A little bit of Prime Time
Hello.
Well today, I was to meet some insurance guys at a property here in Menai Bridge but it has been cancelled until tomorrow. So, what to do? Paperwork or a spot of Bird Watching.....Guess which won!!! Lol
I have been looking at the "Web Book" post by Ian Wilson and I thought I would try out some of the tips I read in that fascinating publication. So Camera in hand along with my new 400mm Prime lens, off I went to the "Skinnies" bird hides just outside of Bangor.
Cheers.
So to start with, some fairly easy shots. These are all taken close to the feeders on the site. I wait and see the perches that the birds use before going onto the feeders. This Blue Tit awaits his turn before going on.
A male chaffinch also waits.
The female too. I think you may agree that shots like this instead of them actually ON the feeders, do look more natural.
A Great Tit also waits his turn.
This Greenfinch looks almost red in the sunshine
Here, the same bird in different light.
A little Wren was seen in the undergrowth, they usually pop up to have a look around before going close to the ground again.
So off he flies and gets back down to ground level.
I go round to the other hide (there are two here). The sun is now behind me
and to my delight, the Egrets are very busy flying here, there and everywhere
A good time to practice those "in-flight" shots that I read about in that Web Book Ian went on about.
All these shots, (well most of them) were taken at 1/1000th of a sec, well within the reach of most Bridge cameras.
I think the only advantage the DSLR has over the Bridge Camera is the shots per second that are acheivable.
This series of shots were taken at 7 shots per second.
I think you will agree that they are "frozen" well enough for this type of shot.
Another Egret comes in, watched by a Heron
Which leads me onto my next task. The Herons in flight. Here we see one lurking around looking for food
In the distance, another one flies by.
They seem to be coming from all directions
Even one catching me by surprise. That's the trouble with a prime lens, sometimes, it's just too big!!!
One comes into land rather clumsily
When another makes a very graceful attempt at landing. Notice how "thin" a Heron actually is, most of him is wing!!! Take the wings off a Heron and you are left with a rather "Skinny" bird indeed.
Another one lands close by
Another capture of a Heron coming towards me. These shots were taken on "auto-focus" with centre spot focus.
So if the bird if flying away from you or towards you as this one is....As soon as you hear the peep, get that shutter pressed because withing a 1/4 of a sec, it will be out of focus.
When the birds have actually landed as here, you have longer to take the shot but try to get a good "pose" Again, at 7 shots per sec, you can pick and choose when you get back to your PC
Once the bird has landed, you have a lot more time to compose a shot, I always like to see the bird "looking" into frame, as this one shows.
Panning can be tricky but with some practice, you can get some good results. By the way, most of the birds in this set, apart from Tits and Finches, were about 200yards away and the shots cropped to suit.
So shots coming towards me done, trying out some flying "away" now, once focus is achieved, get that shutter pressed. At this distance, you do have a little more time but over half a second, you will have lost focus.
Here, look at the legs.....that's where the focus was set.
Here again, focus is set on the legs.
With the bird coming towards you, try to focus on the face and eyes, that's what folk look at and is usually the "centre of attention" in most cases.
In this shot, I cropped and kept the reflection in. Again focus is on the face. So that's my practice over for today. Not too much success with the panning but I am working on that. When I feel confident enough to put up some panning shots, I will.
Back at the other hide, I close all the shutters and tidy up but not before I capture this Mallard coming in with the sun behind him.
So there we are, an "off-chance" day off work put to good use. I am still getting used to this new lens, it weight and getting used to working hand-held. Panning still needs some work. Straight forward shots, I am more than pleased with.
I hope that you enjoyed my day off and that you liked the shots. As I said, most were taken at 1/1000th of a sec, so well within the capabilities of a good Bridge Camera.
I hope you picked up a few tips that I myself picked up from the Web Book posted by Ian.
Thanks for popping by.
Cheers.
- Steve Ransome's blog
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So you got it saved eventually. Worth the effort. Really cracking photographs. Crisp and sharp and good enough for any professional publication. You have set a high standard.
