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Thanks for the info Joel. When looking at a different angle I could see more of the bank.
If I'm honest, I can't say I really like such a background, but it could be a lot worse.
Better luck next time. I do think you did a great job though, can't choose a background in these circumstances.
I think I see a turtle butt to the left of the Egret. [6]
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Originally Posted by Dave Johnston
Clearly, Joel needs to work on better highlighting for the main subject of the picture... [A]
Peek-A-Boo! I see you!
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Granted, I could edit out the tree limb but #1 I'm not that good at editing out THAT MUCH out & #2 I sort of liked the peek-a-boo game he was playing with me as I was photographing him!
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Why would I mind!It is very cropped to get the effect I was going for. I was going for humor here more than photographic skill. Laugh Brendan, it does a body good! [:P]Quote:
Originally Posted by Brendan7
An uncropped similar photo that I did clone out a few branches is posted under the latest thread of "What did you shoot?" May 24th - 30th.
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Originally Posted by Brendan7
Wait a minute, this is what you just posted in a thread earlier today...
"I personally don't like the 17-55 very much due to quality issues. I'm sorry but I shouldn't pay $1000 for a lens that is made of plastic and has dust issues. "
So you went and ordered one??? With that and a few threads you have going on seeking advice on what lens to get ...you have me thoroughly confused! Did I miss something? [*-)]
Denise
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Originally Posted by ddt0725
+1. Hey Brendan, what's the deal here? [*-)]
Ps. Which 70-200mm did you decide on?
Yes, I know. No, Denise, you didn't miss anything and the "[*-)]s" are welldeserved.
I think that maybe if so many other people are recommending it (Neuro -- you also own the 24-105 and seeing that you still use the 17-55 more) I decided I can't hurt anything by giving it a try. Maybe I've been wrong all along.
I chose the 70-200 f/2.8L IS II USM.
Enjoy your new lenses, Brendan!
RE the 17-55mm 'dust issue', it seems clear that some people have experienced that. It might be a bad copy/bad luck issue. Mine is completely clean inside despite a lot of use outdoors and inside (and with pets, a toddler, and little time or inclination for cleaning, it's used in some pretty dusty environments). I do keep a B+W MRC UV filter on the lens (all my lenses, in fact) - that might be something for you to consider. Even weather-sealed L-lenses (except the superteles) require a filter to complete the 'sealing'.
Actually, Denise and I bothhave theEF 24-105mm f/4<span style="color: red;"]LIS - we both bought it after we bought the 17-55mm. Speaking for myself, I do find the 24-105mm focal range very useful, along with the weather-sealing. It's just that I often find the 17-55mm range and f/2.8 more useful. If you're only going to have one general purpose zoom, for a crop body the 17-55mm is a better choice, IMO. There's probably an element of seasonal timing there, too - late fall and winter are pretty dark in the northeast (and in the upper midwest and PA as well), meaning a lot of time indoors and wide apertures even outdoors. In my case, I'm also planning on a FF body in the foreseeable future - and my lenses shorter than 85mm were both EF-S mounts (although on FF, I might not be happy with the barrel distortion of the 24-105mm - that one will probably get sold in favor of a 24-70mm f/2.8L IS when/if Canon gets around to releasing one of those).
The EF70-200mm f/2.8<span style="color: red;"]L IS II is truly a great lens - good choice there, too!
--John
Portrait of a Northern Cardinal from my backyard setup. I put some food on the ground and placed the rock just behind it....easily coaxed this fella to perch just where I wanted him. (Shot with 1D MKIII, 300mm 2.8 + 2.0 TC)[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.32.28/Cardinal.jpg[/img]
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Originally Posted by Brendan7
Hmm I think I'm seeing what you are doing here...misleading all the competition around here and sneaky buying the best lens yourself and own us all!!![:P]
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Originally Posted by Joel Eade
Wow, good shot! That's truly a beautiful colored bird, haven't seen anything like that flying around the house ever. Cool!
Jan
Ps: The 5D2 really sucks, heavily overpraised, overpriced and oversized: images are really soft, you can see the big pixels and honestly keep your mind and don't buy it! You will regret it!![6][;)]
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Blue Jay portrait with dogwood flower. 1D MKIII + 300mm 2.8 + 1.4TC. Taken using a tripod and a camo hide close to my backyard feeder.[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.32.28/343V8799.jpg[/img]
Hi Joel,
I sincerly love the bird, it is amazingly sharp, but the background could be better imo. Can you perhaps make some photographs of your setup? Your backyard-bird pictures are all amazing...
Thanks Pieter,
I really couldn't get the flower to look just right, It was originally way too bright, I think maybe it's just too large. It sort of draws the viewer's eye away from the bird. Thanks for looking.
I will try to post a picture of my set up soon, it's simple: An Ameristep Outhouse blind and some bird feeders with various dead branches placed aroundand a bird bath close by.
