I returned this afternoon from two nights at Leon Kinvig hut in the headwaters of the Pohangina River. I'd hoped to see and photograph
whio, and I wasn't disappointed. On the first evening, although tired after climbing over the Ngamoko Range to reach the hut, I wandered downstream and came across a lone male whio. I managed some photographs in the fast-fading light, but hoped for better. The next day I saw no whio until the evening, when this pair greeted me just a short distance downstream from the hut.
[f4 at 1/80 sec.; ISO 200]
All content © 2016 Pete McGregor
I don't know if you had the time/luxury to compose that shot, Pete, or if it was one of those happy incidents in photography, but it has a perfection about it. The eye is led from the off-focus rocks on the upper left, through the wing feathers and feet of the first whio, to the rock beneath it with its shiny reflection and across the wing feathers of the second whio, up to its head - and the final "grace note"; the drop of water on its bill.
ReplyDeletePS: The last mentioned water drop acts almost as a full stop to your composition. Thanks for including the technical details of the shot once more.
ReplyDeleteWhat a thrill for you to see the pair! I love the detail of the feathers. Glad you had a good trip.
ReplyDeletebeautiful birds making a beautiful shape and composition.
ReplyDeleteLucky man to be where you are
Avus, thanks for those thoughts — most interesting. I didn't have time to think carefully about the composition because the wing stretch only lasted a couple of seconds, but I had the camera mounted on the tripod so, to some extent, I'd already determined the composition. I admit it was intuitive rather than reasoned, though; it was a case of adjusting the framing until it 'looked right'. Fortunately, the wing stretch improved it rather than detracting from it.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lesley. I'd been worried about sharing the hut and the valley with hunters (it's 'the roar' right now), but I had the place to myself the whole time. I had such a good trip I had a little difficulty readjusting to being back here: I couldn't stop remembering what it was like there in the Pohangina headwaters.
gz, thank you. Yes, I'm very fortunate, and I don't take it for granted. Among other things, these ducks are one of the rarest species of duck in the world, and to be able to spend time with them in such a beautiful environment is an enormous privilege.
Very intense creatures.
ReplyDeleteZhoen, when they look directly at you, face on, they look scarily intense. They're wonderful birds, though, and I know more than a few people who have fallen under their spell (I'm one, too).
ReplyDeleteKia ora Pete,
ReplyDeleteDefinitely would class myself as being under the whio spell. Glad to read you had mountain solitude, aside from the feathered company of course. Missing the Ruahine at the moment.
Cheers,
Robb
Kia ora Robb. While I was at Kinvig I thought of that time you and John and I spent there. Solitude is great, but sharing time like that in an environment like that with great mates is every bit as good.
ReplyDeleteI know you'd have loved sitting there by that pool, watching the pair of whio.
Kia ora Pete..indeed. Great memories and I hope we get an opportunity to do so again. The mountains seem far away with my busy schedule so to even see the whio are there and the many times I have been delighted and awed by them does my soul wonders.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Robb
Very pleased to be able to share these moments with you, Robb.
ReplyDelete