Post your best bird shots!

Nice RTH Joel, But I am trying to figure out what is going on with those background branches. Was the Wind blowing?

I was out shooting hummers this afternoon and was working on some different tactics---I decided to give the 100 f2.8L a shot, so now my entire setup was compressed into a 6ftx6ft square, maybe even smaller. Although I wasn't happy with my background and lights, I did manage to get this---Just a little ghosting:mad:

http://rwilliamsimaging.com/img/s1/v46/p386219102-4.jpg

And here is a shot of Mr. Cooper. He stops by and visits almost every day, but this was the first time I noticed that he was tagged.

http://rwilliamsimaging.com/img/s1/v46/p843002764-4.jpg

Thanks Bob,,,,there was a little breeze but most of it I think is just the BOKEH of the lens, looks a little weird.

Neat idea with the Macro 100....I have wanted tot ry that with a fisheye lens but I don't have one:)

I like the Cooper's Hawk too. I have seen them here but very difficult to get a pic.

Here is anothe RTH, later in the morning with a shaft of sunlight coming throught the leaves

http://joeleadephotography.zenfolio....33644970-5.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Joel Eade

Here is anothe RTH, later in the morning with a shaft of sunlight coming throught the leaves

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That's amazing... now you have the birds trained to bring their own lighting to their photo shoot.;) Do they have to make appointments also?

Joel, Great shot---I love the background light just centered behind the bird---Very nice. At the moment, I am setup on the patio trying to get the hummers to hit my wife's orchid, but no luck yet. Just to change things up a bit, I am shooting a solid black background, with 4 flashes on the bird/flower set @1/64th. Looks like it may make a nice shot if I can just get the birds to hit:confused:.

Had a pretty good birding day today.

Golden Eagle bathing:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8446/7...20d35f4c_b.jpg

Peregrine Falcon:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8426/7...0050daba_b.jpg

Owl:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8438/7...ec0e7b87_b.jpg

Did I mention I went to a bird sanctuary today?

I did get a few wild birds too:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8282/7...d3a16e54_b.jpg

Very nice....especially the Golden Eagle & the Peregrine. Well done.

Still working the Hummer's .... I need one more flash to light the BG so I can get rid of the shadows

http://joeleadephotography.zenfolio....67937107-4.jpg

Joel, your shots are stunning!! I am almost afraid to post here but here goes ...

The only bird shots I really take these days are of the FRTHB's in my backyard. Yesterday, my daughter & I were sitting in the backyard under the gazebo when the little bird actually came and almost sat on one of the empty chairs next to me!! She flew about an inch from the chair cushion for a few minutes and just stared at us!! Of course, one of the few times I was out there without a camera!! Heck, a macro lens would have been the only thing that would have worked she was so close!!

Here are a few from today ...

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7263/7...62f8f69d_z.jpg
RT Hummingbird by Denise Trocio ( www.dtrociophotography.com), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8422/7...2d39ed57_z.jpg
IMG_8134 by Denise Trocio ( www.dtrociophotography.com), on Flickr

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ddt0725

Joel, your shots are stunning!! I am almost afraid to post here but here goes ...

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Thanks but, what'you talkin' about? Yours are awesome, love the textures and creative borders:)

Attachment 1322

Robins feeding, 5DMKII, 85 1.2L II, f1.2 1/1000 ISO 400

Another RTHB with multi-flash technique using the 1D MKIV + 300mm f/2.8L lens. I cloned out some slight ghosting that was around the wings.

http://joeleadephotography.zenfolio....12083732-4.jpg

Ok sticking with the theme going here...I tried my first hummer shots. They have a long way to come but considering I wasn't at my own house and only had one on camera flash I think its a good start


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7130/7...5ab7e2f5_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8024/7...3786baf6_c.jpg

Great hummer shots Nick, especially the one from behind - kit? - hope the 5DMKII was involved. I'll be trying the same this w/e. Cheers

+1.....beautiful color on the back, gorgeous greens and golds, nice shot.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vern

Great hummer shots Nick, especially the one from behind - kit? - hope the 5DMKII was involved. I'll be trying the same this w/e. Cheers

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It was with the 5dii but with my 100-400mm....the noise level at high iso is such an amazing improvement over my 50d

RTHB, ambient light

1DMKIV
70-200mm f/2.8L II
ISO 1600
f/2.8
1/5000

Processed with Topaz Simplify to give a painterly type effect

Attachment 1328

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Joel Eade

RTHB, ambient light

1DMKIV
70-200mm f/2.8L II
ISO 1600
f/2.8
1/5000

Processed with Topaz Simplify to give a painterly type effect

Attachment 1328

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I like the idea but think the effect needs to be more extreme...I looked at it before reading that you had edited it and I questioned what I was looking at. It wasn't obvious enough what you had done. Maybe it looks better at hi res though.

