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A Splash of Red


A Splash of Red
Photo Information
Copyright: Christopher Campbell (cjcampbell) Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 32 W: 0 N: 66] (308)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-11-19
Categories: Fish
Camera: Nikon D200, AF VR-Nikkor 80-400mm ED
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/60 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-11-26 6:51
Viewed: 1128
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 10
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This chum salmon is just starting his journey up Shoofly Creek to spawn. The creek is very shallow at its mouth, especially at low tide, and so the salmon must power his way over the gravel and along the shallow creek bed to find a deeper pool in which to spawn.

The colors on his sides indicate a spawning salmon. The fish will also have the characteristic oversized teeth for grabbing branches and roots to keep from being washed downstream while resting.

Chum cannot jump, so barriers like fallen logs will stop them. However, Shoofly Creek is clear for about a mile and they will migrate that whole distance.

Shoofly is literally in our front yard. At night, the salmon sound like dozens of washing machines as they swim up the creek. Already the whole area reeks of dead salmon.

I have to keep our Scottie tied up during this time, and not simply because she will roll in dead fish. Salmon in this area are host to a fluke which carries a rickettsia virus that is deadly to dogs, wolves, coyotes, foxes and the like. Apparently it does not bother the local cats, raccoons, bears or humans.

The dead salmon attract crows, gulls, and the occasional bald eagle. Eventually their bodies rot down to a mush which in turn is attacked by certain small bacteria and other microbes. These become the first meal for the hatching fry. You can greatly improve the health of local salmon (and the creek in general) by leaving at least some dead salmon in the vicinity of the creek.

Chum salmon weigh between 10 and 15 pounds. They are not valuable commercially, although some do end up as smoked salmon in Europe or as pet food.

I used a circular polarizer on this picture.
diverjohn, taba, angela926 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

good capture.
I've tried to photograph salmon running up my creek with little luck - glare from the sun and too-quick movements kill the image.

  • Great 
  • Ishi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 162 W: 0 N: 973] (3718)
  • [2007-11-26 7:41]

There is beautiful sense of frantic action in this. Good "catch"! Well done! Ishi

Hello Christopher
This is a fantastic capture...You have really captured the movement of the Chum Salmon with the bow wave on his head and the white water from his tail as he pushes his way upstream..the dorsal fin is pin sharp but the flank of him is showing great movement..the colours are lovely and true.
Superb Capture
All the Best
Paul

  • Great 
  • Heaven Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 811 W: 108 N: 1736] (6060)
  • [2007-11-26 12:18]

Hi Christopher!

Your very interesting and instructive notes accompany very well this powerfull image. I like the effect of the movement, underlined by the composition and the exposure. It's an outstanding, original wildlife picture.

Kind regards

Markus

wow, incredible shot!

Amazing picture
proper use of 1/60sec
Nice movement
Despite the motion blur the colors on the side are there to reveal the ID: just perfect.
TFS
JM

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