Photographing Loons From Hatch to Fledge: A Season with the Loons S3 Ep3: The Finale
Вставка
- Опубліковано 6 лют 2025
- A Season with Loons S3 E3 The Finale!
This is the season finale for my third season photographing loon families in Northern New England (which is the states of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine). After numerous failures earlier that spring and summer, I finally have a pair of loons that has 2 chicks. I follow the family around and hope that the chicks can fledge before freeze up due to their late hatch. The conditions range from rainy days to freezing mornings in mid-October but as always days of beauty, peace, and reflection.
To view a photo gallery from this project on my website www.jwelchphot...
My website www.jwelchphoto.com
Use contact form for business inquiries or message me at: Instagram @johnwelchphotography
Important: Notes on ethically observing and photographing loons I photographed this season using either a 600mm or 800mm equivalent focal length, often cropping much further in post- production, and abided by ethical guidelines. You should not simply paddle right up to loons. Not all loons will be tolerant of humans and learn to read their behavioral signals. The loons in my films are tolerant. Please educate yourself on loon behavior and the ethics of observing loons before attempting to observe them in the wild. Some guidelines can be found here. In summary, loons have various state and federal protections, and harassing them can be a criminal offense, carrying fines and even jail time. You will be watched on lakes by other boaters and homeowners on developed lakes. While loons are on the nest, they are particularly vulnerable to human disturbance, including kayakers and photographers. I personally chose not to even photograph them at this time, and if you must, keep your visit very brief and from a far distance. Once the chicks have hatched, loon’s tolerance for human presence will vary from individual to individual. Do disrupt their ability to hunt and feed the chicks. General guidelines for how far to stay from them is 100 feet to 100 yards. However, it is allowable for loons to swim up to you on their own (though you must be mindful that you are not drifting into them), which is what happened in some of the close-up footage and photos as two of my loon pairs were very tolerant.
I just love all the captures you got of the loom family! They are so beautiful and I love the loon call. Seeing them ride on the parents' back is so cute! I am so glad you had a nice season with a loon family. The blue heron captures were beautiful as well. I especially enjoyed the landscapes with the fog. It just adds such a mystic to everything. What a great season for you! 😊
Thanks so much! Yes, the landscapes really are huge part of the experience and we get lots of moody mornings here. I had to include the herons, they really were always around this year. Thanks for the kind words again and hope you have a good new year exploring!
John, congrats on another successful loon season. So glad to see that both of them made it so far this time!
Thanks Harris, I appreciate it! It really was rewarding to have a pair succeed after all of the failures I witness. Thanks again for checking it out!
Awesome work John! Your work and dedication is something to be proud of.
Thank you for creating this series
Thanks Chris, I really appreciate that thoughtful comment. As you can relate, it’s a labor of love. Hope you are doing well, having a good winter, and getting out there!
Absolutely stunning footage! Really enjoyed this intimate look at this family. Your images are incredible! Bravo!
Thanks Matthew! I appreciate you taking the time to check it out and leave this nice feedback! I would say nice to remember times when wildlife photography didn't means frozen fingertips, but that started in october for me.
Incredible and inspiring, can't wait for summer!
I know, its been a cold winter so summer is starting to sound appealing. Thanks for watching and the support!
WONDERFUL, JOHN
THANK YOU!
Thanks as always for the support Sue!
ALWAYS, JOHN
While you were paddleling toward the camera,
I could feel what it is like to be on the lake,
In my KAYAK.... 👍
Amazing loon footage !!
Thanks Bill! As always I appreciate your support. Good luck with the eagles and Z8. I forgot if I mentioned, but I switched to the Z8 in august myself.
Incredible work here, John. This takes some serious skill, effort, and dedication to capture these moments. The bonus is the story you've created. One of my favorite shots is a 5:27 with the lone eyeball peeking out the parents feathers (not to mention the bokeh light in the background). We just got another 4 inches of snow up here in the midcoast, but I can't wait to get back out on the ponds with the loons in a few months!
Thanks so much for that Liam! I appreciate and I know you know what goes into videos like these with your top notch video work. If only there was more time! I appreciate your feedback on lone eyeball shot. It was a favorite of mine, that would probably be ignored on postage size Instagram but is very expressive. And yes, I try hard to wait until the loons get in the dark water and move around to get that clean water. We had the same snow here in NH and will hit -10F where I am at tonight, spring and summer seem a long way off! Hope you are well and finding some adventures.
Hello 👋
I’m new to your beautiful channel and is soo amazing and also extremely Educational.
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing video.
And can you please 🙏 share on the ISO on the camera settings.
Thanks so much for your kind comment! Photography wise, for the loons from a kayak that doesn't stay totally still, I prioritize shutter speed ahead of ISO, so I shoot manual with auto ISO and let ISO float where it needs too. If the loons aren't really moving and the water is still, I can maybe get shutter as low as 1/500 or 1/640 but otherwise need to keep it above 1/1000. If its pretty bright light, ISO might be around 1000 but for those smooth darker water shots ISO is closer to 2000-2500 and even higher when the light falls lower.