Tom Buckard
November 2023 - Night Flight of a Wood Stork
About the Image(s)
Image was taken at Gatorland in Orlando, Florida. The park was loaded with Wood Storks coming and going with nest material.
Shot with a Nikon D800 in Manual Mode, exposure at 1/1250 of a second, F8, focal length 80mm, Nikkor 70-200 lens and ISO 100. I was panning and using a Better Beamer Flash Extender at dusk. Extensive photo shop work with filters and toning.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
8 comments posted
Don't know how you managed this shot, but the stork is stunning. Assume you started with a dark background and made it more dramatic? The wing outlines are an artistic filter, not realistic. Presumably you were planning a more arty look? Posted: 11/04/2023 20:34:24
Leslie, you are absolutely correct. Used a flash and a beamer near dusk to get the low key background and many filters and much photoshop work to get the purely artistic result. Posted: 11/05/2023 07:05:24
Almost skeletal in rendition, I imagine that these birds are not easy to photograph whilst in flight at night. You have done well to depict it in such detail. Your hard work in processing has paid off! Posted: 11/10/2023 08:22:16
I think it's beautiful, and it's hard to make a wood stork beautiful! Agree the lower wing edges are a bit of a negative. What's a beamer? Posted: 11/10/2023 10:06:05
The photo is dramatic. I am not a birder but have been to gatorland. I think the bird is way too yellow. Posted: 11/10/2023 19:02:47
Mike, Ron & Michael, remember this is an artistic rendition of one amazingly ugly bird! Probably is too yellow but in ps I wanted it warm and the white wing tips are really black and black on black wouldn't get it. Seriously, thank you all for the varied comments. Posted: 11/10/2023 19:17:49
This is certainly an unusual image of this bird. I've photographed them in Florida on several occasions in the past but never thought of trying this. I would tend to agree with others that the yellow could be toned down a bit. Posted: 11/14/2023 14:01:52
Thanks Don. I think you are absolutely right. Will tone down the yellow some. Posted: 11/14/2023 18:19:28