Bombing Run | Phil Lanoue Photography

Bombing Run

This past weekend I spotted a pair of brown pelicans flying over the marsh. It was not until I looked at the photos later I realized that one of them apparently needed to do it’s um, er, business while in mid-air.

I realize this may have limited appeal, and even then mainly and only to the bird lovers out there, but I thought it was rather humorous!

66 thoughts on “Bombing Run”

Chillbrook on February 12, 2013 at 1:19 pm said:

It’s usually my car underneath when such things occur Phill.. As for my patio windows, I think the birds must go into a dive and then turn sideways, aiming with amazing accuracy given the sizable soffit overhang.. 😉

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- Chillbrook on February 12, 2013 at 1:21 pm said:
  
  Business aside, fabulous formation flying beautifully caputured as always Phil. 🙂
  
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  - Phil Lanoue on February 13, 2013 at 11:34 am said:
    
    Thanks very much Adrian, I’m glad I was not standing under this flying duo!
    
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janmasyn on February 12, 2013 at 1:20 pm said:

Wonderful captures Phil.

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- Phil Lanoue on February 13, 2013 at 11:35 am said:
  
  Thanks Jan, I appreciate it.
  
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uthamz on February 12, 2013 at 1:25 pm said:

Great ‘ action ‘ shots , Phil !
Perect focus ! Nice DOF !

Congrats !

utham

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- Phil Lanoue on February 13, 2013 at 11:35 am said:
  
  Thanks utham, glad you liked the ‘action’! 🙂
  
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Gracie on February 12, 2013 at 1:28 pm said:

LOL! Great captures, Phil! I’m sure that pelican didn’t care much about privacy 😉

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- Phil Lanoue on February 13, 2013 at 11:36 am said:
  
  Thank you Gracie! Yes, they are pretty much good to ‘go’ wherever they happen to be. 🙂
  
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Sue on February 12, 2013 at 1:30 pm said:

Phil, you have so many great photos (like these!) of birds in flight. What camera setting do you use, e.g., what shutter speed do you usually use?

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- Phil Lanoue on February 13, 2013 at 11:38 am said:
  
  Thanks Sue I’m glad you enjoy the photos!
  I try to keep the shutter above 1000 for flights. These were 1250 at f7 and 200 ISO and I pretty much always use manual exposure.
  
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jimbey on February 12, 2013 at 1:34 pm said:

…. “Uh, Houston. We have a problem. Oops – never mind”. As usual, great crapture, Phil!

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- adinparadise on February 13, 2013 at 8:49 am said:
  
  Hahaha….good one. 🙂
  
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  - Phil Lanoue on February 13, 2013 at 11:38 am said:
    
    Ha! 😆
    
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- Phil Lanoue on February 13, 2013 at 11:39 am said:
  
  Thanks! They don’t seem to have any problem taking care of business wherever they may be. 🙂
  
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mike585 on February 12, 2013 at 1:35 pm said:

Lovely capture, Phil.

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- Phil Lanoue on February 13, 2013 at 11:39 am said:
  
  Thank you Mike.
  
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edithlevyphotography on February 12, 2013 at 1:37 pm said:

I guess when you gotta go, you gotta go! Beautiful captures.

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- Phil Lanoue on February 13, 2013 at 11:40 am said:
  
  Exactly! Thanks much Edith!
  
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roughseasinthemed on February 12, 2013 at 1:42 pm said:

Doubt I would have noticed had you not mentioned it. Love they way they are both flying so closely together. They look so in tune and aerodynamic. What’s a little business on the side?

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- Phil Lanoue on February 13, 2013 at 11:41 am said:
  
  Taking care of business is very important. Doesn’t matter where you happen to be or what you happen to be doing. 🙂
  Thanks for looking!
  
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  - roughseasinthemed on February 13, 2013 at 11:46 am said:
    
    yesterday was more important, I took care of some financial business, although I guess all business is relative 😉
    
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    - Phil Lanoue on February 13, 2013 at 12:00 pm said:
      
      I agree with you there. I got an oil change done on my truck already today so I guess that’s something. 🙂
      
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      - roughseasinthemed on February 13, 2013 at 12:22 pm said:
        
        Ha You did it or a garage did it? We did ours a few weeks ago, but needed some new oil seals later. A blog post about the seals (already done the oil change) on different blog though.
        
        I’ve cleaned the flat, that is always a good achievement 😀
        
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        Phil Lanoue on February 13, 2013 at 8:32 pm said:
        
        Oh I dropped it at the garage. Car repairs and such are like home repairs, I get “the guy” to do those jobs.
        I even have a really good computer guy which I’m happy about. 🙂
        
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lylekrahn on February 12, 2013 at 1:43 pm said:

More action shots! It was nice of the pelican to at least choose the lower part of the formation.

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- Phil Lanoue on February 13, 2013 at 11:42 am said:
  
  Yes that’s some action alright. 🙂 You are correct, it would have been worse for his friend if the guy in the upper flight pattern felt the same need.
  
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Ricky Simpson on February 12, 2013 at 2:02 pm said:

lol……when you gotta go you gotta go 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on February 13, 2013 at 11:43 am said:
  
  Exactly! Glad I wasn’t standing right under. 🙂
  
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meyer23 on February 12, 2013 at 2:28 pm said:

That’s really a funny post. Great shots. 😀

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- Phil Lanoue on February 13, 2013 at 11:43 am said:
  
  I’m happy you enjoyed it, thanks!
  
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Gunta on February 12, 2013 at 3:08 pm said:

I wouldn’t imagine it could be construed as a comment to you shooting pics of them?

