Post your best bird shots!

[Joel Eade]

Northern Cardinal


1DMKIII


300 f2.8L + 1.4 TC II


580 EX II + Better Beamer ETTL -2 2/3 stops


iso 1000


f/5.6


1/125


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/2112.343V1037.jpg[/img]

[ddt0725]

I think I'm overfeeding this guy ...

[Joel Eade]

Nice one Denise.....good Christmas card material.


He really is puffed out against the Wisconsin cold. (PS As a native Milwaukeean I was pulling for them in the NCAA tourney!)

[Richard Lane]

Joel, I love the Woodpecker shot (great contrast) and Tufted Titmouse (nice capture) shots from a couple of days ago. Also, great Cardinal shot (nice detail with the water droplets on the leaves) .


Dave, Great Pelican shot. I love the composition. It

[Richard Lane]

Here is another from today. There are a lot of Sand Cranes in the fields this year, but it has been difficult getting a decent shot.


7D, 100-400L. f/7.1, 1/320 sec


Edit: Looking at this post, I did not like the bokeh with the Sand Cranes... so I spent some time in PP to clean up the background, and re-posted. I think I like this much better. I am have a lot of problems with AF and Bokeh with my 100-400L when shooting birds in corn fields. There is so much clutter in the background that it confuses the AF and the picture turns out so cluttered. If anyone has any suggestions, I would be glad to here from you.

Hi Conropl,



<div>


I think the background looks fine. The main critique that I would say is to try and not cut the feet off. Their head is in the Sun, and their body is in the shade, so that also makes it a difficult shot. The eyes are not that sharp, so you could try and steady your camera with a monopod, and/or use a higher shutter speed and ISO, if they are not standing still.


If you're finding it difficult to AF, you could try and lock AF with the center point (there may be different techniques available to you depending on what body you are using) on the red and white portion of their head to create an easier contrast point for the AF system, and then recompose.


Rich
</div>

[MikeG2012]

Rich, thanks for the tips. Having more room in the frame would have been nice, but the barrel on the 100-400 sticks a bit so adjusting zoom while doing a handheld shot isn

[Richard Lane]

I honestly think that if you held the camera horizontal instead of vertical, then you would have nailed all of the shots in camera, because the focusing and exposures look good!


What.., no Myrtle Beach Babes to practice on? [:P]


Rich

[Jayson]

I think I'm overfeeding this guy ...

Maybe, but he looks happy![:P]

[Andy Stringer]

It's breeding time already. There was plenty of nest building activity going on at this cliff today.


1D Mark IV, EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM @ 100mm, f/8, 1/100s, ISO 400


1D Mark IV, EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM @ 400mm, f/5.6, 1/160s, ISO 800

Next time, I need to get there during daylight. These were taken shortly before sunset, with the sky overcast and the light fading fast, hence the sub-optimal shutter speed and ISO. I'll be sure to go back when the chicks hatch.

[Joel Eade]

Nice shots Andy, Gannets are so beautiful ..... where are these?