How do some of you do it? (Page 5): ========================== Yep... Small one here as well - Same settings on this one a little different edits.....

James R. Kyle Loc: Saint Louis, Missouri (A Suburb of Ferguson)

bigwolf40 wrote:

Ok I got it and it's a good shot. I don't see to many large birds so most of my shots are when the small ones are not moving...Rich

==========================

Yep... Small one here as well -

Same settings on this one a little different edits.....

(Download)

Psergel Loc: New Mexico

Psergel wrote:

BTW
It doesn't hurt to sort of hook up with a local "birding" group. Those folks with the spotting scopes. reference books and notepads.
Some of them can be a little intense about their hobby but....so can we.

Another BTW
Take a look at a device called "Better Beamer". It's a fresnel lens that mounts out in front of your flash. It concentrates and "throws" the beam further than the flash alone can do.
This is great for getting the little buggers when they are perched in deep shade. which is often the case.
Best thing is.....it's pretty inexpensive.

wotsmith Loc: Nashville TN

Steve Perry wrote:

Lots of good advice in this thread. It really does... (show quote)

WOW! I love'em

DerBiermeister Loc: North of Richmond VA

Steve Perry wrote:

Lots of good advice in this thread. It really does... (show quote)

wow ...... just WOW

DerBiermeister Loc: North of Richmond VA

James R wrote:

This.... br br Canon 5D Mark II br Tamron 150-600... (show quote)

A spectacular eagle shot for sure :thumbup: :thumbup:

Past Pro Loc: Spring Hill, Florida

jerryc41 wrote:

I don't even try - much too challenging. I like landscapes. They don't move, and if they do, I have other things to worry about.

Ditto!

DerBiermeister Loc: North of Richmond VA

wotsmith wrote:

Hey DB,
well you have arrived at the dilemma I faced a few years ago. I kept looking at photos on Art Morris' website: birdsasart.com and wondering, how did he do that? I could not afford his workshops so I kept wondering. I did find a workshop in Costa Rica that I could afford with Greg Bosco, and later met him and Doug Brown in NM on an other workshop.

Here is what I learned. Most small bird photos are shot hand held, because they are just too quick, and even with a excellent tripod and the best gimboled head, I can't get it on target quick enough. I do use a tripod every chance I get, but it is way less than 50% of the time in bird photography and zero percent when shooting BIF. But there is hope! and in a environment that has a high bird density, setups can be great.

I ran into to Alan Murphy one day in NM and he had made some setups for raptors, and he let me shoot over his shoulder and I got some great shots. Alan has some videos on how to make setups that will bring birds to where you want them. So with a setup, you manually focus on a flower or perch, be on a tripod, maybe set up some flash and sit and wait for a bird to come. Check out his website for setup videos. Yes, you have to buy them.

In Costa Rica, when photographing hummingbirds, the density of birds was so great that I manually focused on a flower with the camera on a tripod and just shot when a bird was at the flower. There were so many birds, I shot about 750 frames per hour; trashed most, but I have a portfolio of winners.

I have the good fortune of having a wife who likes to travel and is a good photographer. So we travel a lot, mostly to photograph birds. We are currently in Mexico headed to Holbox island and we should get to see herons, flamingos, and other water birds. I try to find a "birder" at each location we visit, and learn about the local birds and where to find them. I do shoot prime telephotos, usually with flash and a better beamer to put a little light on the bird, but I try not to have a "flashed" look. Sometimes I shoot from a car with a beanbag on the window, but mostly walking and looking. If you can travel, find areas of high bird concentrations so it does not get boring. During migration there are a lot of places like that. If you can't afford to travel, find some birders and ask where to see good stuff. Gene51 who lives in NYC posted some fantastic Eagle photos, so I asked were in Alaska did you get that, Ha, he got them just a few miles out of NYC on the Hudson river. So... you don't have to go to crazy places to get good bird photography.

I got a lot of excellent photos on a trip to the coast of Texas (High Island) during migration. Prior to the trip I had hopes of a good photo of a painted Bunting. Finally I saw one for about 15 seconds. The shot is attached; but if I had tried to use a tripod I never would have made it. One last thing: shoot at the highest frame rate you camera body will go. For each of the posted photos, I probably shot 10-20 frames since the 1DX will shoot about 10/sec. That way you get choices in head and wing position and maybe some are in better focus than others. Head and wing position can make the difference between trash an a winner. Good luck and most of all shoot a lot of frames.

Hey DB, br well you have arrived at the dilemma I ... (show quote)

:thumbup: :thumbup:

great shots too!

James R. Kyle Loc: Saint Louis, Missouri (A Suburb of Ferguson)

Past Pro wrote:

Ditto!

++++++++++++++++++++

Landscapes are Really what I like....

AND I do prefer to convert a LOT of them to "Shades of Gray".... (B&W).....

Example below.

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

Steve Perry wrote:

Lots of good advice in this thread. It really does... (show quote)

Good stuff! :thumbup:

Al Bruton

Patience, a good long lens, knowing the subject behaviour, a tripod or monopod, luck and if you have it on your camera -back button focus.

jrb1213 Loc: McDonough GEorgia

Right time
right place
right equipment
right skill level
All require much time to learn. That is the beauty of digital. Take a shot, inspect it adjust your settings take another shot. If you are near the coast practice on seagulls in parking lots. Nearer home practice on pigeons. The old saying is as true for photography as anything else, Practice Practice Practice. (but also evaluate and adjust). When I think I have a decent shot I post it here on the BIF page or the True Macro page and take the critiques and apply them.

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

DerBiermeister wrote:

I am specifically talking about capturing those fantastically sharp photos of zoomed-in birds (filling most of the image), that appear to be taken in wooded areas.

Assuming each shot took a fair amount of time to compose, and also probable use of a tripod -- how do you know the bird is going be on that specific branch at that time? My experience is that birds don't stay in one spot for more than a few seconds.

I don't do many bird shots - it just never interested me much.
However the other I did a few and I knew that birds would be at that spot so it was wait, be quiet and shoot what I can. I got lucky but that doesn't happen very often.

the f/stops here Loc: New Mexico

DerBiermeister wrote:

I am specifically talking about capturing those fantastically sharp photos of zoomed-in birds (filling most of the image), that appear to be taken in wooded areas.

Assuming each shot took a fair amount of time to compose, and also probable use of a tripod -- how do you know the bird is going be on that specific branch at that time? My experience is that birds don't stay in one spot for more than a few seconds.

No tricks involved, just a lot of practice and some acquired knowledge. If you belong to a camera club and if there are individuals that do wildlife photography in the club, ask them if you could join them. They'll probably be happy for company. Learn different techniques from different photographers. If you have any wildlife refuges near you, see if any wildlife photographic workshops happen there and who to contact. Books can be helpful but people can assist you on a one-to-one basis. Individuals can also let you try or even loan you equipment. Best from New Mexico, J. Goffe

Macronaut Loc: Redondo Beach,Ca.

the f/stops here wrote:

No tricks involved, just a lot of practice and som... (show quote)

Good advice. I might add to read and post questions here http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-112-1.html

twhrider Loc: Indiana

Kuzano wrote:

Taxidermist! The bird is always where you put it! Stays right there. Otherwise thousands of dollars of gear and camo equipment.

The stuffed animal is much cheaper. Also the zoo, and game preserves.

Zoos....yes! I cheat every chance I get. :D

It's a lot easier to get close to kept birds.

(Download)

This golden eagle is at the AEF sanctuary. I was careful, but the lady did tell me that "Ummm....she can get you from there...."

(Download)

And yes, sometimes food helps.

(Download)