Thanks Brendan, here's another one with the same setup taken this morning.[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.32.28/_5F00_MG_5F00_6875.jpg[/img]
Printable View
Thanks Brendan, here's another one with the same setup taken this morning.[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.32.28/_5F00_MG_5F00_6875.jpg[/img]
Awesome! I also use a setup; but anything besides titmice, chickadees and nuthatches are usually too shy. How do you attract woodpeckers and cardinals? Please explain your technique, I am intrigued! I'm sort of a beginner at this; your shots are, again, awesome.
Here's my favorite shot so far (I've been using a DSLR for four months). I believe I've already posted it in this thread, but I don't see any problem in posting it here.
Canon 7D + 300mm f/4L IS USM
f/5.6, 1/200, ISO 320. Manual Exposure, Handheld.
[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.36.40/IMG_5F00_1726.jpg[/img]
brendan
I only had one chance to photograph a woodpecker, this was taken through the fence.
[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.28.86/_5F00_MG_5F00_8011.TIF-reduced.JPG[/img]
This is not really my typical keeper, but since it's my only one I'll keep it untill I get another chance to photograph it.
John.
Brendan,
My house backs up to about 5 acres of woods so we have woodpeckers and cardinals in the area naturally. I have found that woodpeckers like suet the best and cardinals like black oil sunflower seeds. I keep the feeders stocked all the time and use dead tree limbs mounted in christmas tree stands as my perches so they are easy to change and move around to get good light.
Once you get them coming in regularly you can move your perch to a spot where they will stage before coming to feed....the set up your hide to get the best sun angle and the best distance. Sun angle is critical...you have to avoid your subject being backlit or lit from the side with harsh light. With digital it is all about proper exposure and especially avoiding underexposure. You have to learn to push the histogram to the right just enough to maximize detail without blowing the highlights.
You will not be able to get the best detail unless you have good light and can push the exposure a little towards the right on your histogram. Underexposure is death to digital images. You have great gear....don't be afraid to push the ISO up on your 7D to get good exposure, also to enable you to get a shutter speed at least 1/320 or faster. This is especially true of small birds because they are seldom still and a telephoto lens magnifies their motion. You should consider the Canon 1.4 extender it helps to keep back just a little further. You reall cannot have too much focal length. A good tripod will be a valuable asset as well.The 300mm lenses are nice for the backyard but I wish I had saved longer and bought the 500 f4.
Some birds are more skittish than others but the downy woodpeckers and red bellied woodpeckers aren't too bad. I have found the hairy woodpeckers and pileated woodpeckers to be the most difficult.
Scour the internet and read all you can on exposure technique. Look up Arthur Morris and www.birdsasart.com[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.32.28/IMG_5F00_1444.jpg[/img]
thanks for all the great info. This will be a huge help! I am going to get me some suet! Beautiful capture with that blue jay.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joel Eade
I am one of those who go against the grain here. I will refer to the Robert Capa quote, which goes something like, "If your pictures aren't good, you're not close enough". I've tried both the 300mm f/2.8 and 500mm f/4 and honestly I would rather have the 300. You can get close with your legs, not just long scary glass. But that's just me!
brendan
I typically don't try to photograph birds, but was just visiting some relatives and took a few shots of the humming birds and would like some advice from those who are much better at it.
Equipment: 50D, 70-200 f/4 IS at 200mm
ISO 800, f/4, 1/200s
[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.30.36/2010_5F00_01_5F00_27_5F00_036.JPG[/img]
Bryan,
I've tried hummingbirds a little. To get a good shot with natural light is tough. There are sort of 2 different camps with regard to hummingbirds...some feel they should be protrayed naturally like you have done, others go for the multiple flash setup in order to freeze the wing motion. With multiple flashes you can dial down the output of each flash to effectively obtain adequate light and still create a super fast exposure on the order of 1/15,000 sec. Look up Ralph Paonessa, I believe he has a tutorial on his web site. Heres one I took just experimenting with flash..it's not great but demonstrates the idea.[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.32.28/IMG_5F00_9559.jpg[/img]
Bryan, with a feeder you can move it so that the sun is behind you. Your shot is quite underexposed especiall the subject, you need good light so that you can see the detail on the bird's colorful throat. Good luck next time!
