Avian Captive and Hand of Man IOTW 11/13/2008 Rich Steel

[James Shadle]

Congratulations Rich Steel!
Knot Flock

The flocks of knot are steadily building on the local beach and I am now regularly encountering groups of 5000 + birds. I don't often do flock photography as I don't find it particularly easy. So I am taking 3 days leave from work next week , as the tides are large, to see what I can do with them. I am really looking foward to it ,especially as my good friend Andy Rouse will be coming up to share in the fun. Last time I went out for them I decided to see how close a flock on the beach would let me get, which is about within 25 yards, if your lying in the mud. I did some photos and suddenly the whole flock of around 7000 birds took off and went straight over me. To have that many birds flying past 3ft above your head is quite an experience for both the eyes and ears!!

This photo is a part of one of the flocks flying past the new offshore windfarm.
Taken with 1Dmk3 and 500mm lens at ISO400 F5.6 1/640s.

 

[Gus Cobos]

Congratulations Rich...

 

[denise ippolito]

Rich, Congratulations! great shot!!

 

[Alfred Forns]

Excellent Rich !!! Mighty fine image !!

 

[Manos Papadomanolakis]

Congratulations Rich!!!

 

[Oscar Zangroniz]

Congrats on a fine image Rich.
Regards,

 

[Juan Aragonés]

Big congratulations for the IOTW selection and fantastic image Rich!

 

[Rich Steel]

Many thanks all round. Heading off to south Wales in a few minutes for a few days so it will be interesting to see if I can find anything to photograph down there . Have camera will travel!

Cheers

Rich

 

[Lana Hays]

Congrats, Rich
Certainly a winner......and wonderfully different.

 

[Robert Amoruso]

Great combination of wild and hand of man. Real good composition too. Congrats.

 

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Congratulations, Rich! I like the composition.

 

[Ed Cordes]

Congratulations Rich! Great action. It must have been a great experience as well.

 

[Austin Thomas]

Congratulations Rich. Well deserved.
See you soon.

Austin

 

[Phil Ertel]

Well done! Congratulations

 

[Julie Kenward]

I wonder who's generating more energy...those windmills or the birds! Great image, Rich.