Description
A few weeks back, when the Canada Geese and Tundra Swans started returning to the Marsh, there was a near-perfect evening. The sunset sky was full of birds travelling back to the one patch of open water in the Marsh from the surrounding fields of last year’s corn. I noticed the almost-full moon was in a great place above the horizon and thought “Maybe.” The geese and swans were mostly in one field so I found myself a spot where they might fly past the moon on their way back to the open water.
I saw this image developing as this small family group of geese approached from a totally different angle than I had anticipated. I panned with them as they approached and they flew right in front of the moon. Unbelievable!
I’ve been dreaming for years about making an image like this.
It’s sort of mind boggling to consider the realities of making such a photo. First off, there are only one or two nights and mornings each month when the moon is close to full and the sun high enough to illuminate a subject like these geese. Then, there are only a few months each year when geese are in migration and travel together in groups. The sky has to be almost cloud free to allow the moon to be fully seen. There has to be a significant number of birds in the air for there to be a chance that one or two flocks will fly across the moon. And you have to be in the right position to make the image at a time when there is still enough light to stop the wing beats of the birds….
All considered, I will dream for the rest of my life about replicating this image but there’s a fair chance I won’t make another like it.
Taken By
Doug Gordon
Taken On
March 15, 2024
Tagged
moon
canada
geese
evening
spring
migration
ontario
flight
animal
bird
flying
nature
night
outdoors
astronomy
waterfowl
sky
beak
