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I haven't done much birding lately so today I went out in the backyard for some SRT (stress reducing therapy)! There wasn't much to shoot at but I think I walked away with a few keepers but most of all, it felt great to just be out there waiting!
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6041/6...95ba8784_z.jpg
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6060/6...0851c008_z.jpg
Denise. Really like #1. Even on my phone it is good. Nice work.
Really nice shots. I think I like the second one best, but both are good.Quote:
Originally Posted by ddt0725
I really think you're far too modest Denise, those are a couple of excellent bird shots! What were you shooting with? The 100-400 perhaps? What do you do to disguise yourself so you don't scare off the birds?
Thank you! Yes, I did use the 100-400mm. I wish I had a blind but I don't do anything to disguise myself. They fly away as soon as I go out there but after about 10-15 mins. they start coming back.
I like the first Sparrow, the red branches below it really make the shot interesting. Looks like you've really nailed the technique of creating sharp bird images!!
Yesterday afternoon it was a Woodpecker festival in the backyard .... had 3 species at the feeders simultaneously!
Giving the new 500 a workout...Downy Woodpecker, Red Bellied Woodpecker and Hairy Woodpecker.
Joel, Great shots as usual, but I really miss the seeing the High Quality versions of your work. Uploading from local machine doesn't do your work any justice at all---do you have an account with one of the photo sharing sites you could use?
also, what type of feed do you use to attract woodpeckers?
Again, wonderful shots,
A little while ago I got a call from my neighbor telling me to look up in the big tree behind our houses-----This is what he wanted me to see:
http://rwilliamsimaging.com/img/s11/v29/p46842182-4.jpg
7D, 500L+1.4, hand held, ISO 400, f5.6, 2400. Moderate crop. also, there "were" a lot of distracting branches in the shot so I had to edit in CS5. Content Aware fill is a wonderful tool :cool:
Thanks for viewing
Bob.....Awesome, a Coopers Hawk I presume, and in the yard too....really neat.
I am using Zenfolio...guess I need to learn how to share images from there.
This is an image from yesterday using my Zenfolio account URL, does it look better?
http://joeleadephotography.zenfolio....84015626-4.jpg
Bob.....I use suet cakes for the woodpeckers...usually peanut flavored but I think just about any will work. Tractor Supply has the best prices around here.
Very nice hawk photo, Bob!
Joel - Nice woodpecker shots and yes, that looks alot better!! I always use flickr but maybe I should look into loading from my zenfolio site also!
Yes, 100 times better---Now it looks like a Joel Picture, not a Bob PictureQuote:
Originally Posted by Joel Eade
Yep, Cooper's Hawk, They are almost identical to a Sharp Shinned hawk except thier tail and body shape. I had to look him up the first time I saw him.Quote:
Originally Posted by Joel Eade
Joel, thanks for the woodpecker feeding tips
Good, thanks .... will use this method from now on.Quote:
Originally Posted by bob williams
Thanks Denise, just finished watching the Packers defeat the Lions .... 11-0 wow!Quote:
Originally Posted by ddt0725
Not the Woodpecker variety that Joel saw, but the first Downy I have seen on my seed feeder. Unfortunately I wasn't fast enough to get him on one of the branches before he made it to the tray. Bunch of House Finches out today too.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7026/6...33c1a948_z.jpghttp://farm8.staticflickr.com/7003/6...7b16e7bf_z.jpg
Dan, Very nice shots---I sure wish I could get some woodpeckers to visit my feeders:(
;) ;);) Looking forward to the Super Bowl!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Joel Eade
A friend of mine always has season tickets and he wants me to take some shots of them playing for his office walls ...but I don't have a long enough lens! :(
Back on track ...I think I'm going to put some food out for the woodpeckers! I put all of my bird feeders away for the winter because they always seem to attract a lot more than birds this time of year!
Bob, thanks, I assume you were talking to me (it's Dustin by the way). I actually gave up on Woodpecker feeders. The morning after I set them up I went outside and there were two squirrels on every one! This is unfortunate b/c I see a lot of woodpeckers in my yard. I also saw a fat Eastern Towhee today. I thought this was odd at first until I checked my bird book. Apparently they are permanent occupiers of southeast Missouri. This is my first winter in southeast Missouri so I thought that was kind of neat.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dsiegel5151
Dustin,
I have "a million" squirrels on my property and they love just about any kind if bird food EXCEPT safflower seed. I have chased them away from my platform feeder so much that now all I have to do is rattle the door knob and they run. Of course they eat up while I'm at work.
For my suet cages I use skinny metal "shepherd pole" type hangers and baffles. Sometimes, for fun, I spray the pole with vegetable oil.
Also make sure they are at least 10 feet from anything the squirrels could jump from.
Squirrel are amazing in what they can do to get to the food, some people just recommend feeding them as well just to keep them off the bird food.
Don't give up though, the woodpeckers are worth it.
