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Maine Loons early August
Aug 30, 2019 01:25:20   #
TomV Loc: Annapolis, Maryland
 
I was able to get some decent shots after the sun came out and the fog started to lift. Unfortunately, this pair was distracted by another loon and left our well-lit area for a spot good only for silhouettes. This event is what I captured with the last 3 shots.

This was on a pond near Moosehead Lake, Greenville ME, in a canoe with local guide Chris Young, who I highly recommend.

Shot with full-frame Sony a99ii and Sony 300mm G2

Loon 1
Loon 1...
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Loon 2
Loon 2...
(Download)

Loon 3
Loon 3...
(Download)

Loon 4
Loon 4...
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Loon 5
Loon 5...
(Download)

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Aug 30, 2019 02:04:41   #
Katydid Loc: Davis, CA
 
Very nice. I really like the fog effect.

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Aug 30, 2019 05:46:55   #
Murex Loc: Bainbridge, Georgia
 
I like them all, but especially #1. From trips to Maine and Canada years ago, the loon remains one of my favorite birds. Their call is piercing and beautiful. Thank you for posting these.

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Aug 30, 2019 11:14:49   #
kpmac Loc: Ragley, La
 
Nicely done.

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Aug 31, 2019 06:05:53   #
J-SPEIGHT Loc: Akron, Ohio
 
TomV wrote:
I was able to get some decent shots after the sun came out and the fog started to lift. Unfortunately, this pair was distracted by another loon and left our well-lit area for a spot good only for silhouettes. This event is what I captured with the last 3 shots.

This was on a pond near Moosehead Lake, Greenville ME, in a canoe with local guide Chris Young, who I highly recommend.

Shot with full-frame Sony a99ii and Sony 300mm G2


Nice set of images.

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Aug 31, 2019 09:05:52   #
Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona
 
Nice. I like #3 the best. Nice light and the pair looking in the same direction. Nice that both birds were on the same plane so you kept pretty good focus on both. The morning light was really nice for you. Second best to me is #2. Again, the light is lovely. With both 2 and 3, my preference would be a tighter crop unless in number 2 you like the boat in the background.

Good stuff, thanks for sharing.

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Aug 31, 2019 10:22:19   #
TomV Loc: Annapolis, Maryland
 
Nalu wrote:
Nice. I like #3 the best. Nice light and the pair looking in the same direction. Nice that both birds were on the same plane so you kept pretty good focus on both. The morning light was really nice for you. Second best to me is #2. Again, the light is lovely. With both 2 and 3, my preference would be a tighter crop unless in number 2 you like the boat in the background.

Good stuff, thanks for sharing.


Thanks. You are correct about #2, I wanted the boat in the background. In retrospect, I do not think I could have posed a better background than what was fortuitously afforded me, in subject, position and bokeh.

My f stop was smaller than I wanted for the low light, but did not know how the loons would be spaced so for each to be in focus I had to compromise. Because of the slight fog and low light I was typically manually focusing. Once our guide warned us they were getting ready to fly I then released the MF button and the last 3 shots were AF. Fortunately the light & fog had just improved.

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Aug 31, 2019 18:26:19   #
jwm1944 Loc: Maryland
 
TomV wrote:
I was able to get some decent shots after the sun came out and the fog started to lift. Unfortunately, this pair was distracted by another loon and left our well-lit area for a spot good only for silhouettes. This event is what I captured with the last 3 shots.

This was on a pond near Moosehead Lake, Greenville ME, in a canoe with local guide Chris Young, who I highly recommend.

Shot with full-frame Sony a99ii and Sony 300mm G2


W)W

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Sep 1, 2019 11:31:58   #
raymondh Loc: Walker, MI
 
Katydid wrote:
Very nice. I really like the fog effect.


Agreed!!

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Sep 26, 2019 22:07:48   #
GregWCIL Loc: Illinois
 
Great set Tom. I too had the fortune to have Chris guide me in July of 2018. What a great guy and super skilled outdoorsman. He's among the best of registered Maine Guides.
Your skills and his produced some fine results.
Btw, did the chicks hatch late this year? Im surprised they arent bigger by August.

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Sep 27, 2019 23:49:14   #
TomV Loc: Annapolis, Maryland
 
GregWCIL wrote:
Great set Tom. I too had the fortune to have Chris guide me in July of 2018. What a great guy and super skilled outdoorsman. He's among the best of registered Maine Guides.
Your skills and his produced some fine results.
Btw, did the chicks hatch late this year? Im surprised they arent bigger by August.


Hi Greg, you are correct about the chicks. Chris was telling us the same thing. We saw chicks later than normal, and the following day we saw a bull moose 'flehming' earlier than normal.

The first photo is of that event from the roadside. The subsequent photos are some of many nice ones taken soon after the loons left.


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Sep 28, 2019 07:40:28   #
Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington
 
You hit the jackpot with both loons and moose! Your photos bring back many happy memories

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Sep 28, 2019 19:51:49   #
TomV Loc: Annapolis, Maryland
 
Thanks to everyone for the kind words.

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Jan 25, 2021 16:49:35   #
joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA
 
They're all outstanding, but I especially love the shot with the two loons splashing

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