Sandhill Cranes, Bosque del Apache NWR, Socorro NM

Early light on an overcast day at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge during the Festival of the Cranes lead to show shutter speeds and blurred wings. And I was panning with the cranes in flight, which blurred the background. The cranes were close. This is only a 400mm shot…so I was panning pretty fast. The composition, technically, is all wrong. I should have the cranes leading into the frame not out of it. And yet this is one of my favorite flight shots from the trip. The close view, the blurred wings and background, along with unconventional composition, all create an impression of the speed at which the cranes were moving.  They provide an energy to the shot that might be missing in more “technically” perfect views. I like it!

Nikon P900 at 400mm equivalent field of view. 1/50th @ ISO 800 @ f5. Processed in Lightroom.