Osprey and a carp.
I had good light and relatively close distance, hope you don't mind the nasty background [:)]. I don't know what was up with the fish, but I think it was a dead one.
40D and 500 f/4L IS, f/4, 1/1600, ISO 250, manual exposure, handheld
http://www.pscvn.org/members/308/1-3...6-13-18_PM.jpg
Peacock
I wish that I'd used a smaller aperture so the feathers in the bg were sharper
40D and 500 f/4L IS, f/4, 1/250, ISO 400, manual exposure, handheld
http://www.pscvn.org/members/308/1-3...0-34-52_PM.jpg
here are a couple of my recent ones
7D + 300 f4 L IS @ f/5.6, 1/160, ISO 500[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/800x600/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.36.40/IMG_5F00_2445.jpg[/img]\
Mourning Dove
Same Setup, f/5.6, 1/250, ISO 500
[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/714x322/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.36.40/IMG_5F00_2619.jpg[/img]
Hi Brendan,
First one looks good interm of detail, head angle and exposure. One minor problem is that not enough space on the left, looks like you also clipped the tail a bit.
I like your compositionon the second one, but your main subject is underexposed. The background is too bright. Good luck next time and keep shooting.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sinh Nhut Nguyen
That's a side effect of handholding. Well, I'm saving for a Gitzo 3531 so hopefully we can eliminate these problems.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sinh Nhut Nguyen
thanks for the critique [H]
brendan
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sinh Nhut Nguyen
Thanks Nate. I realized it was underexposed and I bumped it in DPP to get what I could out of it. Would it be possible to just use a little fill flash without going the multiple flash "freeze action" route? I prefer the more natural look. Also, I would like to see the wings of the hummingbird without freezing them, or an exposure too slow so they totally disappear. Any suggestions for shutter speed?
Bryan,
you certainly can use one flash on camera for fill, you can try various manual settings or just let the camera do the work with ETTL and dial in negative compensation if needed. I would try manual at 1/16 output to start. See if you get f/7.1 or higher and shutter speed of 1/1000 or faster at whatever ISO you need. Get the sun behind you. This will help to get a sharp, well exposed body but won't freeze the wings. Use the center focusing point with AI servo mode and evaluative metering. Try if you can to prefocus where you think the bird will be. Also make some test shots of the feeder to adjust the exposure best you can before your subject arrives...look at the histogram to make sure it's correct (ie not underxposed). Also be aware of not only the sun angle but the background and place the feeder accordingly.
Good shooting!
Joel
Brendan, why do you need Gitzo 3531? this one supports 18kg.
Why not a Gitzo GT1531? it supports 8kg and weigh much less than the 3531.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oren
Weight rating is a deceiving number. The 3531 is "rated" to 18kg, but you wouldn't want to mount 40 pounds of equipment on it; it wouldn't break but wouldn't be stable either. In the same way, a 1531 could in theory support a 300 f/4 and 7D but the stability and performance would be greatly compromised. The 3 series Gitzos are made for lenses 300mm and up. 2 series, 200mm to 400mm max. 1 series tripods aren't meant for use with telephotos at all.
brendan
One of our better bird shots... likely due to it being one of the few using the 85mm f/1.8 instead of the 50mm f/1.8. I realize the background leaves something to be desired. :)
T1i + 85mm f/1.8 @ f/2, 1/2500, ISO 100.
