[Itsed65]

^^^Sweet!

[Itsed65]

White faced Ibis at Merced NWR by lennycarl08, on Flickr

[M_Six]

Jeez, DC. 1/80 sec for 700 mm handheld? Now that's pushing the envelope. Pre-dawn light?

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Jeez, DC. 1/80 sec for 700 mm handheld? Now that's pushing the envelope. Pre-dawn light?

Thanks Mark.

That was dusk, right as the sun set. It was a struggle and I soon raised ISO to 6400, but this was the best shot. Those grasses were a big problem, making focus hard to gain and keep.

Here's one from about two-minutes later, at ISO 6400 and 1/1250-sec., which would have been great except the nose got clipped off. Also, the high ISO crushed the detail a lot. (Focus may be on a blade of grass):

Untitled by dcstep, on Flickr

Dave

[M_Six]

Still a cool shot.

That's what kills lots of shots for me when using the 400 5.6 and 1.4x TC III. The ISO needed to shoot at 560mm and f8 and a decent shutter speed (no IS) just wreaks havoc on detail.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Still a cool shot.

That's what kills lots of shots for me when using the 400 5.6 and 1.4x TC III. The ISO needed to shoot at 560mm and f8 and a decent shutter speed (no IS) just wreaks havoc on detail.

Even with the very best equipment you'll miss shots. What happens is that your "keeper rate" goes up with each improvement in hardware. Some changes can be very dramatic. Your technique inches up in comparison, even with concerted practice, but you eventually notice more and more consistency.

[M_Six]

My recent experimentation has to do with freezing BIF shots of small birds. A shutter speed of around 1/2000 is needed, and at f8, that really requires some direct sunlight. On the technique side, trying to time the shot is proving difficult. I try to watch the birds land, grab a seed, and then I start shooting full speed and hope they don't linger too long before flying off.

[ddk632]

Something a bit different from my end ...

Holy Somersaults, Batman!

[dcstep]

David, let me get this straight, is that batman doing a flip over two people?

Great exposure.

[ddk632]

Yep, that is exactly what it is, as The Joker watches!

[ddk632]

Did a few photoshoots of the car lately, since I fully detailed her inside and out, conditioned the leather, etc. I liked this shot and processing from tonight: (still have lots to go)

[Itsed65]

Still messing with the Tamron. 600mm. It looks a bit crunchy but that could have been me with too much contrast added.


Deer at 600mm by lennycarl08, on Flickr

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by M_Six

My recent experimentation has to do with freezing BIF shots of small birds. A shutter speed of around 1/2000 is needed, and at f8, that really requires some direct sunlight. On the technique side, trying to time the shot is proving difficult. I try to watch the birds land, grab a seed, and then I start shooting full speed and hope they don't linger too long before flying off.

I try to time my shots also, but also go for bursts of three or four, so that I have a variety of wing positions to chose from. With perched birds, I watch for a good head angle and a light in the eye and then shoot bursts.

The more fps, the better. Can't wait to get a 1D X.

Dave

[dcstep]

Doe Waits to Cross Road by dcstep, on Flickr

[Itsed65]

^^^Brrr. I really like that one Dave. Really gives a sense or the season.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by Itsed65

^^^Brrr. I really like that one Dave. Really gives a sense or the season.

Yeah, unlike the sun that you keep showing every day.

[Itsed65]

Well this isn't a clear or even moderately sharp image, but dang, you should have seen this kestrel launch off a power wire and dive straight down. The wire was on the side of a cliff, so he had a couple of hundred feet down to his target. Totally amazing to watch. I wish I could have seen if he got what he was after.

Attack Speed by lennycarl08, on Flickr

[ddk632]

M Power


M Power by ddk632, on Flickr

[dcstep]

Focus looks pretty good on Attack Speed Ed. That's pretty amazing to hold it on a fast bird like a Kestrel in a dive. I'm torn as to whether stop-action would have been better than this speed blur.

[dcstep]

Big Buck Runs In Snow by dcstep, on Flickr

[Itsed65]

Originally Posted by dcstep

Focus looks pretty good on Attack Speed Ed. That's pretty amazing to hold it on a fast bird like a Kestrel in a dive. I'm torn as to whether stop-action would have been better than this speed blur.

Same here. While it's not a technically perfect shot, I actually like the way it turned out. Has kind of a painting feel to it. Those little guys are so fast!

[TXSTYLE]

Eye see you...