Clyde Loc: Born in Ks

Only saw one big eagle in my life time, it was in a tree, but didn"t have my camera. Some one shot it later on and had a 5 ft wing span. Never caught the shooter either.

Sabaideejack Loc: Appleton WI

Yes...2000 Ultra Classic...hasn't been ridden much lately. Too busy with the granddaughters and the camera. My father had six Harleys and an Indian during his lifetime. His last one was a '49 HydraGlide with the Panhead motor. Wish I could have that bike today...found one for sale...wanted waaay too much money for it...that's why I got the 2000. Yes, the suicide (hand) shift and foot clutch would take some getting used to. Never experienced one.
Keep posting those great photos.

Alan Nelson Loc: Montana

Mt. Bluebird photo. I too am a little long in the tooth so can appreciate trying to get birds quickly when the opportunity arrives especially at my age. It is just a lot of fun being out there and trying to do a goo job. One of my shots that was taken from a car window mount an on film and later scanned/Users/alan/Desktop/Mt Bluebird on fence copy.jpg

Alan Nelson Loc: Montana

/Users/alan/Desktop/Mt Bluebird on fence copy.jpg

Laurice Loc: Michigan

I like all the bird shots, Gessman. My favorite is the eagle. Do you know what is hanging from the dead branch just in front of his talons? Great clarity in that shot.

gessman Loc: Colorado

Great focus. Wonderful! Like you, it's just a real pleasure just being out in nature with a camera. Wish I could have done it for a living but the responsibility connected with having kids early often makes flexibility fly out the window. Still, what we have now was not around back then so it wasn't an option - merely some spilt milk we CAN cry over. What a marvelous time to be alive, this last 75 years, eh?

gessman Loc: Colorado

Thanks Laurice. That looks like it could be a big ol' trout but actually, there's nothing in the talons. That's the upcoming part of the limb he's standing on and it's dark and shaded so as to interject the mystery. But just so it doesn't seem that effortlessly on my part, let's discuss just how very difficult it was for me to maneuver around in that swampy, marshy area so I could be in just the right spot to creatively make that limb look like it was a fish... :twisted: Don't you just love people like that - Providence hands them life on a platter and they feel so guilty that they are compelled to complicate it just to engender self-importance. Amazing!

gessman Loc: Colorado

What a pity that anyone would do that. Like you, I haven't seen a lot of eagles in my life. Never saw one while growing up in Arkansas. I hear there are some around the rivers there now since they're making a comeback but I'm not there to see them.

gessman Loc: Colorado

I was a Western Union messenger in my youth, first for a few years on a bicycle and then on a motorcycle which is why I bought one in the first place. The popularity had come and gone a couple of times earlier where I lived but it wasn't cool to ride a motorcycle there then. It looked like it was just me and the Hell's Angels in CA which didn't put me in a very good light where I was. Still, I had a very good wage for a youngster back then riding but riding year around wasn't completely pleasant, freezing rain, temps nearing zero, etc. I moved on to British bikes after that, Triumphs, AJS, BSA, Norton, etc. and got away from those lumbering Harleys. I'm a little guy and I try to control the size of whatever is likely to fall on me when I can. Sounds like your dad was a real enthusiast and yes, I sure wish I could reach back and grab some of the stuff I had earlier. That may be a universal issue. Thanks again.

condor

Great shots Guessman, did anyone else notice in the shot of the geese--3rd one down on the right looks like it's giving a piggyback ride to his wingman.

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

I have a question for you. What was your ISO set to in the 1st Bluebird picture? It appears rather noisy than being out of focus. Sometimes I do think noise has its' place. I also like your Eagle and the one of the Geese. Actually, I've liked all of your pictures.

gessman Loc: Colorado

Nobody has mentioned it. I guess the one on top is just a little camera shy?

gessman Loc: Colorado

Thank you. That shot was done with a Canon 20D and I always tried my best to shoot it at 100 iso because at 8 mpixel the images wouldn't punch up as much as I like without affecting them. I seem to have moved the file around so much I'm not finding the exif data in any of the copies that are in my computers. Originally a RAW file, it has been a .tif, a .jpg and maybe some others. With the 400mm f5.6 lens, I usually set the lens in bright sunlight to 1/500th to stay above the lens length and f5.6 for bokeh. Now and then I'd get below those settings and I may have done that with the bluebird. Further, I sharpened it before I cut it down to fit on here and I think I overdid it a tad. I usually don't mess with the iso too much while I'm shooting with plenty of light but rather just take what I get, that is until I got my 5D MkII which sets the iso on auto up to 6400, something I'm not too fond of. Often I take it off of auto and set it at 100, sometimes even at 50 but I'm real lazy when it comes to tripods so I ruin a lot of shots. I've been shooting more video than stills in the last year or so and have been a little sloppy with my file keeping plus I've lost a couple of hard drives and have way too many cds and dvds to go trying to find the original. Since I don't sell my images I usually just shoot 'em and sort of forget 'em. I apologize for a) this long reply and, b) the fact that I cannot give you a definitive answer in this case. I suspect your right though about the noise. I really don't like the way it looks on here but I hate to pull it so I'll just take my lumps. Sorry, again.

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

Not long winded at all. I appreciate your in depth answer. That was very kind of you. This is the kind of thing I can learn and grow from. Thank you.

Sugarpenny Loc: Mid Michigan

Oh Gessman, your birdshots are beautiful....I LOVE LOVE LOVE the cute little blue bird. I wish we had those birds around here. The only blue birds we have around here are the BlueJays and the ones that stay too out in the cold in the winter. :) I love all your pictures. Keep up the good work. Maybe if I ever get out to Colorado to visit my son again, I will have the chance to snap a beautiful bluebird also! Oh and thanks for getting to where I needed to be to see your photos of these lovely birds! Great job!