Taha Halim Wins Eastside Audubon Photo of the Month for October
Taha Halim won the Eastside Audubon Photo of the Month award for October with a photograph of a Great Blue Heron attempting to land on the tip of an evergreen tree. The pic was part of the photo club's monthly theme, “Takeoffs and Touchdowns.”
Taha and his wife, Alicia, were drifting in an inflatable kayak at Kenmore Paddle Park. He was photographing Red-winged Blackbirds flying low over the creek when a Great Blue Heron approached. Taha hoped to capture a head-on shot, but the heron turned toward a nearby spruce tree.
To his surprise, the bird bypassed the sturdier branches and aimed for the thin leader at the very top. Taha captured the moment just before the heron touched down. The branch bent under the bird’s weight, sending it tumbling a couple of feet before it recovered and flew to another tree.
“That’s what I love about birding: I went out for blackbirds and came home with a heron making a very questionable landing choice,” Taha said.
Taha used an OM System OM-1 Mark II camera with a 150-400mm f/4.5 PRO lens. The photo was taken at 350mm, with a shutter speed of 1/2000 second, an aperture of f/6.3 and ISO 500.
About the Eastside Audubon Photograph of the Month Award
The Photo of the Month award was instituted to recognize the work of the Photo Group Members. The group members meet monthly to show their latest photos and videos as well as share their knowledge of photography and wildlife. To attend the meetings, please join the group’s announcement list.