Hey there, wildlife photography enthusiasts! Today I’m going to tell you the story of how I captured one of my favourite photographs – a heartwarming shot of a mother Canada Goose and her gosling.
It was early May of 2022, and I was at a private lodge in Lancashire, UK, where I had permission to access. I had been observing this family of geese through the whole cycle of breeding to fledging and migration.
The geese were very aggressive and territorial while they were on eggs, which made it difficult to watch the Kingfishers i’d been documenting in the same stretch of water. But I didn’t mind – it was important to me that the geese were successful with their brood, and I wanted to document and observe the whole process.
Setting up the shot
After five eggs hatched and five goslings fledged, the adults started allowing me to approach and walk past the family. Each day, the geese would come out of the water and feed on the grass walkway as a group, with one of the adults keeping guard. That’s when I saw the perfect opportunity to capture the intimacy of the interaction between the mother and her gosling.
Camera settings:
To get the shot, I had to get down low and wait for the perfect moment. I used my Nikon Z50 and Sigma 150-600c Lens, with a slow shutter speed of around 1/400 to match the focal length of 400mm.
I set the ISO to auto and the aperture to F8, which gave me enough depth of field to keep everything in focus. After taking a few hundred shots, I finally got the perfect one.
Post-processing
But the post-processing was a whole other story. The area where the geese fed and grazed was covered in goose poo, which I had to spot heal and clone out to get rid of the distractions. After some usual light and contrast adjustments, the image was ready to be shared with the world.
It was amazing to see the family of geese grow up and to capture their story through my lens. And the image has become probably my most favourite photograph in my wildlife gallery by viewers.
If you have any similar experiences or stories to share, I would love to hear them!
Now, let’s talk about some useful tips and tricks for wildlife photography.
- Be patient and prepared: The perfect shot can present itself at any time, so always be ready with your camera and keep an eye out for opportunities.
- Respect the animals and their environment: It’s important to always prioritize the well-being of the animals and their habitats. Don’t disturb them, and always be aware of your surroundings.
- Use long lens technique: If you’re using a long lens, make sure to match your shutter speed to the focal length to avoid motion blur.
- Get down low: Sometimes the best shot requires getting on the ground to capture the intimacy of the interaction between the animals.
- Post-processing is key: Sometimes the post-processing can make or break a photograph. Don’t be afraid to edit your images, but make sure to do it in a way that enhances the natural beauty of the animals and their environment.
So, there you have it, folks – the story of how I captured a heartwarming shot of a mother Canada Goose and her gosling, and some useful tips and tricks for wildlife photography.
Till next time, happy shooting!
Scott
scottpollard.uk
