Thank you sir!
Printable View
Trying to catch song birds in flight for a hour or so this afternoon, this was the best I came up with. I find it very very hard to track their short fast fights back and forth to the bird feeders.
1D MKIV
500mm
ISO 2000
f/4.5
1/2500
http://joeleadephotography.zenfolio....28825035-5.jpg
Love those last two Joel, the violet hues in the mallard wings are beautiful.
Handsome turkeys Brant.
Haven't been shooting a lot lately. This typically happens during the school year. However, spring break starts this evening and I'm driving to SE Louisiana. Hopefully I'll be posting some decent pictures in a week or so. Until then, here is a Common Grackle. My backyard is flooded and there are 100s of Grackles hanging out. This one was eye-balling me.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7053/6...53a3d76d_z.jpg
I am continuing to process some duck images I took about 2 weeks ago....was at a city park where the birds will get very close....I wonder what happened to this Mallards bill?
http://joeleadephotography.zenfolio....16749456-5.jpg
Yeah, I'd like to shoot some more Grackles once I get a better lighting setup (i.e., the better beamer you suggested and/or some wireless triggers). They can be very pretty birds. Unfortunately, I had about the worst lighting conditions to work with this morning. I didn't have time to shoot this morning before I had to teach for the sun to get far enough over my house to light up my feeders. So the backlighting was a little too much and I had to use iso settings that I feel are unacceptable for the 40D just to get 1/250s. Hopefully we get more rain this year and I continue to have a bunch visit my flooded yard.
Eastern Bluebird
1D MKIV
500mm
ISO 400
f/8
1/1250
http://joeleadephotography.zenfolio....22951436-5.jpg
It is interesting brought the Better Beamer up... I went into a photography store yesterday looking for a Better Beam. I had heard this salesman tell customer after customer that they did not really want to buy what they can in for (he always had a better idea). So when I asked him if they had a Better Beamer he went into a long story about how they tested in extensively and a Snoot is better. Basically he kept calling it a diffuser, and I could not get him to agree that it actually focuses the light to a tighter pattern - contrary to the designed purpose of a ferensal lens, he said it diffuses the light and scaters it more. I realize that plastic ferensel lenses are not great optical devises, but everything I have read agrees with you, and now I guess I am going to have to order one on line.
Thanks for confirming what I was thinking.
That guy was certainly not giving you correct information. I would doubt he actually used one in the field. It is a plastic fresnel lens that focuses your flash at a much farther distance, so it is nice for small objects like birds. Because it focuses the light it allows you to use lower power settings on your speedlite and thus it recycles much faster and the batteries last much longer too. Using it with the flash set to a low power allows you to fill in shadows and get nice even light on your subject....it works really really well.
When I first got my beamer to fill in the under side of flying Barn Swallows, I couldn't get it to work. Everything came out looking the same even after cranking up my flash power as high as it would go. Then I remembered that I never adjusted the flash to the proper angle. I was so focused on that being the issue, I forgot to dial my flash back down. The very next shot I took, the bird flew into a nearby tree trunk. I think I blinded the poor guy:(
Yes, I think they recommend setting the flash zoom at 50mm and the flash has to be aimed directly at your subject. It also works better with a super tele lens on a tripod if you put the flash on a bracket so it is forward and slightly higher than the camera body.
Another warning...the fresnel lens is bi-directional....don't leave it set up facing the sun...it will focus the sun on your flash and burn a hole in it!
Here are a couple with the new perch.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7202/6...63ed61ca_z.jpg
2012_03_10_3338_upd by dthrog00, on Flickr
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7188/6...1fa4375b_z.jpg
2012_03_10_3321_upd by dthrog00, on Flickr
Dave
Dave...really like the first...nice shot...great lighting!
Hi Joel
Have looked at the Better Beamer a number of times. The problem I have is knowing how to get the best out of it. I have done a lot of searching for how to information but all I have found it either too confusing or too simple. As I only have a 7D, EF 70-300 L & 430EX, most of the info I found related to 300+ lenses. Although I have even seen a pro (1D & EF 70-200 2.8) photographing a music festival using one.
Is there how too information with the unit? or would you be able to direct me to a how to guide?
