Pont de Gau

Hi everyone!

A quick travel journal entry to tell you about the Pont de Gau Ornithological Park, near Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer in the Camargue (13).

A real paradise for flamingos... but also for swarms of mosquitoes that attack in squadrons, without warning and dive-bombing! 🦟😄

And I thought these critters didn’t go for spoiled meat! Clearly, they’re not too picky about freshness! 😵

More seriously, it’s a really nice spot for photography and nature lovers. Kids love it too! If you’re in the area, it’s a great discovery to make.

Here are a few shots from my session yesterday at the end of the day.

675 photos on the counter, currently sorting through them... Still testing the camera body. If I keep about twenty, that’ll already be a win!

Anyway, there’s work to do... and some itching on top of that! 📸🦟😄

Hi Michel,

Thanks for this mini-report. Unfortunately, it seems like you’re triggering the shutter too quickly, and as a result, your compositions—in this thread at least—aren’t very polished. What a shame. Luckily, you don’t live too far from this paradise...

I agree!

Hi Michel,

Thanks for this mini-report. Unfortunately, it seems like you’re triggering too quickly, and as a result, your compositions—in this thread at least—aren’t polished at all. Too bad. Luckily, you don’t live too far from this paradise...

What do you mean by "compositions aren’t polished at all"?

And how am I triggering too quickly?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Best,

And how is that I trigger too quickly?

You trigger instinctively without taking the few seconds needed to study where your subject will be best placed in your photo to make it better. Sure, wildlife photography, especially birds, isn’t the easiest thing to apply this basic photographic practice to, but since you’re giving it a try and you’ve got the right spot near home and the right gear, why not do it well, right?

675 shots on the counter, currently sorting through them... (...). If I keep around twenty, that’ll already be a great victory!

Well done—being very selective is a quality that, unfortunately, too few amateur photographers share.

What do you mean by compositions that aren’t careful at all?

Would you let me comment on these photos one by one to explain the issues I see in each? Or even in a PM if you prefer.

And how is that, I trigger too quickly?

You trigger instinctively without taking the few seconds needed to study where your subject will be best placed in your photo to make it better. Sure, wildlife photography, especially birds, isn't the easiest thing to put this practice into action, but since you're trying it and you have the right place near you and the right equipment, you might as well do it well, right?

675 shots on the counter, currently being sorted... (...). If I keep about twenty, that’ll already be a great victory!

Well done, being very selective is a quality that, unfortunately, too few amateur photographers share.

What do you mean by compositions that aren’t careful at all?

For this, would you allow me to comment on these photos one by one to explain the issues each one has, in my opinion? Even in a PM if you prefer.

I’m not taking any of your advice into account. My camera is set to burst mode, and you don’t know my real work at all. I don’t know if you’re familiar with the place and the shooting conditions, but I’ll do without your advice. Looking forward to not reading you anymore.

I’m ignoring all your advice. My camera set to burst mode, and you have no idea what my actual work entails. I don’t know if you’re familiar with the location or the shooting conditions, but I’ll do just fine without your advice. Looking forward to not reading you anymore.

??

Wow, major anger there!...

you have no idea what my actual work entails.

If it’s anything like what I see above (subjects poorly framed, cut off, or not standing out enough from the messy vegetation in the background...), I’ll gladly do without it.

I don’t take any of your advice into account. You set your camera to burst mode and have no idea about my actual work. I don’t know if you’re familiar with the place or the shooting conditions, but I’ll do without your advice. Nice not having to read you anymore.

And yet, there’s a lot to say about your photos that could help you improve. It’s not using burst mode that makes for great shots... (When I go on safari, I NEVER use burst mode.)

By refusing the advice offered, you’re not going to improve. Too bad for you!! That said, there are good books to learn from. And at the Pont de Gau, you can go often—there’s always something to photograph.

Cheers, Puma2A

Nice little trip in Camargue. And thanks for the photos!

Nice little trip in Camargue. Thanks for the photos!

Thanks!

Hello! And to our enlightened advisors, *mea culpa*! *Errare humanum est, perseverare diabolicum!* I’m really just an amateur photographer who, from time to time, shares a few shots, sometimes wins a few awards, but clearly needs to fundamentally rethink my approach! 😅

I completely understand that for some “professionals,” seeing images so far from their level of excellence can be particularly tough. Even frustrating!

So, sorry for getting worked up (probably over a fruit fly!) and responding to some offers of help in such a blunt and inappropriate way.

To keep it simple—and to avoid provoking the wrath of our specialists—I’ll make sure not to post any more images from my various photography tests and experiments here. New camera, lens to tame, settings to figure out... It’s no surprise that the first attempts aren’t always masterpieces. What a shock! 😳

Originally, I just wanted to show fellow forum members that there’s a really nice spot to discover in the Camargue, especially for nature and bird lovers. But here’s a funny little anecdote to wrap things up.

