dave sproul Loc: Tucson AZ

I am now in Tucson for a couple of months and sitting in an easy chair drinking a double malt Scotch the other night, I have decided to try to develop some BIF photography skills.

I went to go over to the Sonoran Desert Museum (SDM) to try and develop these skills. The SDM provides a target rich environment during the rapture fly demonstrations, which occurs twice a day, at 1000 & 1400.

Before going I read several posts on this site and to those of you that provided the information — thank you. It was very helpful. Without this information I probably would not have even more rejects.

I used a D5100 set basically as follows: Aperture priority f/8, ISO 800 which made for a shutter speed of approx. 1/3200 or 1/4000, spot metering.

Of the many, many photographs taken over 4 sessions at SDM (most which were of empty blue skies, of a bird heads or tails sticking in from the sides of the frames, of dark out-of-focus globs in the sky, etc..) the following are the only two I have nerve enough to post. These are of birds taking off. What fun.

Again, I want to thank those that posted information on this tread.

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RSpinney Loc: Maine

Very nice photos! Thanks for posting the settings also as I've been trying to get sparrows and chickadees in flight. Not easy. I've been able to get decent photos of osprey though as they're more like a B-52 rather than a fighter jet. :-)

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

These are beautiful! My birder friend says that if it were easy to photograph birds, it'd be boring. And I have to agree that when you finally get a decent shot, it's quite the thrill :)

Turbo Loc: Raleigh, NC

Very nice and clear !

The first one has a piece of wing missing a bit. It is easy to fix in Photoshop.

If you like I can post the fix.

dave sproul Loc: Tucson AZ

Ok by me.
Would you also provide the general approach to fixing it?

Thanks

Turbo Loc: Raleigh, NC

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I used CS6 for adding material :

1. Re-crop and add a few % space.
2. Select the new ( blank) space using the magic wand.
3. Click on SELECT>MODIFY>EXPAND
4. Click on , say 20 pixel ( depending on the size of the original pic)
5. Click on : DELETE ( from your keyboard)
6. Click on: CONTENT AWARE
7. Click OK and enjoy the new filled area.

Modify as needed.

Then I re-opened the pic and used the RAW converter to sharpen and denoise a bit.

(Download)

bcheary Loc: Jacksonville, FL

Focus was much better on the barn owl.
:thumbup: :thumbup:

dave sproul Loc: Tucson AZ

Thank you for the process information

Tiny Tim Loc: Forest of the Pacific Northwest

Nice photos. I especially like the Barn Owl. Has anyone other than me noticed what sort of looks like a round black dart in the hawk's butt?

olcoach Loc: Oregon

Good shots,Dave. You've made a good start.

Photoman74 Loc: Conroe Tx

2 Very nice images #1 :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
#2 :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

dave sproul Loc: Tucson AZ

Thank you erery one for your comments. It helps to have feedback.

dave sproul Loc: Tucson AZ

Thank you every one for your comments. It helps to have feedback.

raymondh Loc: Walker, MI

Pretty solid, especially the owl! :thumbup:

RSpinney Loc: Maine

The photo I'm seeing seems to have a halo around the bird. I tend to get this when I use too much highlight.