No humming bird around here but a bunch of funny faces from my recent visit to a zoo nearby.

All taken with the 7D and the 70-200 f2.8L IS II, ISO 100

200 mm, 1/250 & f/2.8
http://photos.deghaye.com/Animaux/Zo...08-10637-L.jpg

70 mm, 1/1000 & f/2.8
http://photos.deghaye.com/Animaux/Zo...08-10660-L.jpg

200 mm, 1/320 & f/2.8
http://photos.deghaye.com/Animaux/Zo...08-10679-L.jpg

Comments & advice welcome !

Nice shots Steph, like the blurred background on the last, nice focus on the eyes.
The middle shot has real personality. And the top one may have more impact as a vertical panoramic crop.
Keep them coming.

This immature male RTHB was perching on one of our deck chairs while we were eating lunch:)

http://joeleadephotography.zenfolio....21499430-4.jpg

Another HB, processed with Topaz Clean 3 for a painting type effect.

http://joeleadephotography.zenfolio....33939004-4.jpg

Can't resist posting another one:rolleyes: I was able to get him perched on a sprig of Baby's Breath

http://joeleadephotography.zenfolio....66972737-4.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Joel Eade

This immature male RTHB was perching on one of our deck chairs while we were eating lunch:)

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And of course you have you camera always at the lunch table? ;-)
Or did he wait for you to go and get it?
Great shots Joel, I like the unusual environment.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ahab1372

And of course you have you camera always at the lunch table? ;-)
Or did he wait for you to go and get it?
Great shots Joel, I like the unusual environment.

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Had it set up on a tripod waiting for an opportunity:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Joel Eade

Can't resist posting another one:rolleyes: I was able to get him perched on a sprig of Baby's Breath

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Joel, I like this one with the baby's breath and the dark background really worked. I also liked the one before that you did with Topaz clean 3---a really nice effect except the software did something weird with the bird's eye. I didn't care too much for the one you did with Topaz simplify---there just wasn't enough photo or special effect to make it special---But I really liked the color in the background, was it one of your printed backgrounds?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bob williams

Joel, I like this one with the baby's breath and the dark background really worked. I also liked the one before that you did with Topaz clean 3---a really nice effect except the software did something weird with the bird's eye. I didn't care too much for the one you did with Topaz simplify---there just wasn't enough photo or special effect to make it special---But I really liked the color in the background, was it one of your printed backgrounds?

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Thanks, it was a background I made with spray paint on a poster board.

Northern Cardinal
1D4
700mm
ISO 800
1/320
f/7.1
580EXII + Better Beamer -2 1/3 stops ETTL

http://joeleadephotography.zenfolio....44632062-4.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Joel Eade

Can't resist posting another one:rolleyes: I was able to get him perched on a sprig of Baby's Breath

http://joeleadephotography.zenfolio....66972737-4.jpg

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I love all of them but I must say, this one is my top favorite!! Beautiful capture, Joel!

No, No, No I don't have any pictures of hummers to post. After watching this thread and really enjoying everyone's work I have to admit I have been embarrassed to write anything lately. Over the last two or three weeks I have been out several times to shoot my very active hummers, but I have not had even one keeper. I'm in a slump. As some of you may know (I hope I am not the only one), there is nothing worse than shooting 500 photos only to discover that they are all @#$%^&*. Out of focus, ghosting, poor background, poor composition, bad exposure----you name the problem and I have experienced it this month. I am embarrased, frustrated and even angry about my lack of success. More importantly, I am frustrated with my inability to isolate the problems or discover my errors.

So, I have a 4 day weekend and have already informed my bride that I plan to address and fix these problems (even if it takes all four days)---can you say OCD. In one of my blog posts I said that one of my (realistic) goals was to have 100 decent hummingbird shots before the end of the season. I am currently up to 72 I think, so I have some serious work ahead of me this weekend.

I was having some luck with my old setup, but in order to change things up a bit and challenge myself to new levels of competance I decide to alter many of my practices----now I have to figure out which one or how many of my ideas were "bad ones"

My old setup consisted of:

7d, 500L 4 or 5 speed lights set at 1/16, ISO 400 or higher, Shutter speed at 250 and aperature between f9 and f16 depending on ambient light. I also normally used a staged but natural background.

My failed setup of late consisted of 7D, 100L, 4 or 5 speedlights set at 1/32, ISO 200, Shutter speed at 125, and aperature between f11 and f16 and I started useing a printed background.

My biggest problem, and one I thought I had resolved, was ghosting. So I plan to start my trouble shooting at shutter speed and going back to 1/250th and see what that does. Logically, It shouldn't make a difference if no ambient light is let in and all speed lights are set correctly---But I am doing something wrong and I figured this is as good a place as any to start.

Anyway, Sorry about the rant, But I had to vent and you folks are the only people I know that might understand my obsession.