Tony
Tony,
It comes with an instruction sheet and it really isn't too complicated. I have used one with my 430 EXII and 300mm lens many times, so it will work with your gear.
Basically you set your flash zoom to 50mm, for fill flash you can use a low ETTL setting like -2 1/3 stops....take a test image and adjust exposure from there. I shoot in manual mode but it works equally well in AV or TV mode. You can also put your flash in manual mode on a very low setting such as 1/16 or 1/32 power and use it that way as well. Just a little experimentation and you will have it working in no time:D
I think if you read any tutorial on "Fill Flash" it will be applicable to using the Better Beamer check this out....
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/re...r_beamer.shtml
Well, I just posted my first blog post on h-bird photography. This post was all about ghosting in your images and hopefully some ideas on how to prevent it. Take a look and tell me what you think and please feel free to leave comments on the blog.
http://rwilliamsimaging.com/blog
Bob
Joel, There is a little tiny "Login" hot link at the bottom. But I changed the parameters so you don't have to be registered to comment. The "Leave Comment" link is just under the title of the first post.
Thanks.
Also, For those that have read the blog, I have three questions:
1. Do you know what ghosting is?
2. Do you know what causes ghosting?
3. Did you get some ideas on how to prevent ghosting?
If a reader can answer those 3 questions, then I am happy with the material. If not, let me know where I am weak and I will gladly correct it.
Thanks again.
I found your post interesting and helpful. I'm actually going to take a few of your setup tips for my back yard and give it a try this year. We have a local audobon as well that has a great setup for HB's.
Wood Duck Drake
1D MKIV
500mm
Hand held
ISO 800
f/6.3
1/800
http://joeleadephotography.zenfolio....36023347-5.jpg
Downy Woodpecker from this afternoon. It took quite a while to coax him onto this horizontal perch.
http://joeleadephotography.zenfolio....73651606-5.jpg
I haven't posted much in this thread lately but today I think I took a few that are good.
Last week, I was shoveling snow and today it was 80 degrees out! Beautiful day to get out on the trails at the nature preserve!!
Here is one shot from today ...more to come soon!
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7044/6...220b6a2d_z.jpg
IMG_2881 by Denise Trocio, on Flickr
Very Nice DD, What kind of bird is this?
Denise - Difficult shot to catch a Killdeer (smallish bird) in the air and so sharp at the eyes. Really nicely done.
Joel - I wish I could find a Wood Duck. They are so colorful. Nicely done... as all yours are.
Thanks guys! That's what it is a killdeer! I couldn't think of the name of it and it was driving me crazy!
Here is another from this afternoon ...
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7060/6...3aae7009_z.jpg
IMG_2903 by Denise Trocio, on Flickr
Not the best bird photos but just wanted to share this sequence of events ...
Bird on left says, Whatcha got there? Can I have some? http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7182/6...0d31ca43_z.jpg
IMG_2730 by Denise Trocio, on Flickr
Bird on right squawks loudly, NO you can't have any! Bird on left says, Wow, sorry I asked man, just keep your seaweed.http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7205/6...d5da944f_z.jpg
IMG_2731 by Denise Trocio, on Flickr
but ...
take this for not sharing with me...
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7206/6...7298226f_z.jpg
IMG_2732 by Denise Trocio, on Flickr
Wow, Denise, this BIF shot is not that easy to get, like the pose, sharpness and exposure, i was wondering what's the shutter speed you used. I have been thinking to use 1/8000 to shoot small birds in flight if there is sunny bright light, but always forgot to set the speed that fast lol. keep up the good work!
Nice bunch of images Denise....the Kill Deer in flight is not an easy one to get for sure.
I have some good news...the CEO of the hospital where I work wants to decorate their new surgery building (that will be completed this fall) with 20 or so prints of my images:cool:!!!
I guess I made my first image sales....I was very pleasantly surprised to say the least.
Congrats, Joel!!! That is quite the first sale! I think I see some more new gear in your near future!
Congrats Joel, Would love to see some of your chosen pics---Perhaps a section on your webpage----Also, Hospitals have deep pockets---Hope you make enough to cover the cost of that 1DIV.
Congrats again,
Bob