced this morning was near-magical serendipity, tonight I'm thinking is more likely just a missed opportunity. I was in landscape mode, ƒ/8 at 1/30th. I honestly didn't have time to open the aperture two stops—the birds were there and gone in just the time to took to trip the shutter—but I think 1/125th or 1/60th was what was needed. The picture that was wonderful in my imagination this morning isn't so wonderful tonight.

P.S. Here's Number Two in our ongoing series of archived "Ten Great Photographs" posts.

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Featured Comment by Chuck Holst: "Loons that have not found mates may gather in flocks in midsummer. On the morning of my 40th birthday I was camped in the Boundary Waters, feeling a bit feverish from a bad cold, when a loon landed in the small bay next to my campsite. Not long after, another landed, then another and another. Before long, there were about two dozen loons swimming near my campsite, a most marvelous birthday present. I have photos around here someplace....

"On another occasion, my only solo trip in the Boundary Waters, I was crossing Tuscarora Lake in a light rain when I saw a flock of about a dozen loons directly in my path. I kept paddling, and as my canoe drew closer, the flock slowly and unhurriedly parted to let my canoe pass through, then just as casually closed up behind me again."

Comments

[Jim Bullard]

Think positively Mike. Who said "the art of photography is acquiring the skill to take advantage of luck"? This could be your masterpiece.

[Michael]

Loons gather into 'gangs' late in the summer ... it is said to be some kind of preparation for migration by some avian behaviourists but my observations of them when they get into gangs is that they seem to be fishing 'cooperatively.' The chicks in August still don't have adult plumage so you would know if it was a 'family' gathering by seeing the now fairly large brown chicks. Cheers from northern Canada!

[Hernan Zenteno]

Nice story. At less for me a big part of the joy of take photographs are this serendipity moments and the state of hope we preserve until we develop the roll. If we get finally a very good picture is the top of the emotion because we can share the concentrated emotions. If i don't get the picture equal I really appreciate the journey.

[John Roberts]

This is exactly the kind of situation where not being able to "chimp" to see if I got the shot would drive me nuts! Waiting for film to be developed? I could never go back to that. I admit it, I'm forever spoiled by the immediacy of digital.

I hope you'll show us what you did get, no matter how it turns out.

[James]

Mike,

I love a mathematics challenge.

Assume geese flying speed of 35 mph (original data here: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/birds/migratio/speed.htm but that seems a little fast to me, so I have downgraded your geese).

(After some number crunching, they covered about 51 cms in your 1/30th exposure)

If you were doing some proper shooting and assuming reasonable reaction speed on the trigger, you’d need to lead them by about 6.4 metres, or roughly the width of an fist at 30 feet range. As it was early morning and you don’t mention coffee, give yourself an extra 3 yards.

And then hang them for 5 days, prior to slow roasting. Here’s a nice sounding recipe: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Mustard-and-Garlic-Roast-Goose-108956

[Mike Johnston]

James,
Actually, I could believe 35mph. They came by quite close, and they seemed to be moving very quickly. They also seem to have no trouble doing the goose equivalent of walking and chewing gum at the same time, because they were honking enthusiastically and with gusto.

I didn't "lead" them at all, as the camera was on a tripod, but we'll see about the camera's shutter lag!

John,
I do think I should share the results, even if it turns out to be nothing. I appreciated the moment, though.

Mike

[phil]

Hi Mike,

I often find that slow shutter shots of flying birds make for more powerful images; possibly because it gives a feeling of ephemeralness to an airborne environment.

From a 16 yr old with vision there is the series below. The 10th image down of him and the birds will stick in my mind for a long time.
http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/surreal-self-portraits-by-a-16

all the best phil

[James]

Mike,

were you loaded with BBB, or Portra? You can't eat a picture...

[phil]

ps. I love James' mix of imperial and metric measurements! In the UK we still use both although we are supposed to be metric. There are some odd hang-overs though; jars of honey etc are 454 grammes as that is the old 1 lb, rather than 500g/half kilo, and liquids are normally 568ml (old pint) rather than half litre.
I've learnt a couple of conversion tricks for distance; metres to feet multiply x3 and add 10%, kilometres to miles divide by 2 and add 1/4 of that (100km would be 50+12.5 miles)

pps. I'm not sure if James meant 30 ft as that seems an awful lot of lead distance.

best wishes phil

[Patrick Perez]

@James -- I love the last step in your process. Any suggestions for sides that Mike may shoot (photographically)?

Patrick

(aside to Mike. I owned a 7ii for awhile some years ago. It wasn't for me, which isn't a patch on the camera. However I did discover that the battery didn't last anywhere near what I would consider sensible for such a simple camera. As the battery was dying, the behavior of the camera became thus: I would click the shutter release, and seconds later, the shutter would trip. As an amateur/hobbyist it hadn't occurred to me to bring a replacement battery since I had only just put a new one in 2 months prior and I didn't shoot large quantities. Naturally this happened at Zion/Bryce Canyon parks where lithium batteries are readily available...

Anyhoo, the camera/80mm lens are wonderful, it just wasn't right for me.)

[karamanoğlu]

Thirty miles an hour is the same speed as forty-four feet per second. Rough estimate, the geese travelled about a foot and a half in the 1/30th of a second your shutter was open. I'd expect blur.

Computer scientist and Navy Admiral Grace Hopper frequently distributed pieces of wire just under 12 inches long. She used them to demonstrate the distance light travels in a nanosecond.

Yes, please post the geese.

[James]

@ Phil and Patrick,

gulp.. Mixing metric and imperial....guilty..., although as Phil observes, we all do it.

Lead of 6.4 metres is a calculation based upon 0.5 seconds trigger reaction time, plus time of flight of BBB shot to 30 feet from a standard 12-bore shotgun with a target crossing at 0.51 metres/second. Might be slightly out, but you have to do the maths in your head , and in most cases, there's always a second barrel, and if you are really quick with a second shotgun, a second goose.

This should be the end result: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2177/roast-goose-with-potato-and-stuffing

[James]

..doh "crossing at 15 metres per second", not 0.51 metres per second. Thus slightly less than half a second to wake up and pull the trigger, and near instantaneous effect at 30 feet.

I need an editor who has not had a couple of glasses of whisky.

[ctein]

Dear Jim,

I think the correct quote is, "The art of photography is acquiring the skill to take advantage of duck."

helpfully yours,
Ctein

[the other James]

Speaking of tripods--are we ever going to get your promised column on the subject? I've been tripod-bound for months at this point and I find it's changed my photography significantly.

[toto]

"I think the correct quote is, "The art of photography is acquiring the skill to take advantage of duck.""

What the duck?

:)

[Ann Peterson]

Mike.... I can see the picture in my mind...dark background of tree and lake and blurry white geese....a lovely sense of movement ....just like the Caponigro picture ....ann

[Pak-Ming Wan]

Shooting film for the past 3 years makes me quietly hopeful about the results of every shutter press... So I think geese 35 mph at around 30 feet may just work. And besides, there's always next year!

Pak

[Stephen S. Mack]

Lucky you! When we used to live in northern Illinois, we would look for loons when we ventured into southern Wisconsin, but alas, for us, they remain the "common", but seldom-seen loon.

With best regards,

Stephen

[MIkal W. Grass]

I am sure the pictures are fine. Better than any picture you took was the opportunity to spend time with your son.