About the image: Taken at Ladd Allen wildlife refuge, Bernardo, New Mexico. The awesome national wildlife refuge in San Antonio New Mexico is having problems with their corn crops and loosing most of the Sandhill Cranes to a smaller New Mexico Fish and Game refuge about 30 miles to the North in Bernardo. There were many thousands of cranes and snow geese at Bernardo so had a great time photographing there. It did seem like the wind was always against us making for bum shots much of the time. It is an amazing experience to witness thousands of the birds take off and land from the same large pond, the sound us worth being there, with the squeaky honking of the snow geese and the spectacular songs of the cranes. F8/ 1/1250/ ISO 400 Canon R-3/Canon 800 5,6
7 comments posted
Larry Treadwell
(Groups 36 & 67)
An effective composition with the blurred corn framing the bird and also displaying the environment. The wing position also shows the struggle of fighting the wind. Naturally it is a sharp image where it needs to be and that sharpness provides the necessary detail for the white bird against a mostly white background. It is a unique flight shot. Posted: 01/04/2025 01:56:42
Bruce Benson
Thanks Larry, Bosque Del Apache/ Bernardo provide endless opportunities for images like this. The corn stalks make difficult background to get a good focus so patient timing is the key. Bruce Posted: 01/04/2025 16:42:00
Steve Cole
Bruce very nice "action" capture and composition with the blurred corn stalks. Going to this area is on my bucket list for others have shown there are great opportunities to be had as you demonstrate with this photo. Posted: 01/08/2025 13:39:16
Jerry Biddlecom
Perhaps cropping off some of the left side and boosting the contrast a little? Otherwise a very good action/environmental image with nice background bokeh. Posted: 01/13/2025 15:55:54
Adrian Binney
Great action shot Bruce of your bird concentrating on its landing. Sharp, well lit and great detail. Lovely! Posted: 01/16/2025 17:02:43
Cindy Marple
Bruce,
Great pose captured and nice light on the bird. I like the framing with the corn so that this tells a bit more of the story than just a bird in the sky.
I think Jerry's suggestion for a small crop from the left is good- it would put the bird a bit more off-center and minimize the dark tree in that corner. I'd take off maybe 1/3 - 1/2 of that tree.
I went to Willcox and photographed cranes again this weekend- we had some good light and wind combinations to work with. Posted: 01/21/2025 00:22:18
Bruce Benson
Thanks Cindy, good suggestions form both you and Jerry. Glad you are having luck at Wilcox. Bruce Posted: 01/21/2025 01:50:15
