Quite unexpectedly, to me, this osprey showed up at a local golf course lake and gave me a wonderful opportunity to finally get a shot of their power dive to catch a fish. Ultimately he was unsuccessful, but it wasn't for lack of trying!

This was the crop I put up to our birder Facebook group. I may back off a bit and try different aspects for a final print. Also, Topaz Sharpen AI using the "focus" mode was a great help for this extreme crop.


https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50186619703_8d62b255f2_o.jpgOsprey_CBGC_03Aug2020 by Marshall Smith, on Flickr


Here is the original image:


https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50188484221_a572495515_o.jpgDD0A4275A by Marshall Smith, on Flickr


I shot for as long and as fast as my camera would go, and have the entire sequence from the semi-hover to the dive, the splash and water struggle, and finally the flyaway afterwards without the fish. One poster to the birder group said that only about one in seven osprey dives is successful.

I'll try to put together a Flickr album showing more images of the action sequence and will post the link.


Marshall

159 "hits" for Airequipt slide projector on eBay.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1311.R1.TR2.TRC1.A0.H1.TRS0&_nkw=airequipt+slide+projector&_sacat=0

Hopefully what you need will be in there somewhere.

Marshall

A screen shot of your image input to my phone app, Merlin Bird ID, and using Seattle as the location came up with Orange-crowned Warbler.

Good job. Pretty bird!

Marshall

The virus is a hawk:

https://tinyurl.com/y228evwn

Excellent, Kmgw9v!

For those not movie buffs, or old enough:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KekChFdIe00

Marshall

Anyone had any experiences with one of these? Saw a video person using something similar at an event but didn't get a chance to ask about it.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1511032-REG/zhiyun_tech_weebill_s_handheld_stabilizer.html

LOL! I was definitely going to challenge this, but you beat me to it. And cats, too!

That's interesting, we never heard that it was toxic, either. Invasive, maybe, but not poisonous. Many years ago we visited Jefferson's Monticello and bought a Golden Rain Tree seedling from there, brought it back to KY, and planted it. It grew OK for several years, but never got old enough to develop flowers or pods, and was finally killed when we had a bad summer drought.

Here is an interesting link, written by a KY gardener:

https://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/koelreuteria-paniculata-the-golden-rain-tree-friend-or-foe

Also found this link from the UK, about a similar plant/tree with a more sinister reputation:

https://blog.primrose.co.uk/2017/06/23/laburnum-the-deadly-tree/


Marshall

That is a Golden Rain Tree (Koelreuteria paniculata), and those seed pods certainly do look like Japanese lanterns.

A family of Green Herons nested in the top of one at our local park pond a couple of years ago, and I did some research on the name then.

Marshall

I'll second Paul's comments about the usefulness of a second card slot. I've had several instances of being caught unawares of not having more cards with me. Not a world-shattering loss in any case, but the fact that I had filled a card and was still shooting meant that there were some interesting possibilities still waiting.

When I get back to the computer I ingest the SD card via computer slot. The CF card is rarely even removed from my camera, and reformatted there before the next shoot.

Marshall

I was sitting in my car, watching a woodpecker nest, and this Eastern Wood Pewee stopped by to check me out.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50106104908_d39bb91072_o.jpgEasternWoodPewee11Jul2020 by Marshall Smith, on Flickr


Marshall

The "D" in the OP's original question is worrying.

There is a Canon M5 and there is a Canon 5D (I,II,III,or IV), but I don't think there is a Canon M 5D.

Hope the OP gets what he thinks he's getting.

Marshall

If limeybiker is from the UK, then this bird of prey may be what they call a Common Buzzard.

Check out this YouTube video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MGzoiXUKbo

Marshall

Congratulations on being asked to be part of what should be a fun and exciting project!

Keep it fun, be flexible, take a lot of shots, don't be shy about cropping to a better composition when back at the computer, and explain to your friend that you are in training, too, and that the project might require more than one session.

Here is a link to one of my last discdog event shoots, in 2014, and some comments about it that might help you. A click on a particular photo will bring up the shooting info.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/78687170@N00/albums/72157645952844163/with/14738997935/

Uncluttered backgrounds are best, not always possible at a chain-link enclosed event, but you should be able to find a good location. Eye level with the dog was good, too, but sometimes a higher vantage point would allow me to fill the frame with ground and eliminate the chain-link.

I shot almost exclusively with a 100-400mm zoom lens, handheld, sitting on a low lunch bucket cooler, with my elbows braced on my knees. Too much was happening to use a tripod, or even a monopod, but I was steadier back then, too. lol!

The dogs were my primary interest, but the handlers were imporant to the story, also. High Speed Continuous, Auto ISO, shutter speed around 1/1600 unless panning. Took a lot of shots, reviewed and culled afterwards in post.

My advice, at least for the first session, would be to find a good location, just sit and take pictures while your friend and his dogs do their thing around you. Then put them up in an album someplace, look at them together with your friend, and plan your next session based on comments from your friend.

Good luck, and put up some shots for us to see,

Marshall

Those really bring back memories! Always misplacing the key...

Found a pair at a flea market years ago. Turned out they were made by the Winchester Arms Company, which made household items, too.

https://centerofthewest.org/tag/winchester-roller-skates/

Marshall