Pacific loon on a tundra pond, National Petroleum Reserve, Brooks range, Alaska. Canon 1Ds Mark III, 500mm w/2x (1000mm), 1/500 sec @ f/8, ISO 200.
Is there ever really enough time? To get the right shot, to get the right light, heck, for life in general. So much to see and so much to do. In this particular instance, our two canoes were all packed up and it was time to hit the river for a day of paddling, with needed distance to be gained to meet our deadline. A quick photo excursion on the tundra by one of our party for some shots of the Lapland longspur, brought back news of this loon on a nearby tundra pond. Hmmm, thought my canoe partner and I, there is no way we are leaving without taking a look. So, we unpacked gear and trudged off to see. Loons are a beautiful bird, striking in markings and vocals. At first, we thought this might be an Arctic loon, but upon closer look, it is confirmed a Pacific loon.
Now if you are a photographer, you can imagine what this scene might look like under the golden midnight light of Alaska’s arctic summer. It was taken at 1:30pm, nearly the hottest light of the day. But, alas, we did not have time to spend another day at this campsite. It just confirms that a glace across the tundra, with a few distant ponds here and there, really hold an amazing little circle of life know upon closer observation.
What is remarkable to me is that I took this shot with a 1000mm focal length, manual focus, on a tiny tripod, which was sunk in the water at least a foot or two, as I was knee high in swamp grass. It is remarkably sharp, a testament to that Canon 500mm f/4IS, which is hard to leave home without!
