… I took a quick swing by the ponds Friday afternoon as the sun was going behind the mountain and shadows were advancing across the ponds. The first pond by the parking lot was seeing a lot of action as the young Rainbow Trout were all coming to the surface and going airborne to catch the tiny insects that were hatching. Likewise the Black Phoebes were active over the ponds catching the new hatch of insects too … amazing how nature works and takes care of all levels of life! It also thankful that we are at the top of the food chain …
In the photo above, a Black Phoebe is returning to his perch on the iron railing of one of the feeding docks in a pond. They frequently return to the same perch they takeoff from after a brief flight to grab some insects. To get them landing, simply lock a focus on where they took off from and start shooting when you see them coming back … not quite as simple as it sounds, but spend time shooting them and you may end up getting a few good shots here and there.
I’ve also started spending time trying to get good shots of the trout leaping to grab the flies and other insects that hatch in the ponds and go airborne. The trout below had just caught a winged thing and if you look close another one is just over his head. Shooting the fish take a lot of patience and do not expect a high keeper to throw away ratio, it is tough!
A couple of tips: if you are shooting a camera that has auto focus, pick a spot in the water and hold a focus on that specific patch of water until you see a fish start to break the surface and shoot, ditto with the Black Phoebes. If you have an advanced auto focus system I would suggest that you set the camera to immediately grab a focus on anything suddenly entering the frame as opposed to holding a focus on what you are otherwise focusing on … and pre-capture is kinda essential as the whole event with fish is frequently over in less than a second. When I am actuating the shutter button it is common for the event to be over, but I have the previous half second and usually get something.
Another new week and day is underway … methinks it is going to be fabulous … keep breathing, share a smile with someone and rejoice! We are here!
Cheers
Ted
I ask no odds of any man,
I am not one that follies sway.
I am the source of my rewards,
I do my work each day.
The fruit of trees, the grain of fields,
Wherever use and beauty lurk—
The good of all the world belongs
To him who does his work.
It matters not if rich or poor.
This is the future’s great command,
Who does not work shall cease to eat;
Upon this rock I stand.
Though work bring naught of power
nor wealth
Spare me from want of common needs,
And give a share of manly health,
A few good friends of honest deeds;
And till death’s peaceful slumber nears
A life of undishonored years.
Work by Max Ehrmann
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The easiest way to reach Mr. Grussing is by email: ted@tedgrussing.com
In addition to sales of photographs already taken Ted does special shoots for patrons on request and also does air-to-air photography for those who want photographs of their airplanes in flight. All special photographic sessions are billed on an hourly basis.
Ted also does one-on-one workshops for those interested in learning the techniques he uses. By special arrangement Ted will do one-on-one aerial photography workshops which will include actual photo sessions in the air.
More about Ted Grussing …
