Butch Mazzuca, BPSA  

In a Hurry! by Butch Mazzuca, BPSA

August 2026 - In a Hurry!

About the Image(s)

Canon R5 ??“ Canon 100-500 @ 400mm ??“ ISO 5000 ??“ f7.1 ??“ 1/2000th second Tv

I took this shot just after first light on a very cold New Mexico morning. Ice had formed overnight and here is a sandhill crane is dashing across a thin layer of ice at the Bernardo Unit of the Ladd S. Gordon Waterfowl Complex in New Mexico. Handheld panning @1/2000th second.

The crane population is nowhere near what it was just a few years ago. Prolonged drought, reduced Rio Grande water flows, and changing agricultural practices have altered where these birds spend the winter. With less water available to flood wetlands and grow corn (the cranes' preferred winter food source) refuge managers have had to adapt their habitat management strategies and photographers to temper their expectations.

10 comments posted

Dr Ernoe Barsi   Dr Ernoe Barsi
For me, this is one of your most spectacular photos yet. The morning lights are wonderful, the short shutter speed is freezing the movement of the crane, the right feet is parallel with the body, the left foot brings the wings to focus. The crop is perfect. Great job Butch!   Posted: 08/07/2026 14:47:42
Butch Mazzuca   Butch Mazzuca
Thank you Ernoe - much appreciated   Posted: 08/07/2026 21:10:02
Roy Lockwood   Roy Lockwood
Butch a great photograph. What I really like is the capture of the wing tip providing forward thrust as apposed to upward lift. I felt that this would also make a great B&W   Posted: 08/10/2026 19:42:03
Comment Image
Butch Mazzuca   Butch Mazzuca
Roy - It's no surprise that you came up with an alternative and frankly did convert to B&W to emphasize form, gesture and graphics. And depending on how I handled the contrast, it does give the image a more artistic, almost etched quality that you don't get with color. So, good thought.

But here the color itself is contributing to the photograph; and I feel removing the color in this instance is removing information. Also, I don't see the color as competing with the subject, rather, I think it helps define the moment and that's lost in BxW. Roy, your comments are ALWAYS appreciated - thank you for taking the time.
  Posted: 08/14/2026 15:38:59
Roy Lockwood   Roy Lockwood
Butch, I did not mean to imply that it was better in B&W only that it works well too. Since my local photo club has both color and B&W catagories, I have now been taking a closer look at how my photos would look in B&W. I too appreciete you comments and learn a lot from your well thought out critiques of all our groups photographs. Thanks   Posted: 08/14/2026 17:12:01
Dr Ernoe Barsi   Dr Ernoe Barsi
I like B&W images, but in this case the soft morning lights are one of the main strengths of this picture.   Posted: 08/14/2026 15:10:58
Peter Hornbostel   Peter Hornbostel
Butch, this photo is a poem. Morning light on a icy river. And a crane - they are so shy. You see every feather of the bird, this is phantastic. Well done.
  Posted: 08/17/2026 21:20:29
Butch Mazzuca   Butch Mazzuca
Thanks for you kind words Peter   Posted: 08/17/2026 23:47:31
Jeremy Martin   Jeremy Martin
I am in love with the bi-color background in this image. The lighting is spectacular and the image has high impact. Great job!   Posted: 08/23/2026 19:56:10
Butch Mazzuca   Butch Mazzuca
Thank you Jeremy, much appreciated   Posted: 08/23/2026 20:12:35

 

Please log in to post a comment