Joel
PS> Imade a 5' X 5' PVC pipe frame and affixed the bottom of the blind to it so I can easily move the blind without having to use stakes. I did this so I can move around easily to try to keep the proper sun angle whenever possible and to be able to move the blindso we can mow and also so the grass won't die under it.
Here is a shot of my backyard bird setup as you requested.......[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.32.28/SetUp-Pic.jpg[/img]
That is quite the set up, but it works perfectly. That shot of the blue jay is ridiculous!!! Nice work!
Taken from inside the house through an open patio door
1D MKIII, 300 2.8 + 1.4 TC, f/5.0, 1/250 sec., iso 320[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.32.28/_5F00_MG_5F00_6793.jpg[/img]
Joel,
Wow. Very impressive.
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Originally Posted by HiFiGuy1
I second that! Joel, you take some of the best bird photos I have ever seen!! [Y]
Denise
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I ran across this oriole nest again on a walk near work today.
"Lunchtime"
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EOS 7D,EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6<span style="color: red;"]LIS USM @ 400mm, 1/500 s, f/5.6, ISO 2000.
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Originally Posted by neuroanatomist
AWWW ...great catch! I put out an Oriole feederfor the first time this year but I never saw any :( My neighbor has seen a few hummingbirds though so hopefully I willsee one of them soon!
Denise
Thanks for the kind words, I appreciate it very much !
Denise try shooting in natural light for a bit...some of your flash photos have an overexposed look and most bird photos don't require flash. Plus you have what it takes (gear and oppurtunity-wise) to make your photos look a lot better. Give it a shot.
my 0.000002¢
It was probably more my post-processing than my flash but I do very rarely use flash except for macros now and portraits which I have never posted. I only used flash today because it was more like night outside it was sostormy and very gloomy.
Woe is me, I forgot the T1i since I didn't think I would be taking as many photos as I would video. The opposite happened...
My video cam does take some nice pictures, however.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1276/...a19a8df9_b.jpg
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Originally Posted by ddt0725
Sorry. I was being stupid again [sn]
But WAIT! The purpose of fill flash for birds is to be used when it's sunny and very bright and when there are LOTS of shadows. On gloomy days using flash can be tricky.
Craig, I'd stick with the T1i. It does shoot video, you know?
I'd really like to see one of those grebes. Lucky you.
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Originally Posted by Brendan7
Oh indeed. After putting all these shots on my computer I was kicking myself for not taking the T1i with me.
If you want to see more birds and pond, check out the Flickr set.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/craig_arnold/sets/72157624220974378/
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joel Eade
Holy moly! That's one serious set-up! Well I must honestly say that I don't see myself doing that, but the results are really terrific, so please keep going and shoot some more amazing photos for us to view [:D]
Jan
My best GBH in flight so far with my new 400mm5.6, thanks for viewing.[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.28.54/DPP_5F00_00017.JPG[/img]
JJ
Nice capture of a bird in flight. That is something which is not easy with wild birds who are actually earning a living in their natural environment instead of a man made environment.
Congratulations!!!
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Sheiky,
I wouldn't consider my set up to be all that serious, the blind was very affordable (about $70 at WalMArt) and feeders are not too expensive either.....minimal effort involved really.
JJ
I like the GBH in flight, good focus and exposure, would only wish for the bird flying on an angle toward you as to get better head angle and eye contact
Joel
PS I attached another backyard visitor.....can you identify him?[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.32.28/_5F00_MG_5F00_6358.jpg[/img]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joel Eade
I didn't mean serious in that way. I meant serious dedication to your hobby. At least it looks to me that your backyard is pretty much dedicated for bird-photography, and to be honest I like that a lot! One question: do you change branches etc often so that you don't get too much photos of birds on the same tree/branch?
I like what I see [Y]
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JJphoto
Great capture! Love the lighting and contrast.
Jan
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Sheiky,
My back yard is quite small as you can see.....the trees behind the house cover about 2-3 acres and slope down to a small creek....so lots of woodland birds and lots of dead branches. I do change branches frequently and I look around for those that have "character".
We have a deck on the back of the house and a patio underneath so we use those for outdoor activities and the yard is left for the birds! (and the squirrels, racoons, possums, deer etc etc...)
I do tend to take my hobbies to the extreme according to my spouse, so she agrees with your assessment!
Thanks for the kind words, you should get a blind and a feeder...it's great fun at home.
Joel
It looks like a male Downy to me. However it could be a male Hairy, the marking on both are very similar and without scale it is hard to judge it's size. Hairy are about 25 to 33% larger than Downy's. Female of both species are usually larger than their male counterparts.
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Iguide...you're on track
The clue is to look at the length of the beak in relationship to the size of the head
Joel
JJphoto,
that photo rocks!! Well done!
Hi Joel:
In that case it is a male Hairy.<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"]</input><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden" />
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