egret regrets

[Naturenutz]

Picture the scene. I was walking a local field with my camera and 150 macro lens already set up.Then i saw an egret land the other end of the field and hop down into the ditch along the field edge.I had a brain wave,i thought leg it over there and creep up to the ditch edge on my stomach commando style and my 150mm lens could be long enough.Well the plan worked a treat ,after legging it across the field i peaked over the ditch edge and although the egret was there it had moved 100yards along the ditch.I retreated and moved the 100 yards along and with camera ready peaked over and it was no more than 20ft away .I pressed the shutter with an anticipating smile,and beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep,i had left the 10second timer on which i used for macro mode on fungi earlier.Egret gone before it fired .Had to laugh but gutted really.Still i know my bushcraft is up to scratch .

[Jason Green]

Evening Vic,

I felt that moment for you... ouchhhh! Sorry about that, but the exercise has proven the worth of your technique, which was further honed as a result.

He'll probably be back there soon... good luck for next time!

Take care,

Jason

[david156]

been there - done that. Or something very similar anyway

You feel a right wally, especially when you have been watched by someone and they ask you if you got a good shot and can they have a look. I think I mumbled something about "can't use preview cos the batteries are low on charge!"

David

[Ukwildlifeo]

Oh we've all done that one! Ive done that while having the ISO high and the aperture at f10+ from night photography the night before - not the best setting for wildlife!

[Hobjob]

I've not done that one - my usual is to see a message "no CF card". I keep a spare in my wallet, but that's too late.

[freiston]

I've done that before too (the timer bit - not stalking an egret). My usual trick is to leave my exposure compensation two or three stops up or down. I can't be bothered to check, but iirc, my 350D remembers exposure compensation even after the camera has been switched off Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[Geoff F]

Yes, quick shots without having the time to check yesterday's settings have been responsible for many an embarrassment.

Recently, I was struggling to work out why I couldn't get any response from my camera and eventually decided to try the last hope solution - remove then reinsert the battery. But they battery wasn't there. It was still in the charger at home!

I always carry a spare battery in my camera rucksack; but I had a different bag with me that day.

[Naturenutz]

Cheers folks,i feel a bit better now .But its annoying when those opportunities are hard to come by isn't it.

[Endrick]

How I sympathise. I had one this summer: on the Saturday I was taking photographs for a club website of a sporting event. No need for high quality for a website so picture is set to small and qualty to basic. That evening everything is packed and I drive to Wester Ross. Up in the morning and out and I see a family of otters in the bay. Fantastic - and they come to within about 20 yards of me and I get off about 100 shots. Then a second family (or the remainder) appear and I get even more. Wonderful. Then I realise I haven't changed the settings! Still the best I have taken of otters but they could have been even better.