Setting my own challenge

[Ian]

I'm very fortunate to have the Grand Union Canal flowing past our office in Apsley, Hemel Hempstead. It's a magnet for waterfowl from swans, Canada geese, and ducks, to herons, coots and moorhens. I think Barr1e (who lives not far from here and is a regular canal explorer) has also seen kingfishers.

Over the years I have come to realise that there is a particular stretch of the canal that is a favourite landing point for swans and geese, in particular. But I'm never ready to capture the action. So my self-imposed challenge is to get some good shots of these birds making spectacular water landings.

I haven'y any excuses! I have some great lenses to use, so it's all down to me

I'll post some results here in due course.

Ian

[Graham_of_Rainham]

One of the huge advantages of photographing Swans is the noise the wings make. However as they nearly always land into the wind (a trick they picked up by watching aircraft) the sound is sometimes blown away from you.

Geese almost always sound their arrival and from my observations seem to take great delight in coming at you out of the sun.

Have fun

[Jocelyn Walker]

Looking forward to seeing some of your waterfowl pics soon Ian! Good luck with your panning technique!

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Jocelyn Walker

Looking forward to seeing some of your waterfowl pics soon Ian! Good luck with your panning technique!

Not intending to pan - the idea is to use a long telephoto to cat the birds face-on as the land.

Ian