At this iconic birdwatching site, you come across tons of photographers with top-notch gear. Latest-model cameras, backpacks fit for a high-mountain expedition, and—above all—telephoto lenses so massive they look more like portable missile launchers than photography equipment!

And the cherry on top: nobody talks to each other!

We pass by, size each other up, sometimes side-eye one another... but no advice, no chit-chat, not even a few words about the birds flying by. Everyone behind their lens, focused on their mission, in almost religious silence!

What a strange world this discreet sect is—sharing the same passion but clearly not the joy of talking about it! 😄

Alright, to really wrap it up—and since I fully embrace my status as an eternal beginner—here’s one last image!

Just to give the critics a little more to work with! 😳

Because, let’s be realistic, there must be some mistakes, imperfections, or other unforgivable flaws in this shot. I trust the trained eyes of our specialists to spot them!

After all, since perfection isn’t of this world, it’d be a shame to deny some the pleasure of reminding me! 😄

And looking forward to not reading you anymore... Well, not *everyone*, don’t worry! 😳 There are some great people here.

Have a great week, everyone!

Hello,

Keep going and ignore the naysayers! 😉

Hi,

Just keep going and ignore the noise! 😉

😉 Thanks!

Superbes tes photos !

Et ne t'arrête pas aux commentaires désobligeants des uns ou des autres.

Hier à 18h28:

Merci par avance de vos conseils.

Hier à 19h47:

je vais me passer de vos conseils.

🤪 🤪 🤪

Superbes tes photos !

Et ne t'arrête pas aux commentaires désobligeants des uns ou des autres. Continue et laisse braire ! 😉

😎 😎 😎

Superbes tes photos !

Et ne t'arrête pas aux commentaires désobligeants des uns ou des autres.

Merci ! 😉

Bonjour

Merci de partager tes photos (on peut aussi les voir sur FLICKR 😉 ) car ce genre de topic est plutôt rare sur VF. Tu as reçu de timides critiques, positives ou négatives et c’est normal. Je suppose que tu es là dans le but d’exposer tes photos ? Il faut alors s’attendre à des réactions, sachant qu’elles n’iront pas forcément dans le sens espéré… Il me semble que celles qui ont été formulées n’ont rien de malveillant.

Je suis assez d’accord avec ce qui a été dit sur le mode rafale. Ce n’est pas un problème rédhibitoire mais cela correspond souvent à croire que plus on prend des photos, plus on a de chances de réussir son image… Je pense que la rafale ne choisira pas le meilleur à ta place !

Je pense aussi que tout le monde peut progresser, même les meilleurs de ce monde. Si je m'étais contentée de béates attitudes émerveillées devant mes clichés je n’aurais jamais fait de progrès.

Bonjour Je suis assez d’accord avec ce qui a été dit sur le mode rafale. Ce n’est pas un problème rédhibitoire mais cela correspond souvent à croire que plus on prend des photos, plus on a de chances de réussir son image... Je pense que la rafale ne choisira pas le meilleur à ta place !

On va dire qu’avec des oiseaux qui volent dans tous les sens, je passe en mode rafale ! Je suis davantage dans le reportage que dans la recherche de la photo parfaite. Il y a des moments où l’on ne sait plus où donner de la tête !

Et pour expliquer un peu les choses, c’est mon troisième passage au Pont de Gau en un mois, avec, à chaque fois, des réglages différents : avec ou sans rafale, en mode A, en mode S, en manuel, à grande vitesse... et parfois au pas ! 😁

Le Nikon Z8 est une sacrée usine à gaz qui ne s’apprivoise pas en claquant des doigts. Et pour établir mes petites fiches de réglages, il faut bien multiplier les essais, quitte à faire quelques ratés. C’est aussi comme cela qu’on apprend à maîtriser son matériel.

En fait, ma seule erreur aura été de publier quelques images pour faire découvrir aux forumeurs ce sympathique coin de Camargue. Je ne prétendais ni présenter une exposition photographique ni solliciter l'avis d'un jury de professionnels. Je voulais simplement partager un endroit que j'apprécie et quelques instants de mes essais photographiques.

Manifestement, j'aurais dû m'abstenir !

Qu'on se rassure, on ne m'y reprendra plus. Je continuerai mes essais, mes réglages, mes rafales et mes loupés... mais je les garderai désormais pour moi.

Après tout, la photographie doit rester un plaisir. Et, à mon âge, je n'ai plus vraiment envie de transformer un loisir en examen de passage ! 😉