Jefferson Island Rookery: The Roseate Spoonbills are nesting at the Jefferson Island, Louisiana Rookery. There were about 20 photographers there this morning taking images of the 12...

RedArrow Loc: Coastal Louisiana

The Roseate Spoonbills are nesting at the Jefferson Island, Louisiana Rookery. There were about 20 photographers there this morning taking images of the 12 species nesting birds and one 12 foot bull gator courting all the lady gators.

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minniev Loc: MIssissippi

RedArrow wrote:

The Roseate Spoonbills are nesting at the Jefferson Island, Louisiana Rookery. There were about 20 photographers there this morning taking images of the 12 species nesting birds and one 12 foot bull gator courting all the lady gators.

These are wonderful wildlife images. There's no bird I enjoy photographing more than spoonbills and these are so brilliantly colored. Great capture. Some may fuss about the OOF greenery in the foreground but I actually like it because of the rich color that frames the bird, who's wonderfully sharp and detailed. The gators are beautifully captured too, with all their own detail and in a pose that would be wonderful even without the reflection but with it is a treasure. I hope you have some contests to enter these in.

I wish you'd give us a download version of the gators like you did the bird.

Got you some real treasures there, thanks for sharing.

RedArrow Loc: Coastal Louisiana

Thanks Minnie, It is almost impossible to not get some OOF greenery when using the long lenses glad to it was not a problem in your point of view. The big gator is a local pet and is feed everyday so he rarely feeds on the nesting birds and his presents protects the birds from snakes, coons and possums. I talked a lady who had pics of him two days with the water dancing on his back as he was courting that lady in my pic.

minniev wrote:

These are wonderful wildlife images. There's no bi... (show quote)

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pfrancke Loc: cold Maine

I think the bird is much more photogenic than the gators, that is for sure. I am guessing you need to not step on a gator when shooting a bird. I am extremely jealous that the wildlife close to me is not so interesting. Nice job!!

RedArrow Loc: Coastal Louisiana

Thanks Piet, Two days ago a 8 footer not let me walk past it and would walk towards me every time I tried to get by it. I just walked the long way around and kept all my body parts attached. I still have 180 mile round trip to where the spoonie are nesting.

pfrancke wrote:

I think the bird is much more photogenic than the gators, that is for sure. I am guessing you need to not step on a gator when shooting a bird. I am extremely jealous that the wildlife close to me is not so interesting. Nice job!!

pfrancke Loc: cold Maine

RedArrow wrote:

Thanks Piet, Two days ago a 8 footer not let me walk past it and would walk towards me every time I tried to get by it. I just walked the long way around and kept all my body parts attached. I still have 180 mile round trip to where the spoonie are nesting.

no small trip, but let me say, I think it was worth it. Good adventure too, though if an 8 footer was walking towards me, I think I would end up throwing my best lens at it in panic - LOL

RedArrow Loc: Coastal Louisiana

The trick is to invite someone slower than you and all is as good when a hungry gator has his eye on you. Keep the best lens save in the bag as you out run your slower soon to be departed friend.

pfrancke wrote:

no small trip, but let me say, I think it was worth it. Good adventure too, though if an 8 footer was walking towards me, I think I would end up throwing my best lens at it in panic - LOL

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Very enjoyable photos, John. I also enjoyed your stories and tips of how to stay safe :)

The lighting in the gator shot seems to really bring out the details and shapes of their skin. Very striking.

RedArrow Loc: Coastal Louisiana

Thank you Linda and all joking aside the big wild gators are extremely dangerous. You have the same odds as being struck by lighting as a gator attacking you but it does not mean you can walk outside in a lighting storm with a raised metal rod or use that rod to poke that bull gator in the eye to make him move so you can pass. The story two days about the eight footer is true and it was not going to let me pass. All rookeries have gators waiting to clean up the birds and chicks of life misfortunate happenings and some gators look at you as a competitor for mothers natures crueler side of life. What do you expect from a animal with a brain the size of a walnut. I am talking about idiot poking the gator with a stick not the gator.

Linda From Maine wrote:

Very enjoyable photos, John. I also enjoyed your stories and tips of how to stay safe :)

The lighting in the gator shot seems to really bring out the details and shapes of their skin. Very striking.

Mark7829 Loc: Calfornia

RedArrow wrote:

The Roseate Spoonbills are nesting at the Jefferson Island, Louisiana Rookery. There were about 20 photographers there this morning taking images of the 12 species nesting birds and one 12 foot bull gator courting all the lady gators.

The overall images are very nice. However the direction of light and the time of day casts a shadow that obscures necessary detail for both images. The birds is better of the two. I do like that that you got a wing spread as opposed to just a sitting bird. I think that action is necessary for story. The body however is in shadow. The head though is in light, which I like very much. The presenting side of the gators are in shadow and it obscures detail. The tops are quite bright from the time of day.

RedArrow Loc: Coastal Louisiana

Thanks for the input Mark and that is some of many problems shooting birds with white feathers.

Mark7829 wrote:

The overall images are very nice. However the dir... (show quote)

JD750 Loc: SoCal

RedArrow wrote:

The Roseate Spoonbills are nesting at the Jefferson Island, Louisiana Rookery. There were about 20 photographers there this morning taking images of the 12 species nesting birds and one 12 foot bull gator courting all the lady gators.

I agree with Mark on the gators, being black, they are harder to see, but I really like the reflections in the water.

Now Mark is an expert and I am not. But for what it is worth, as far as the bird, IMHO, I like it! I think you nailed the exposure in the posted image in capturing the shadow and the light, and I like the interplay of light and shadow because I think it adds drama depth and context.

RedArrow Loc: Coastal Louisiana

Thanks JD, There is never a dull moment in a rookery with 12 species of birds all fighting for nesting material and space to nest. The male birds are waging wars with the neighbors and steadily collecting or stealing nesting sticks for their nesting female.

JD750 wrote:

I agree with Mark on the gators, being black, they are harder to see, but I really like the reflections in the water.

Now Mark is an expert and I am not. But for what it is worth, as far as the bird, IMHO, I like it! I think you nailed the exposure in the posted image in capturing the shadow and the light, and I like the interplay of light and shadow because I think it adds drama depth and context.

FrodoBaggins Loc: Texas

Very nice... I love rookeries especially the roseates

merrytexan Loc: georgia

RedArrow wrote:

The Roseate Spoonbills are nesting at the Jefferson Island, Louisiana Rookery. There were about 20 photographers there this morning taking images of the 12 species nesting birds and one 12 foot bull gator courting all the lady gators.

beautiful spoonbill shot, and it appears that love is in the air in the second shot!