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- Phil Lanoue on February 13, 2013 at 11:44 am said:
  
  Now that you mention it this could have been a personal statement. Maybe they are getting sick of seeing me around? 🙂
  Glad they don’t have better aim!
  
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Lindy on February 12, 2013 at 3:12 pm said:

Haha, hilarious!

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- Phil Lanoue on February 13, 2013 at 11:45 am said:
  
  Thanks much Lindy I appreciate you looking and commenting!
  
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Utasflow on February 12, 2013 at 4:57 pm said:

Wonderful, Phil 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on February 13, 2013 at 11:45 am said:
  
  Thanks I’m happy you liked these flight pics!
  
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niasunset on February 12, 2013 at 5:37 pm said:

This one made me smile… you are amazing photographer as always. Thank you dear Phil, love, nia

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- Phil Lanoue on February 13, 2013 at 11:46 am said:
  
  Thank you so much for your very kind comments Nia! I greatly appreciate it.
  
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Kate on February 12, 2013 at 6:47 pm said:

I have a sea gull shot where he’s, ahem, going #2 in mid air. My husband and son LOVE that shot and asked me not to delete it. ; )

You know what I love the most about your posts? Not only are the photos outstanding, but you can see the humor in the critters that you capture and that’s really refreshing. Most wildlife photographers are very Serious and Solemn about their work—you are, too, but you are also very tongue in cheek. That’s nice.

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- Phil Lanoue on February 13, 2013 at 11:47 am said:
  
  Your husband and son must be true bird lovers. 🙂
  I greatly appreciate your kind comments about my photos and approach to wildlife photography! Thanks!
  
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sallywoodphotography on February 12, 2013 at 7:27 pm said:

LOL,, now how the heck did you catch that!!! Hilarious!

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- Phil Lanoue on February 13, 2013 at 11:51 am said:
  
  Thanks Sally, glad you like these pics! Sometimes things just work out. 🙂
  
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Amy on February 12, 2013 at 8:21 pm said:

Always some sort of actions going on here … This time is different. 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on February 13, 2013 at 11:52 am said:
  
  Some sort of action is right! Ha ha, thanks Amy! 🙂
  
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Bella Remy Photography on February 12, 2013 at 8:41 pm said:

This is awesome ! Dropping a wet bomb during the fly-by! LOL !

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- Phil Lanoue on February 13, 2013 at 11:53 am said:
  
  Thanks much Emily! Glad I was not standing under these bad boys. 🙂
  
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lost in sweden on February 13, 2013 at 2:27 am said:

Oh no, did it hit you? 😉

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- Phil Lanoue on February 13, 2013 at 11:53 am said:
  
  Ha ha, no they missed. I think the aim was off. 🙂
  
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thehappyhugger on February 13, 2013 at 3:01 am said:

Such bad mannered birds 🙂 Great pics though, Phil 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on February 13, 2013 at 11:54 am said:
  
  They really are ill mannered aren’t they?! Glad I was not under them at the time. Thanks! 🙂
  
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Garden Walk Garden Talk on February 13, 2013 at 7:59 am said:

I am glad you posted these because this scenario happens on occasion and it is just par for the course in the day of nature photographer. Very funny though.

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- Phil Lanoue on February 13, 2013 at 11:55 am said:
  
  Thanks I’m glad you enjoyed these and yes indeed this is certainly part of nature. 🙂
  
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adinparadise on February 13, 2013 at 8:51 am said:

This is so funny, Phil. Glad my car wasn’t underneath that avalanche. 😀

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- Phil Lanoue on February 13, 2013 at 11:57 am said:
  
  Thanks Sylvia I’m glad you got a laugh out of these and I’m also glad I was not in the target area. 😯 🙂
  
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monisertel on February 13, 2013 at 12:09 pm said:

Hello Phil,
amazing formation flight, great pictures!!!
Wish you a nice time,
moni

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- Phil Lanoue on February 13, 2013 at 8:32 pm said:
  
  Thank you very much moni I’m so glad you liked these photos!
  
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Katariina Partala on February 13, 2013 at 2:41 pm said:

I don’t know why, but these shots remind me of the game Angry Birds.. 😀

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- Phil Lanoue on February 13, 2013 at 8:34 pm said:
  
  I know what you mean. 😀 If I was any good at designing computer games I could probably come up with some good ones based on the wacky stuff I see the animals doing.
  
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zannyro on February 14, 2013 at 2:08 pm said:

Ha! This reminds me of the day that I was videotaping a HUGE hawk…I really wanted to capture him in flight and when he started to move a bit and lift his feathers I thought..”this is it”…and then he did some of his business in a HUGE projectile fashion..

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- Phil Lanoue on February 15, 2013 at 3:57 pm said:
  
  Hope you were not the recipient of the hawk’s ‘gift’! 🙂
  
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  - zannyro on February 15, 2013 at 4:00 pm said:
    
    Nope! Lucky enough to be quite a distance from it..
    
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theforagingphotographer on February 14, 2013 at 6:02 pm said:

Was the weather forecast for sunny with showers that morning Phil… 😉

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- Phil Lanoue on February 15, 2013 at 3:57 pm said:
  
  I’m just glad I did not get showered on! Thanks Lucy!
  
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Molly Argo on February 23, 2013 at 8:46 pm said:

How funny! Great set of photos!

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- Phil Lanoue on February 24, 2013 at 11:31 am said:
  
  Thanks Molly! I also have pics from last week of an eagle sitting on a tree branch when it suddenly dropped a frozen rope. 😀
  
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