Pelicans, Port Aransas by auntietk
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Another iPhone 5S picture.
Port Aransas, Texas
North Padre Island
When we went out with Maria (CavalierLady) a few weeks ago, she taught us how to sneak up to get bird shots. I used her method, and was able to get really close to these pelicans. She says you have to take a picture, move closer, take another picture, move closer, and keep doing that until you get the shot you want or until the bird flies away. Pelicans in tourist towns are pretty nonchalant about cameras, but I still followed her instructions.
Thanks, Maria! :)

Comments (15)
you get sweet shots with that phone! The closest pelican has very sweet detail, and you got them with beak down, waiting for food. Very sweet captures! I've photographed lots of birds on Lake Michigan, and I can concur with Maria---they get used to you by your doing your thing from a distance, then a little closer, and so on: They get used to your presence and rhythm that way. (The difference is, she gets masterpieces: I don't.) But this is a beautiful capture, Tara, with the water angling out into the distance, and those choppy waves. It feels primal. And the pier is gritty, and balances out the water. (Man, that's a big body of water---was that a lake? a pond? Does Maria live on the Gulf?) A fine moody and even vast capture. Kudos for getting this with an iPhone.
(I also found that crawling on my stomach helps. Birds are not quite as threatened that way. Just be sure you don't wear dress-clothes that day...)
Note: I just looked up the area. It's right on the coast. So you're either looking at an inlet or the Gulf. Even if it's an inlet, that would still explain the great choppy waters...
The water is Aransas Pass. The Gulf of Mexico is a couple hundred yards off to the right.
Great capture, Tara! I've used that method when taking pictures of deer that have wandered into my step-mom's yard/garden
love the percpective---and the yellow headed one, i don't think i've ever seen one like that!!
Yellow headed? Probably a dye job, most likely into punk music. A really terrific capture but you can't fool me. These are old PBY Flying Boats. If you watch them land in the water you will understand.
That method works on some little creatures like spiders and dragonflies too, but I have no success with birds! Super pic! You tempt me to get a smart phone.
Great shot, Tara! Glad you were able to get close to these guys. :D They are a bit more tolerant down there where you are. :)
Oh, I want to see pelicans; I haven't since I took up photography, and they are so primitive-looking! I've never seen one with yellow feathers, how delightful! Great capture!
Supershot T!!
Lucky you that they don't attack you ;) Very nice capture Tara.
This is lovely, with the focus on that first pelican, Tara. Your phone makes very good and sharp shots, and I like one can see so many details, plus the sea background is perfect to see behind.
Very great shot and birds !
Beautifully composed!
Superb capture Tara. God bless.
yes birds is hard to get a good shot . big birds will stay a little longer that the very small birds. they move all the time it looks like
By creeping closer with each shot you have managed to get a super capture of these pelicans and what an interesting background sea too. Very cool.
Thank you so much for your welcome back, I thought everyone would have forgotten me by now!!!! It is great to see what everyone has been up to while I have been away, though the changes will take a bit of getting used to. 