Photograph: Two Sandhill Cranes, Winter Sky

Two Sandhill Cranes, Winter Sky

Posted on 16 March 2011

Two Sandhill Cranes, Winter Sky

Black and white photograph of two sandhill cranes taking to the air against a cloud-filled winter sky above the Merced National Wildlife Reserve.

This is another photograph from my detour to the Merced National Wildlife Reserve as I returned from my February trip to Death Valley. I arrived late in the day as a winter storm was just beginning to clear, and at times the migratory birds flew in front of a cloud-filled sky that ranged from dark and ominous to being colorfully lit by sunset light.

I chose to render this photograph in black and white for several reasons. First, to be quite honest, I wasn’t very fond of the particular coloration of the clouds behind these birds! However, in black and white the shapes and glowing quality of the sky seem to work better in this case. And from this distance the sandhill cranes’ coloration is subtle enough that I don’t feel that much is lost by going to monochrome.

I think I have mentioned earlier that when I photograph birds like these in flight I try to keep my eye not only on the birds but also on the background. I don’t have any control at all over what appears behind them, but I do have control over when I press the shutter – and as they pass in front of clouds and other background elements I try to time shots to place the birds in interesting compositions relative to these subjects. Every so often I like to think that I actually succeed! :-)

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Category: Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Northern California, Photographs: Wildlife
Tags: area, bird, black and white, california, clouds, county, crane, evening, flight, flock, group, Grus canadensis canadensis, in, lesser, merced, migration, migratory, monochrome, national, photo, photography, preserve, sandhill, season, silhouette, sky, stock, sunset, two nature, wildlife, winter

3 comments to Two Sandhill Cranes, Winter Sky

Paul Indigo

says:

March 16, 2011 at 1:38 pm

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to your site. Beautiful work which shows great love for nature and your craft.

All the best,

Paul

G Dan Mitchell says:

March 16, 2011 at 3:12 pm

Thanks, Paul. I enjoyed the article of yours that I shared and I very much appreciate your photography.

Take care,

Dan

Reply