Loons and their chicks, a series

[Steve Foss]

Finally I was able to spend significant time with a loon family.

All were shot over successive days under conditions ranging from full sun (low angle) to rain, and are images of the same family of loons on the lake near Bemidji, Minn., where we have had the family lake cabin for 25 years. I never stayed with the loons more than 20 minutes at a time, and these also are birds that are quite used to close boat traffic.

All with the Canon 30D, Canon 100-400L IS, isos 200 and 400, f8, shutter speeds from 1/60 to 1/500, handheld from boat

1. Reaching out

2. Shaking a leg

3. Protective custody

4. Honing in

5. Just hanging out

6. Shelter from the rain

7. Supervising supper

8. Intimacy

[Wormdrowner]

Great pictures, love the one with the minnow. Was there only one chick left?

[Steve Foss]

Yep, just that one chick.

[Jim Almquist]

Great shots Steve. I really wish that the one's that I am trying to shoot would be a little more cooperative but that is not the case.The feeding shots and the protecting from the rain are my favorites. Thank for sharing.

[Dbl]

Steve, really a nice series of shots. I keep coming back to #5 and #8. Great stuff!

[MARINERMAGNUM]

Very nice! Were you in a canoe? Looks like a very low angle.

[Steve Foss]

Thanks everyone.

MM, I was in an old 16-foot Lund, but was hunkering down on the floor and hanging out over the side and as far down to the water as I could get without falling out of the boat. Makes for a few technique challenges, but worth it to get the low angle.

[Deitz Dittrich]

No fave for me.. love em all!

[Swimmer]

Great series Steve. I am also partial to the rain shot.

[Tippman]

Congrats on the Outdoor News shot Steve.

[maros91]

Amazing Pics

[walleyes12]

Those are Pretty Sweet

[Thunderman]

Those are some awsome pictures sweet birds .