Bird shots with my new 300 f/4: Take 2, please critique!!!

[Brendan7]

here's one more from today (jan 23)


Usually I am able to get within about 9-12 feet of the birds, but this nuthatch for some reason was having a nice day and was feeling like being approached. so, I approached him slowly until I was at MFD for my 300mm f/4. Here's the shot (uncropped). [H]


White breasted nuthatch


Canon 7D and 300mm f/4IS at f/5.6, 1/200, ISO 320. Manual Exposure, handheld. Uncropped (!).


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[Mark Elberson]

Wow! Beautiful!!

[Brendan7]

thanks!


I've been photographing nuthatches for a couple of weeks now, but this one today was tamer than my neighbor's dog. [H]


brendan b

[ddt0725]

this one today was tamer than my neighbor's dog

Heck, tamer than my 3 dogs ...they all run now when they see i have camera in hand!

This photo is fantastic, Brendan! Raining here today, didn't get to do any shooting outside! []


Denise

[DavidEccleston]

Usually I am able to get within about 9-12 feet of the birds, but this nuthatch for some reason was having a nice day and was feeling like being approached.

9-12 feet? We go out to the woods, maybe once a month, with sunflower seeds. Stick our hands out, and have the chickadees land in our hand. It's not uncommon for a red breasted nuthatch or a white breasted nuthatch to join in if they're around. They land right on our hand, grab a seed, and fly off. Sometimes they'll stick around for a few seconds and look around. Sometimes they're picky, and will take a seed, toss it aside, grab another, toss it aside, and grab some more. When they're not in hand, they're a few feet away in a tree eating their seed, then they're planning their return trip.


Here's an example taken today. T1i+50mm f/1.8 @ f/4.5, 1/160s, ISO 400.


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And a previous one, T1i + 18-55mm IS @ 34mm, f/4.5, 1/160, ISO 400


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.28.63/chickadee1.JPG[/img]

[Brendan7]

I will definitely try that, but I will have to use a P&S. My only lens as of now is my 300 f/4 and so it won't focus inside of 5' lol. [:P]


brendan

[Brendan7]

speaking of chickadees here's a chickadee image from today:


Canon 7D + 300 f/4L IS USM at f/7.1, 1/125, ISO 320.


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[btaylor]

These are a great improvement over your first lot mate - good to see you've got some benefit out of everyone's input.


They can only get even better from here. Well done!

[Fast Glass]

I think you need to learn how to post process your images.


A picture is worth a thousand words, so I edited one of your images.


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John.

[Brendan7]

For some reason the photo did not show up.

I think you need to learn how to post process your images.

Right. What exactly do you think needs to be applied? Keep in mind I do not have Photoshop, Lightroom, etc. (but i do have DPP, of course)


brendan