I missed the shot...
Sitting outside on my patio, sweet light time, had my D7000 +70-300mm f4-5.6 on one chair, OM-D + 45mm f1.8 (90mm FF EFV) on the other chair, and working on an email. Suddenly I hear subtle sounds, and sensed big movement out of the corner of my eye. On the fence to the south in my yard, A Red Tailed Hawk, just missed one of those little birds that come here this time of day to drink from the fountain. WOA! Predator alert! Wow he’s big! I reached out and grabbed the D7000 camera OUTCH outch outch ... recent stitches, hurt!! Art requires sacrifice. I mashed the back FOCUS button and literally fired a shot as I was raising it to my eye. Then he flew. GONE. I looked at the shot and I am not thrilled with the result. I was woefully ignorant of the situation. I could have gotten a good shot had I been paying attention. BAD photographer. BAD BAD photographer.
For every hundred shots I take, 5 go in to the folder called keepers. The best shot is seldom the first shot of any creature in nature, but not until the guy behind the camera has a chance to think behind the camera, something like, 'Oh, this little finch want to pose for me, that its, compose it right, focus, now birdie smile at the camera'
1 in 20 are keepers so I take a hundred a day. Bad . . . no just excited about what will happen in the next 20th of a second.
I have blown so many shots simply because the scene playing out was so interesting.
My keeper rate is around 10%. My truly proud rate is a lot closer to 2%.
Jon and Joe! 2% is pretty good for digital IMHO! 5% is great.
Thanks guys.
For myself I have found that photography is a jealous mistress, she doses not do well when I am paying attention to anything else. If I ever, meaning very very rarely capture anything of value while not focused solely on her I am a happy camper for days.
JD750 wrote:
Jon and Joe! 2% is pretty good for digital IMHO! 5% is great.
Thanks guys.
JD750 wrote:
Sitting outside on my patio, sweet light time, had my D7000 +70-300mm f4-5.6 on one chair, OM-D + 45mm f1.8 (90mm FF EFV) on the other chair, and working on an email. Suddenly I hear subtle sounds, and sensed big movement out of the corner of my eye. On the fence to the south in my yard, A Red Tailed Hawk, just missed one of those little birds that come here this time of day to drink from the fountain. WOA! Predator alert! Wow he’s big! I reached out and grabbed the D7000 camera OUTCH outch outch ... recent stitches, hurt!! Art requires sacrifice. I mashed the back FOCUS button and literally fired a shot as I was raising it to my eye. Then he flew. GONE. I looked at the shot and I am not thrilled with the result. I was woefully ignorant of the situation. I could have gotten a good shot had I been paying attention. BAD photographer. BAD BAD photographer.
Sitting outside on my patio, sweet light time, ha... (
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We're you stoned when you missed it , and it flew right by , they also sang a song. Silvaes mother ,I forget the name of the band,
AndyH
Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire
Agreed. 5% top notch is in Adams territory....
Andy
C6Joe
Loc: NorthWestern Nevada
IBM wrote:
We're you stoned when you missed it , and it flew right by , they also sang a song. Silvaes mother ,I forget the name of the band,
Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show, from Sloppy Seconds. Great album! Many of their songs were penned by the great (sic) Shel Silverstein. I had the pleasure of MC'ing one of their concerts, many years ago!
Gene51
Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
AndyH wrote:
Agreed. 5% top notch is in Adams territory....
Andy
Don'tcha love it when someone brags about his 95% keeper rate?
Yes, the same guy who gets all perfect SOOC photos.
Gene51 wrote:
Don'tcha love it when someone brags about his 95% keeper rate?
Shootist wrote:
For myself I have found that photography is a jealous mistress, she doses not do well when I am paying attention to anything else. If I ever, meaning very very rarely capture anything of value while not focused solely on her I am a happy camper for days.
Love the analogy with a jealous mistress. It's right on!!
We all miss the shot. Some thing takes our eye off the subject!
Lady Luck hangs out at casinos and gambling parlors, but she has a sister who haunts photographers.
Sorry about your luck, JD. Does prove how Mom Nature really has no interest in posing!! We have to be ready and quick! And a bit lucky!!!
birdpix
Loc: South East Pennsylvania
JD750 wrote:
Sitting outside on my patio, sweet light time, had my D7000 +70-300mm f4-5.6 on one chair, OM-D + 45mm f1.8 (90mm FF EFV) on the other chair, and working on an email. Suddenly I hear subtle sounds, and sensed big movement out of the corner of my eye. On the fence to the south in my yard, A Red Tailed Hawk, just missed one of those little birds that come here this time of day to drink from the fountain. WOA! Predator alert! Wow he’s big! I reached out and grabbed the D7000 camera OUTCH outch outch ... recent stitches, hurt!! Art requires sacrifice. I mashed the back FOCUS button and literally fired a shot as I was raising it to my eye. Then he flew. GONE. I looked at the shot and I am not thrilled with the result. I was woefully ignorant of the situation. I could have gotten a good shot had I been paying attention. BAD photographer. BAD BAD photographer.
Sitting outside on my patio, sweet light time, ha... (
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The hawk may have been reacting to the sudden movement of your reaching for the camera. When ever I find myself in that type of a situation, I find that a slow reaction, without looking directly at the bird often (not always) results in the bird staying put longer. I do think the birds watch your eyes as I have often noted that, if you stare at them and then look away for one second, that is when they fly. If you don't look directly at them, they may think that you haven't seen them and not perceive you as a threat.
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