It's all down to luck .... and a fast shutter finger!

[Donald]

Usually my photography involves setting up, breathing the beautiful air, sitting (or standing) around and, eventually pressing the shutter once or even twice (one for insurance).

However, when you work with waves and birds, both at the same time, it becomes a bit of a mad, free for all.

I was at a place called The Trinkie in Caithness. It was a stormy day. I wanted to try shooting the waves as they came crashing in.

But as I watched and was picking up the pattern of the waves coming in, I saw there were birds flying around, seemingly enjoying the high winds. That was the shot. Get a bird flying over just as a wave crashed on the shore.

Easier said that done.

After goodness knows how many frames (I shot one at time, didn't put it on burst shooting) and a very cold pair of hands, I got this.

Your critique and comments will be welcome.

[mugge]

I often wonder if shooting in bursts actually work. One cannot see anything. It's educated luck, but luck nevertheless.
This is marvelous.
Cheers Ole

[Shadowman]

Nicely captured and processed.

[Donald]

I often wonder if shooting in bursts actually work. One cannot see anything. It's educated luck, but luck nevertheless.

It's definitely an essential tool for the likes of pro-photographers covering major sporting events. They need to produce the image there and then. The burst rates now available almost guarantee that the highlight of a key piece of action will be captured. But for me, it has little use.

[george013]

It's definitely an essential tool for the likes of pro-photographers covering major sporting events. They need to produce the image there and then. The burst rates now available almost guarantee that the highlight of a key piece of action will be captured. But for me, it has little use.

I like the image. You did introduce some dynamic, movement, in it which I miss often in your images.
Burst rate would have use for you. If you shoot when you see it, you're always to late. There's another benefit with burst rate: camera shake due to mirror slam or pressing the button. After the first picture that's less.

George

[Manfred M]

But for me, it has little use.

I note that you did not say "no use".

I would suggest that knowledge of how the waves break and your timing on the shutter release are every bit as important as being in the right place at the right time. Cartier-Bresson's "decisive moment" applies to some landscape work, like this scene too.

Like you, I rarely use burst mode, but there are times where it certainly comes in handy and is likely the only way to get the shot, outside of pure luck. For instance, I used fast burst mode to capture the water and steam welling out of the erupting geyser, Strokur, in Iceland this way.



I tried doing it by watching, but with unpredictable timing and differences between each eruption, burst was the way to go.

[Wavelength]

Very dramatic...wings and waves!!!

[Rita]

Wow, perfect timing.

[Donald]

I would suggest that knowledge of how the waves break and your timing on the shutter release are every bit as important .....

I found it fascinating to see that I could predict from quite far out whether a particular wave would explode against the shore causing a big splash or whether it would be much quieter. And, as well as that, there was a pattern - Large, small, small, large, small, small, large. I never thought that such a thing would occur.

And that for me is one of the great things about photography. But for photography I would never have spent enough time studying waves for this phenomena to make itself apparent. So, I learnt something that day. And when I go back to look at waves, I can see that the 'rule' applies in other settings as well.

[NorthernFocus]

Well however you got there the end result is excellent. Nicely done.

[lovelife65]

Awesome!

[joebranko]

Beautifully captured!

[JBW]

no critique. Just great pleasure viewing this shot.

[lunarbo]

.......super shot. Congratulations to both you and birdie for being in exactly the right place at the right time!

[shreds]

Your captures are, as usual, well thought through and precisely executed at the right moment, however you do it.

(Waves do have that sort of pattern not just in Caithness, except it is different in the Mediterranean, but will depend on the inclination of the sea bed, wind, shore currents and a whole host of other factors that would take too long to explain here).

Just keep grabbing that decisive moment. It is appreciated.

[dem]

I really like the symmetry between the cloud formation and the wave - they have a lot in common. The bird gives a sense of the scale and makes for a triangular composition. Definitely better with the bird than without.

[Donald]

I really like the symmetry between the cloud formation and the wave

I am so glad someone got that. That was how it felt sitting watching the waves and that is what I wanted to get in the picture.

[rpcrowe]

Lovely shot, taken at just the right instant.

[davidedric]

There isn't only the symmetry of the waves and clouds, there is the way the shape of the wave with the high point top right leads the eye to the bird. I suspect you could have shot a million frames and not got that alignment twice.

Dave

[Donald]

There isn't only the symmetry of the waves and clouds, there is the way the shape of the wave with the high point top right leads the eye to the bird. I suspect you could have shot a million frames and not got that alignment twice.

Just sheer skill and perfect camera-work!

OR

Better known as Good Luck.