Joel
http://joeleadephotography.zenfolio....73225117-5.jpg
Quote:
Originally Posted by ddt0725
Denise,
I would think your 100-400 would work well for football. I would go to the game just to try it :D
Why remove the feeders in winter?
To me that's when birds need the food most and when you get the most photo ops as well, that's a win-win isn't it?
Joel
He said he would rent me whatever lens I needed but how annoying would that be for the people around me ...I don't want to make fellow packer fans angry.Quote:
Originally Posted by Joel Eade
For the feeders, I have a small backyard so the feeders are pretty close to the house and the food on the ground tends to attract the little furry critters that I have an absolute fear of and then they try to come in the house to get warm!
Denise - be careful. I researched this for a Packer game because I wanted to bring my 7D and 70-300L, and I came away thinking that "pro" gear technically isn't allowed in the stands. Big white lenses will attract attention and they might confiscate. I'd call the organization to confirm, but I'm nearly certain that's the policy. It protects the pros on the sidelines.Quote:
Originally Posted by ddt0725
It looks like you're allowed smaller than a 12inch lens at Lambeau Field, so your 100-400mm may work depending on your seating location. However, I would think that you would need a day game for that lens to work well.Quote:
Originally Posted by ddt0725
Look under "C" of the A-Z guide below:
http://www.packers.com/gameday/lambe...o-z-guide.html
The Super Bowl this year will be at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts.
Congrats on your Packers, they look like the real deal!
Rich
I guess I will have to look into the rules more!
Well, when I was in the backyard with the dogs today, I saw a downy woodpecker in my neighbors tree so I ran into the house to get my camera but by the time I got back, of course it was gone! :(
I was able to capture this looking at me from his tree though ....
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7033/6...2e9ecab1_z.jpg
Peek-A-Boo! by Denise Trocio, on Flickr
So, off I went to the store and picked up a new suet holder and two suet cakes (one peanut & the other mealworms)! Hopefully, it won't take them long to come over to my tree!
Denise - That is a really cool shot. I like that a lot.
Denise, really cool face on shot of the male Cardinal, very sharp and good detail in the reds which is not easy to do alot of times.
Beautiful shot Denise!
Great shot Denise---Love the look.
Spent the day at the Bosque del Apache yesterday---still sorting through a bunch of pics but here are a few I thought I would share. Looks like it is going to be a busy season. There were thousands of geese and cranes, and lots of other stuff to shoot--This is the busiest I have ever seen this early in the season. Also, The BdA opened an additional 7 mile route through both woods and fields which opened up a lot more photo ops. Joel, better start cleaning your lenses now and charging your batteries now:D.
http://rwilliamsimaging.com/img/s11/...70683559-4.jpg
Juvi Bald Eagle
http://rwilliamsimaging.com/img/s11/...42029530-4.jpg
Sandhill Crane
http://rwilliamsimaging.com/img/s11/...72176915-4.jpg
Another Sandy
http://rwilliamsimaging.com/img/s11/...76103643-4.jpg
Yes, More Sandies
http://rwilliamsimaging.com/img/s11/...25477356-4.jpg
Got Geese?
http://rwilliamsimaging.com/img/s11/...39354706-4.jpg
OK, Since you ask, one more Sandy Pic
http://rwilliamsimaging.com/img/s11/v37/p83843535-4.jpg
Wow, Bob!!! These photos are spectacular! Most definitely looks like a superb place to shoot!
Thanks, guys! I have already attracted a few chickadees and Mrs. Cardinal to my suet feeders this morning! Still waiting for the downy woodpecker to appear!
Wow......I am really looking forward to it....looks amazing. Were all those with your 500mm?Quote:
Originally Posted by bob williams
Yep, except the eagle, I had to use the 1.4 ex and crop heavily so the IQ is very limited. Also, I haven't had much luck adjusting the focus with the 500---I think my targets are too small and the "ruler" is difficult to read at 50-100 times the focal length, So I am going to build my own AF adjustment target, just haven't done it yet.Quote:
Originally Posted by Joel Eade
Denise, Sorry for the late reply and thanks---The BdA is a great place to shoot, and I would highly recommend it to any photog heading this way---but I have one huge problem with it. It seems that there is so much to shoot that I find myself running from subject to subject without ever really "working the shot". I know that if I would decide on a subject and just work the shot, my photos would be much better, but it's kinda like a kid in a candy store, usually all I end up with is a belly ache. So I have told my wife, that when we go out there it will only be to shoot one thing and then i can focus on really getting it right. of course that has yet to happen:confused:
Attachment 162
A swallow picture I took this late summer. Turned out pretty good I think. Taken with a 7D and the 100mm Macro L, preset focus distance, high speed burst rate. Had to point with camera in the general direction of the swallows, using viewfinder was hopeless, they were so fast and erratic in flight. This one is making for a full stop/evasive action upon hearing the shutter go. I think it made for pretty good pose from the bird :)
Edit: Hmm small preview in post I see. Oh well, click on it for larger version :)