What an email ad could do - Imprinted by LightCaptured
Yesterday I received an email.
Now, you would most certainly ask, what's the special about that, as billions of emails are surfacing every day.
Moreover, this was an advertising one. From a travel agency, shilling one particular 2-days bus trip.
Well, it is the personal perspective that matters, right?
It was from the same travel agency that introduced me to the magic of lake Kerkini, more than ten years ago. Since then, I've been many times to lake Kerkini and around, I think twice more with bigger groups.
With this particular agency, it's always the same agenda. A bus or two, if the interest is bigger, depart from the central part of the capital city Sofia very early in the morning, and around noon the road trip reaches its destination by the lake shore.
Bulgaria is not yet in Schengen ("thanks" to Austrian government) so sometimes passing the Greek-Bulgarian border at Kulata-Promahon could be quite an adventure. For a bus this could take 15 minutes or 4 hours, I both experienced that many times. The accommodation is always in the same hotel (you can see it on the second photo below) as there aren't any other big enough places to rest for the night around. A major part of the trip is sailing with small-to-middle sized boats. Sometimes the number of people with cameras in their hands could reach above 100. So imagine how hard it is to take a unique shot with such competition, LMAO. However, that's not the point of my post today.
It is about how time changes (or does not) everything.
Traveling to lake Kerkini is a true blessing for all those who love birdwatching as this natural reserve is a temporary home to many amazing migratory birds and to many birds that live there permanently.
The partner of the owner of that small travel agency was a passionate ornithologist. Also, a guy with a sweet spot about history and geography.
So imagine, a bus depart in 6 or 7 AM and you had to wake up at least two hours earlier to prepare and get to the meeting point. So probably the most of the people on that bus would like to nap during those few hours to the Greek border.
Here it gets interesting. Just 15 minutes after the bus departs, this guy starts talking over the bus audio system. He explains everything that is going to happen on the trip, what kind of birds are currently inhabiting the lake, then start talking about the points we're passing by. There are only a few short pauses when he's probably taking some sips of water and talking to his partner, the owner of the travel agency.
Now, don't get me wrong, I am not complaining, I never has. When I am tired I could fall asleep no matter what. That, of course, isn't working for everyone. No one was getting too grumpy, 'cause this guy was telling us all so many interesting and sometimes thrilling stuff.
Why am I using past tense here?
Recently, I heard from a friend that he passed away. This happened during Covid but I can't recall the exact reason. Such a loss, as the guys was in his fifties, I am sure.
Now, the agency hired another person, a pro ornithologist, to cover the position.
This, now, has put tens of questions and feelings in my mind and some of them I don't want to put in writing, I hope, understandable for you all...
Of course, kudos to her, for being able to overcome the loss and move on. To be honest, I am not sure I could do that if I was in her shoes...
Now, it's time for photos from one of my many photo-trips there. Kerkini natural reserve, Northern Greece.
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Have a great day!
Here is an uncomplete list of some of my equipment I use on a regular basis:
| Cameras | |
|---|---|
| Canon EOS 5D Mark III | |
| Canon EOS M5 | |
| Canon EOS 550D | |
| Lenses | |
| Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM | |
| Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM | |
| Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM | |
| Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM | |
| Canon EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM | |
| Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM | |
| Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 | |
| 7artisans 35mm f/1.2 | |
| Strobes | Dynaphos Speedster |
| Flashes | Metz |
| Tripods and Mono-pods | Manfrotto |
| Benro |
The divider I use in my posts I have created in Adobe Express.
It's such a magical place... full of life, lol, literally. 😄 A real treasure for bird lovers!
And at the same time, such a terrible idea this with the organized photography trips. Whole buses! Come on! Who would undertake such a thing? Personally, no way.
What is the possibility of taking a photo at all in this situation? When you're jostling with tons of other photographers (sometimes as cocky as flies and with no sense of tact). We are not talking about a unique photo at all. 🤷♀️
Thank you!
Indeed, it is an awesome place and I wonder and at the same time I enjoy it is not that popular. Not many people visit it but that's great for such places, keeps them well preserver, lol.
There are some advantages of traveling with like-minded people, you have to agree ;)
Competition pushes creativity, trust me on that!
Thank you, friend!
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Когда я случайно вижу на реке или озере цаплю, а может быть аиста в поле, я сильно возбуждаюсь и моя камера это чувствует )))
Не представляю, чтобы чувствовала моя камера в таком месте ))
Снимать с лодки птиц на удалении ... трудная задача. Сильный телевик требует штатива, но на ложке штатив почти бесполезен. Разве что помогут очень короткие выдержки. Но есть ещё диафрагма и ISO ...
Хорошо бы высадиться на острове на часок )))
:)))
I tried in smaller and bigger boats, the bigger are better, as less shaking.
I don't think I have any photo with ISO less than 400. Usually, it's above 1000 just to compensate for the long focal length and the fast shutter speed. If the bird is flying, everything below 1/2000 blurs the motion, usually. So really I big good lens is paramount. My best one for wildlife is the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM. It's not perfect, as at 400mm it's at least f/5.6 and that leads to huge ISO. I don't want to bring anything heavier and more expensive, though. This one usually does the job.
When shooting from a boat I try to get down as close as possible to the water surface. ;)
У меня есть Таир-3 (300 мм) f/4,5. Жаль, что он не зум, но стекло хорошее, мне нравится.
Ха, на барахолке я купил МТО-1000, но он весит 2.5 кг )), но при этом фокусное 1000 мм :)
Canon EF 100-400mm это профессиональный объектив. В этом диапазоне фокусных расстояний Сони слишком дорогое удовольствие.
А на какой объектив ты делал фотографии этого поста?
All photos from this set I took with my Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM.
2.5 kg for 1000mm, isn't that bad. I think mine is almost 2 kg. I always prefer prime lenses but sometimes it's impossible to bring all with the desired focal lengths.
With regards to the price, I think you're right. Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM was also too expensive for the quality and features it provides, I have to admit that, after using it for many years ;)
Цены на объективы от Canon более демократичны чем SONY, и всё равно это дорогое удовольствие.
Конечно, если фотография является твоей профессией, на технике нельзя экономить. Но я всего лишь любитель ))) А иногда очень не хватает чего-то одного определённого (и дорогого :)))
Fully agreed. I'd say, Canon, Sony, Nikon - they are all very expensive but in terms of quality, their top lines are almost flawless.
I usually buy stuff that returns the investment, but the 100-400 was not one of those lenses :))) Probably my last impulsive purchase of photo equipment as it almost got me broke...
самое грустное для меня, что любые объективы Sony всегда дороже других марок с теми же характеристиками. Можно использовать переходники ... но это уже не то ...)
True, so true... Still, a viable option.
Those add another element of uncertainty as I remember few times when the body doesn't connect to the lens due to those devices :)
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I have traveled with a group of friends but never with strangers. With friends, usually, I'm the photographer, so I don't have to struggle to satisfy the photographer in me.
I remember once we hired a tour guide in Hagia Sophia because without one, it was impossible to get tickets on time. It was a good experience considering he explained the history all in detail but I used to get annoyed when we had to wait for him to start talking because other groups (he was guiding) were lagging.
It must be sad to know about the passing of that audio guy from the bus.
Thank you!
Yes, this travel was designed for photographers (pro and amateur) and sometimes I don't mind traveling with such big groups as the agenda is quite different (getting early in the mornings for the sunrises, staying late outside for the sunsets and night photography).
With a normal group, the most of the travelers want to be in their rooms or at a restaurant at the evening and the best hours, the Golden and the Blue hour, are missed :)