[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.28.63/chickdee_5F00_feeder.JPG[/img]
And a slightly tighter crop:
[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.28.63/chickdee_5F00_feeder2.JPG[/img]
http://gallery.photo.net/photo/10572131-md.jpg
<div align="left"]<span style="font-size: xx-small;"]Lense: Canon 70-200 F/4 IS
Camera Model: Canon EOS 7D
Image Date: 2010:01:23 15:21:07
Flash Used: No
Focal Length: 200.0mm
CCD Width: 4.00mm
Exposure Time: 0.0008 s (1/1250)
Aperture: f/5.0
Focus Distance: 4.47m
ISO equiv: 200
White Balance: Auto
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: aperture priority (semi-auto)
</div>
M.Mobin
nice picture! I like the lighting and the background very much!
two questions, how did you measure the focus distance which was 4.47M and what's Matrix(metering mode)? thank you!(sorry if the questions are too simple, I'm pretty new)
Very nice capture! If I'm not mistaken that's a Eurasian White Pelican... Pelicans are my absolute favorite birds. Just had to put that out there [H]
brendan
<span id="result_box" class="short_text"]<span title="????"]Hello
<span id="result_box" class="short_text"]<span title="????"]
<span title="??? ????? ?? ?? ?????? ?????? ???? ???? ??? ?? ?? ??????? ??? ???? ???? ???."]1-This distance measure is the camera that is visible in the photo information(exif).
2-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metering_mode
http://gallery.photo.net/photo/9529076-lg.jpg
50D+sigma 150-500
M.Mobin,
I love your pelican shot and the last one as well. To be honest the lastimage appears to be over sharpened. It could have happend when you resized it for the web or just me but thats the only thing I would change.
Fred~
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fred Doane
hi
<div dir="ltr"]
<div id="tts_button" title="Listen to this
translation" style="float: left; margin: 2px 6px 0pt 0pt; display: block;"]
<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.gstatic.com/translate/sound_player.swf" id="tts_object" width="18" height="18"]
<param value="http://www.gstatic.com/translate/sound_player.swf" name="movie" />
<param value="sound_name=" name="flashvars" />
<param value="transparent" name="wmode" />
<param value="always" name="allowScriptAccess" />
</object>
</div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"]<span id="result_box" class="short_text"]<span style="background-color: #ffffff;" title="???? ???? ????? ???"]Thanks for your post</div>
<div dir="ltr"]http://mmobin.persiangig.com/5/IMG_7685.jpg
</div>
<div dir="ltr"]
</div>
<div dir="ltr"]
</div>
<div dir="ltr"]
<div dir="ltr"]
<div id="tts_button" title="Listen to this
translation" style="float: left; margin: 2px 6px 0pt 0pt; display: block;"]
<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.gstatic.com/translate/sound_player.swf" id="tts_object" width="18" height="18"]
<param value="http://www.gstatic.com/translate/sound_player.swf" name="movie" />
<param value="sound_name=" name="flashvars" />
<param value="transparent" name="wmode" />
<param value="always" name="allowScriptAccess" />
</object>
</div>
<span id="result_box" class="short_text"]<span style="background-color: #ffffff;" title="??? ???? ????"]Images without editing</div>
</div>
raw>jpeg +resize
[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.39.24/IMG_5F00_1355-as-Smart-Object_2D00_2.jpg[/img]
LENSE: Canon 100-400 IS USM
Camera Model: Canon EOS 7D
Image Date: 2010:02:11 15:19:32
Flash Used: No
Focal Length: 400.0mm
Exposure Time: 0.0020 s (1/500)
Aperture: f/6.3
Focus Distance: 5.46m
ISO equiv: 320
White Balance: Auto
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: aperture priority (semi-auto)
Photographer: Masoud Mobin Ali
Again, very nice shot! If you have photoshop you can remove the branch in the background that is "growing" out of the bird's head...
I don't believe I've posted this one yet, If I have, my apologies...
Anyway, Last saturday we got 30''+ of snow. As no roads were plowed, I was stuck at home and so had some time to do some bird photography during the snowfall–Here's my favorite:
Canon 7D + 300mm f/4L IS @ 300mm, f/5.6, 1/250, ISO 320. Manual Exposure, Handheld, Mode 1 IS, 19-pt AF.
[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/840x1120/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.36.40/IMG_5F00_3276.jpg[/img]
C&C welcome.
brendan
I totally forgot that I had a few bird pictures. I only have one wide angle lens and a normal lens.