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It's not finished yet!!!!!! Still doing it John. cheers M8y
Steve
My gallery: http://www.myfinepix.com/gallery/117
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hi steve i bet you were pleased that a spot of bird watching won what a cracking set of photos superb
tony
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fabulous absolutely gorgeous stuff
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Very impressive Steve. And such a variety.
I came across 3 egrets on Saturday not realising what they were I thought they were gulls,'till they flew off.
Monty.
http://www.myfinepix.co.uk/competition/entry/469385
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Great set of pics Steve - really liked the last one!
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A great set of photos Steve...very well done.
Incidentally we saw a Red kite over Huby today (near Knaresborough)...didn't know we had them here. No photo though ...I was busy driving at the time.
Jim
Contrast Competition Entry: http://www.myfinepix.co.uk/competition/en
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Great shots Steve,glad you like the web book
Flickr Page
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What a great time you had Steve and got some brilliant shots too!
A Heron flew over my garden today, no camera to hand, just a blink and he was gone, probably eyeing up somebody's garden pond and fish!
Maybe I should wear a camera on my head. lol
Mwah
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My sharing memories comp entry~on theme but not outstanding
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Certainly more productive than pushing paper Steve that's for sure!
Great stuff, particulary like the Egret shots.
Well done mate, now back to work tomorrow
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glad photography won, some super shots Steve and some good info as well, thanks
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They say people deserve what they get and I'm sure you do, practise makes perfect and you can't get more perfect than that apart from the one Heron surprise shot But! we forgive you that one lol. I would love to have taken one of your photo's m8 Brilliant all rounder that's you, a like from me, best regards you are the tops, Leon.
http://www.myfinepix.com/blog/460168/615788 ancient village Mayfield.
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So size does matter then Steve. Well done mate great shots.
Dave.
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Wonderful bird shots Steve. Looks like you're getting the hang of that mighty impressive piece of kit you've got. Lovely natural nature photography. Thanks for sharing Steve. Alison x
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wonderful blog !!!!!!
Every day is a new beginning enjoy yours............
and if you can or even want to - be polite, respectful and helpful in your comments...........be clear - nuances of speech and facial expressions cannot come over in writing
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Ooooh Alison !! you say the nicest things to Steve !
Glad your still enjoying that new lens Steve.
Aut inveniam viam aut faciam
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Hi M8T you are certainly getting to grips with this lens and Ghoosh it shows to a briillant blog Steve and like has been mentioned so sharp. Steve you never disappoint with your photoblogs and long may it continue take care M8T will speak to you soon best wishes BoB.
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Great blog Steve. My fave shots are the big one of the Heron in flight and the Mallard at the end, but they are all crackers. You certainly are getting the hang of that prime.
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I have a photographic memory. Unfortunately I forgot to remove the lens cap!
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Absolutely brilliant! However, I have rumbled your secret Mr Ransome. It is this. You know what you're doing!
Jan.
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What a great way to make up for a cancelled meet, love how you catch these birds inflight, I'm sure my s4000 does around 7shots per second I will check later, really like this blog very informative as I'm not very good with birds lol big big like
thats much better than the one i took
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Hi Steve,
Beautiful blog, some really lovely pics in there.
Jean
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Cracking shots Steve, that little wren is adorable
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Wow Steve, great set of pics. Glad I'm not the only one having trouble loading blogs, over 4 hours on my latest 'Portmeirion' blog.
Mike
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A terrific blog Steve with a great set of images. Well done and thanks for posting.
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Brilliant blog Steve.
All sharp clear photos - brilliant action shots of the Egrets.
Looks like that lens is worth every penny paid!
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Excellent blog as always, Steve! Very educational with good tips for most of us that need a bit of help! Glad the birds won out over doing paperwork! Thanks for sharing...
Eleanor
Dogwood Bloom - http://www.myfinepix.com/gallery/381734/618467
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I am wondering which camera you have used to shoot these wonderfull pictures! I am affraid i never can reach that level of quality with my X-S1; is it a DSLR you are using for this Steve?
