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Nailing Diving Birds
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Mar 25, 2014 00:01:01   #
SharpShooter Loc: NorCal
 
amehta wrote:
I'm not using my old D700, I'll give you a good price. :-P
:lol: :lol: :lol:


Actually, I used to want one of those, but all I could afford was the D200.
But if it's really old and thrashed, there's a guy who lives up in the mountains that will give you top $$ for it. I have no idea what he does with all that ole rickety, outdated stuff!! :lol: :lol: :lol:
SS

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Mar 25, 2014 06:02:20   #
christofras Loc: Gold Coast Australia
 
tmrawshooter wrote:
WMarcoux and I were having a discussion earlier (Topic: Kingfisher) about how to best capture Kingfishers, Pelicans and other downward-diving fish-eating birds. The problem is how to keep track of them when they're making their final diving descent because thus far (and I'm new to this technique) the birds (Pelicans in my case) drop faster than I can keep track with hand-held camera & lens. (Canon 5DMII + 100-400 4.5L IS or 300 f4 L IS). I'm wondering if a gimbal head might help or am I destined to be outsmarted by those pesky pelicans? Help! I'm getting more pelican poop than pictures to be proud of!
WMarcoux and I were having a discussion earlier (T... (show quote)


Canon 1DX, 500mm f 2.8 lens (to avoid the crap) , Focus tracking, and practise.

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Mar 25, 2014 06:39:06   #
SharpShooter Loc: NorCal
 
christofras wrote:
Canon 1DX, 500mm f 2.8 lens (to avoid the crap) , Focus tracking, and practise.


Yes, I used to have one of those crappy Canon 500mm f4 lenses. But where does one get one of those fine 500mm f2.8's? Will I have to up my gym workouts just to be able to pick it up and get a BIF with it? :lol: :lol: :lol:
SS

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Mar 25, 2014 07:17:37   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
Lots of practice.

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Mar 25, 2014 07:18:58   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
tmrawshooter wrote:
WMarcoux and I were having a discussion earlier (Topic: Kingfisher) about how to best capture Kingfishers, Pelicans and other downward-diving fish-eating birds. The problem is how to keep track of them when they're making their final diving descent because thus far (and I'm new to this technique) the birds (Pelicans in my case) drop faster than I can keep track with hand-held camera & lens. (Canon 5DMII + 100-400 4.5L IS or 300 f4 L IS). I'm wondering if a gimbal head might help or am I destined to be outsmarted by those pesky pelicans? Help! I'm getting more pelican poop than pictures to be proud of!
WMarcoux and I were having a discussion earlier (T... (show quote)

How about using Liveview?

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Mar 25, 2014 08:12:47   #
Bogin Bob Loc: Tampa Bay, Florida
 
Sharpshooter - thanks for the tips. I am putting those tips in Evernote. Just started enjoying the 'thrill' of capturing diving birds and anticipating the plunge. Best take-away is to zoom out (but capture as large as camera allows) and use crop to zoom back in. I have a long way to go - but now I have a visual goal (your pics).

Thanks, Bob

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Mar 25, 2014 08:24:08   #
tmrawshooter Loc: Tampa, FL
 
I didn't know "Big Blue" Heron lived out west and I've been wanting to take a trip out towards the left side of the US for quite some time. I'll let you know when I'm on the road and you can leave the light on for me so we can go after the illusive and rarely seen "Desert pelican" together. (I saw them on Ancient Aliens not too long ago): Thanks again Sharpshooter!

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Mar 25, 2014 08:25:50   #
Swamp Gator Loc: Coastal South Carolina
 
SharpShooter wrote:
It terns out, those are great shots!! :lol:
SS


I love it when things tern out right!

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Mar 25, 2014 08:27:51   #
tmrawshooter Loc: Tampa, FL
 
I'm off computer for awhile - in search of some real-life poop dropping - dive bombing pelicans today. Wish me luck!

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Mar 25, 2014 08:40:12   #
Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga
 
I'm assuming you are upping the ISO to get faster shutter speeds/smaller apertures & doing judicious cropping as well ?... Oh, and a point about sharpness, many times it's a bit overrated... An image with a bit of motion blur often conveys a better story, but there are times when one or the other is preferable .

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Mar 25, 2014 08:54:41   #
Yooper 2 Loc: Ironwood, MI
 
For birds I use auto focus, Al Servo, burst mode, and hand hold.
Out of 20-30+ shots I might get 2 or 3 that I can use. It takes plenty of practice and a steady hand to get decent results. I find that putting my upper arms against my body helps greatly to steady the camera although I have to bend forward and backwards at the waist to track.

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Mar 25, 2014 09:19:18   #
joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois
 
tmrawshooter wrote:
WMarcoux and I were having a discussion earlier (Topic: Kingfisher) about how to best capture Kingfishers, Pelicans and other downward-diving fish-eating birds. The problem is how to keep track of them when they're making their final diving descent because thus far (and I'm new to this technique) the birds (Pelicans in my case) drop faster than I can keep track with hand-held camera & lens. (Canon 5DMII + 100-400 4.5L IS or 300 f4 L IS). I'm wondering if a gimbal head might help or am I destined to be outsmarted by those pesky pelicans? Help! I'm getting more pelican poop than pictures to be proud of!
WMarcoux and I were having a discussion earlier (T... (show quote)


Start by reducing the FL. The rest is practice.

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Mar 25, 2014 09:19:33   #
naturepics43 Loc: Hocking Co. Ohio - USA
 
tmrawshooter wrote:
WMarcoux and I were having a discussion earlier (Topic: Kingfisher) about how to best capture Kingfishers, Pelicans and other downward-diving fish-eating birds. The problem is how to keep track of them when they're making their final diving descent because thus far (and I'm new to this technique) the birds (Pelicans in my case) drop faster than I can keep track with hand-held camera & lens. (Canon 5DMII + 100-400 4.5L IS or 300 f4 L IS). I'm wondering if a gimbal head might help or am I destined to be outsmarted by those pesky pelicans? Help! I'm getting more pelican poop than pictures to be proud of!
WMarcoux and I were having a discussion earlier (T... (show quote)


The Pelican is too close to you! Pick a bird a further away. Practice with this distance until you get the desired result and then pick a bird a little closer, Etc. etc. until your tracking Pelicans that "fill the frame"

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Mar 25, 2014 09:23:29   #
bigwolf40 Loc: Effort, Pa.
 
Swamp Gator in short and not going into great detail YOU ARE GOOD just keep sending us your photos. Love the action...Rich

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Mar 25, 2014 09:40:03   #
Swamp Gator Loc: Coastal South Carolina
 
tmrawshooter wrote:
I'm off computer for awhile - in search of some real-life poop dropping - dive bombing pelicans today. Wish me luck!


Good luck, have fun, and wear a hat for those close-in poop dropping bombing runs.

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