Bob

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bob williams

there is nothing worse than shooting 500 photos only to discover that they are all @#$%^&*. Out of focus, ghosting, poor background, poor composition, bad exposure----you name the problem and I have experienced it this month. I am embarrased, frustrated and even angry about my lack of success. More importantly, I am frustrated with my inability to isolate the problems or discover my errors.

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If you took the best of those 500 @#$%^&* shots and posted it, I bet a whole lot of people here would wish they could get one that good. You are going to be your worst critic.

Pat

+1 on what Pat said.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bob williams

In one of my blog posts I said that one of my (realistic) goals was to have 100 decent hummingbird shots before the end of the season. I am currently up to 72 I think, so I have some serious work ahead of me this weekend.

Bob

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72!? I had a hb in my backyard continuously from sunrise to sunset all season long and I think I ended up with about 5 - 8 keepers! And they were only considered keepers out of desperation to end up with something! I agree, I bet you are well past 100 for what the rest of us would be proud to have taken!

Good luck this weekend, Bob but I think you are way to hard on yourself!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ddt0725

72!?
..... but I think you are way to hard on yourself!

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Hmmm...seems to be a common problem here at the TDP forums. Perhaps a symptom of "L" disease?

"5-8 keepers" I've seen more than that go by...... :)

I agree, anyone who is passionate about what they do will always be their own toughest critic. Nothing wrong with that, it keeps you interested and it keeps you striving ahead trying to acheive that "perfect" shot. If and when you get there it is very satisfying to see your hard work and persistance pay off and I sometimes learn to appreciate that the journey is as meaningful as the destination. Good for you Bob:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ddt0725

I love all of them but I must say, this one is my top favorite!! Beautiful capture, Joel!

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Thank you :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kayaker72

Hmmm...seems to be a common problem here at the TDP forums. Perhaps a symptom of "L" disease?

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You may be on to something:confused:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ddt0725

72!? I had a hb in my backyard continuously from sunrise to sunset all season long and I think I ended up with about 5 - 8 keepers! And they were only considered keepers out of desperation to end up with something! I agree, I bet you are well past 100 for what the rest of us would be proud to have taken!

Good luck this weekend, Bob but I think you are way to hard on yourself!

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Thanks DD for the vote of Confidence, But seriously, I just haven't been able to get that dang Ghosting problem I am obsessed with.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by andnowimbroke

+1 on what Pat said.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by conropl

If you took the best of those 500 @#$%^&* shots and posted it, I bet a whole lot of people here would wish they could get one that good. You are going to be your worst critic.

Pat

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Thanks again, guys and perhaps I am my own worst critic---aren't we all?---I guess that is what keeps us in the game.

On a positive note: I was out shooting at 6:00 am this morning and I think I got some winners. I shot about 700 frames and no ghosting. The birds were very active and I even had one land on my coffee cup. The main thing I changed was my shutter speed, i took it back up to 1/250th and I placed three lights on the bird and one on the background. I am still uploading them, so give me a couple of hours and I'll get a few more posted, Until then, Here is one. Thanks again for the encouraging words.

http://rwilliamsimaging.com/img/s2/v...86566682-4.jpg


Bob

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bob williams

On a positive note: I was out shooting at 6:00 am this morning and I think I got some winners. I shot about 700 frames and no ghosting. The birds were very active and I even had one land on my coffee cup. The main thing I changed was my shutter speed, i took it back up to 1/250th and I placed three lights on the bird and one on the background. I am still uploading them, so give me a couple of hours and I'll get a few posted. Thanks again for the encouraging words.


Bob

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Congrats on a very successful morning! I am looking forward to seeing the results! :)

Nice hummer! That may be my favorite. I was really excited about trying hummers again this year, but with the drought in Missouri, I have had so many other animals (mammals, bees, wasps) on my feeders other than hummers to make a serious effort. Most mornings I find my feeders on the ground with a broken chain. I assume raccoons are doing this, as the squirrels have never been strong enough to break my chains in the past.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bob williams

You may be on to something:confused:

Thanks DD for the vote of Confidence, But seriously, I just haven't been able to get that dang Ghosting problem I am obsessed with.

Thanks again, guys and perhaps I am my own worst critic---aren't we all?---I guess that is what keeps us in the game.

On a positive note: I was out shooting at 6:00 am this morning and I think I got some winners. I shot about 700 frames and no ghosting. The birds were very active and I even had one land on my coffee cup. The main thing I changed was my shutter speed, i took it back up to 1/250th and I placed three lights on the bird and one on the background. I am still uploading them, so give me a couple of hours and I'll get a few more posted, Until then, Here is one. Thanks again for the encouraging words.

Bob

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Super image, a Rufous I presume, really very very nice......problem solved:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bob williams

http://rwilliamsimaging.com/img/s2/v...86566682-4.jpg

Bob

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This is fantastic Bob! I hope you plan on making an enlargement of this if you have not done so already!!