Most of the pictures look stunning. Very well done Sir!
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Some belting shots there Steve, what's the 400mm your using? Got a chance of the Sigama 50-500, would suit me better than a prime. That 400mm certainly produces a sharp image, watch your highlights though...
Stu.
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Great stuff Steve!
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superb my friend ! one tip tho try using evf and under exposing by 1/3 of a sto or even 1 on the birds that are pedominantly white then you'll retain the detail
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Yeah yeah, show off... Pah!
I've decided I'm REALLY not happy with my 100-300 lens, the shots I'm getting through it all seem to have a bluish tinge, and sem to be on the soft side
Just can't afford to replace it at the moment...
Have a nosey at this lady's birds / bird in flight pictures
Kaz
Be yourself. Above all, let who you are, what you are, what you believe, shine through every sentence you write, every piece you finish. John Jakes
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Great blog, action packed! With bridge camera there is shutter- lag which is frustrating.Fantastic job with new prime lens.Looking forward to see more action& more species.Thanks for sharing.
I had been to your flicker a/c & had great time looking at photos of Spain,feathered friends & Squirrels-Great gallery.
This time will pass.
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Ah thanks Pinakin. Glad you liked the Flickr stuff. The photos are bigger on there and I like the slide-show facility.
Cheers.
Steve
My gallery: http://www.myfinepix.com/gallery/117
My Photoblogs: http://www.myfinepix.com/blog/117
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great blog steve one day i will get flying birdies like these
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Great stuff, Steve - a pleasure to view.
Best regards, Steve
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Great stuff Steve.
I see that, like me, you're having a bit of a problem with the harsh sunlight at the mo', great for upping the shutter speed but still blowing the whites. Ah well....still better than being stuck indoors 'cos of the rain....lol.
Liked.
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Such a wonderful set of photos Steve, Thanks for sharing them with us. I wish I had your talent. Pam x
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Wtg Steve...loved the shots....not that good at capturing them in flight....hopefully with the new camera i be better lol ....thank you for sharing xx:-)
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Great use of your time. I agree, paperwork should come second!! Great blog with a wide variety of shots. A like from me.
Ray
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Super blog steve. Really enjoyed it
Martin
Regards
Martin
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I'm speechless. They are just amazing! And you know what, you're kind of rubbing salt to injury when you call some of your shots "easy peasy"!
Bryan L.
"Few Women Admit Their Age, Few Men Act Theirs."
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I really can't add anything new, Steve. Great blog--I was especially pleased to see the wren. They are such chipper little birds. As for the heron, we have one (or more) harrassing the fish in our pond. Although I had to scare it away two days ago, I grabbed my camera on the way out the door. Of course, the bird flew off when it heard the door knob turn. I "liked."
judypw
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Hi Steve,
these shots are quite simply `stunning` the clarity is outstanding, the shot of the mallard coming in to land was breathtaking, you have a great camera and lens my friend, i used to have a canon 60d but had to sell it last october due to serious health problems at the time, i have had the canon eos 20d, 5d, 400d, 450d, 500d, 550d, 60d and a lttle Canon A640 since 2005, at the moment i have a canon powershot sx40 hs with a stupendous 35x fixed zoom lens which equates to being 24mm to 840mm the lens is astonishing Steve, it can capture almost anything you want, its picture quality is fabulous for it being a `bridge` camera, unfortuanately it cannot match the eos slr`s picture quality but is a happy compromise at the moment, although i have a fantastic little fujifilm f600 exr digital cam Canon will still be my number one favourit brand, i am getting better now by the day and have set my sights on the hopefully up and coming eos 70d i know i am gonna buy it lololo, i have kept my lenses so the Canon 70d body will do, anyhow thanks for your nice comments on my recent posting `Auld Alloway Kirk` steve and would appreciate it if you would look and comment on some of my other pictures in my gallery if you want especially my cat pictures, well thanks for reading this Steve, happy snapping my friend and keep them bird shots coming.
Allan.
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