Both shot with 30D and a rented 100-400L in alaska.
[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.23.61/bird.jpg[/img]
@ 400mm, f5.6, 1/60, ISO400
[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.23.61/greathornedowl.jpg[/img]
@400mm, f5.6, 1/200, ISO500
Perhaps you could have used a wider aperture so the bird isn't motion-blurred? iso-400 is very usable as well. Bird-in-flight photo's generally require a very fast shutter speed...
[img]file:///C:/Users/Matthew/Documents/My%20Pictures/Canon/Edited/breakfast.JPG[/img][img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.39.55/Breakfast_5F00_by_5F00_Overkill_5F00_mg.jpg[/img]
I don't really take many bird shots but I just snapped this one an hour of so ago. I think it's a Yellow Honey Eater but I'm not entirely sure (feel free to correct me). I keep seeing these guys hanging out in the back yard but every time I get the camera out and open the back door they take off.
I was particularly ninja today though and managed to fire off a few before they flew away. This little fella is sitting atop my good old Hill's Hoist(that's a clothes line for you Northern Hemispherites).
40D, ISO 400, 70-200mm f/4L IS @ 200mm and f/4, 1/250 sec.
Some noise reduction in CS4 with the bird masked out, then sharpened the bird only using smart sharpen filter, 0.4 radius and 90%.
C & C very welcome. [Y]
Cheers, Ben.
[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.28.34/Yellow-honeyeater-WEB.jpg[/img]
American Kestrel (male)
Too bad the fence was somewhat a distraction, A Kestrel had never let me get this close before. I set up a perch and came back 3 days in a row but the bird didn't cooperate.
40D + 500 f/4L IS, f/6.3, 1/1250, ISO 400, manual expsoure, handheld
http://www.pscvn.org/members/308/2-1...6-56-58_PM.jpg
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sinh Nhut Nguyen
Nate, whenever I see your name appear under the "Post Your Best Bird Shots!" thread, I know I'm in for something good. And this shot does not dissapoint - I think the colours are great.
Nate,
It is a beauty considering you took it handheld. You really have some stable hands there. Very nice colors, catchlight in the eye, deatils of the feathers. It looks like it is posing for a closeup facial portrait :D
Your pics are a visual pleasure.
Cheers!!
Humming Bird (Anthracothorax dominicus)
Shot taken in Dominican Republic, near "La Romana" - Bayahibe -
Canon EOS 1D Mark III with EF 100-400 L IS USM
1/1250sec f5,6 ISO 640 - Flash 580 EX II with better beamer (fresnel lens)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2790/...5f067ee9_o.jpg
Here is a young roadrunner shot at the Bosque Del Apache in New Mexico. Canon 50D, 100-400L, ISO 200, F6.3, 1/1600
[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.23.23/roadrunner.JPG[/img]
[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.39.92/img_5F00_36831.jpg[/img]
450D 300mm f/10 1/250s ISO200 handheld
[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.28.54/IMG_5F00_3806.jpg[/img]
here is one of my favorites. Taken with my trust old Rebel XTi using the 400m 2.8 lens. ISO 200 f3.2 1/320
[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.36.85/cardinal1.jpg[/img]
Very nice Cardinal jjknights. Do you own the 400 2.8 or did you rent it?
Anyways, here's another from my setup, taken today [:D]
Canon 7D + 300 f/4L IS USM at f/8.0, 1/640, ISO 640. Manual Exposure, Handheld, Uncropped.
[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/840x1120/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.36.40/IMG_5F00_3756.jpg[/img]
thanks for viewing and C&Cing,
brendan
I actually used my uncle's lens. I gotta work a little while longer before I can afford something like that. Nice hand held shot by the way. I also have the 7d.
Very nice shot. Did you sharpen it? It looks kinda soft.
John.
Thanks John. Don't worry, it's plenty sharp, I just don't sharpen after resizing and for some reason all of my shots are about 1/10 as sharp after posting [8o|]