Share Birds

[guava1950]

"What?!? D'you mind? I'm eatin' here!"

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American Goldfinch - G5 + 100-300

Nice capture and object isolation on that shot Scott.
Paul

 

[hoodlum]

The "hunt" could get frustrating....theres a killdeer that ive been trying to get a good shot of for a month now but have never managed. Ive have gone knee deep into a swap, endured horrendous bug bites and been late for work a few times, but the killdeer always wins. The sad thing is that killeeers are supposedly very common and found nesting on the streets, but ive never seen one outside the swamp land

They are not shy by us.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/42682747@N08/9410544957/" title="dscf4001raf-5 (2) by Stephen.Hood, on Flickr">

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"948" height="632" alt="dscf4001raf-5 (2)"></a>

 

[thelaxong]

Love this Scott. You definitely have to spend more time in this thread than the macro & bug threads

This bird does look like our white plumed honeyeater

"What?!? D'you mind? I'm eatin' here!"

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American Goldfinch - G5 + 100-300

 

[uci2ci]

Great killdeer shots guys...and no they seem less shy in your neck of the woods hoodlum

 

[scott]

Love this Scott. You definitely have to spend more time in this thread than the macro & bug threads

Thanks! But it's all about opportunity--I'd love to do more landscapes and travel photos, too, but I'm just trying to make the best of whatever time I get between work, domestic duties, and family life.

 

[ricseet]

"What?!? D'you mind? I'm eatin' here!"

Hi Scot, excellent shot! Sharp image and lovely isolation.
Agree with Lax!

 

[LowTEC]

View attachment 295096
Untitled by Dennis Chau Photo Collection, on Flickr

View attachment 295097
Seeing Myself by Dennis Chau Photo Collection, on Flickr

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OMD09820-LR4 by Dennis Chau Photo Collection, on Flickr

View attachment 295099
Bald Eagle by Dennis Chau Photo Collection, on Flickr

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OMD00038-LR4-2 by Dennis Chau Photo Collection, on Flickr

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Untitled by Dennis Chau Photo Collection, on Flickr

View attachment 295102
OMD09816-LR4 by Dennis Chau Photo Collection, on Flickr

View attachment 295103
Air Patrol by Dennis Chau Photo Collection, on Flickr

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OMD06349-LR4-2 by Dennis Chau Photo Collection, on Flickr

View attachment 295105
OMD07576-LR5 by Dennis Chau Photo Collection, on Flickr

 

[ricseet]

Excellent series. Lovely colors n details.

 

[kriskerry91]

Agreed, amazing series, great detail and colour!

 

[jrsilva]

View attachment 295143
Untitled by Dennis Chau Photo Collection, on Flickr

Excellente set!!
Sharp, good composition and well isolated.

 

[tradesmith45]

View attachment 295146
Seeing Myself by Dennis Chau Photo Collection, on Flickr

View attachment 295147
Air Patrol by Dennis Chau Photo Collection, on Flickr

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Satelites by Dennis Chau Photo Collection, on Flickr

Really nice work Dennis! Certainly shows the value of the shallow DOF from shooting the 75mm wide open. And your field craft is just awesome to get so close!

Got a couple questions about these 3 that would be helpful. The close up of the Mallard's eyes sure shows how useful the very short min. focus of the 100-300 can be. Flickr says this was shot @ ISO 2500 but there's so little noise showing. Is the EXIF data wrong? What noise reduction did you use in PP?

The BIF of the hawk is terrific. I especially like the Air Patrol. Did you crop these 2 any/much? Did you use AF or MF? Can you tell us helpful tips about your shooting work flow for these?

Thanks so much!

 

[thelaxong]

Excellent set. Especially BIF. Thanks for sharing.

View attachment 295154
Satelites by Dennis Chau Photo Collection, on Flickr

 

[guava1950]

Excellent series. Lovely colors n details.

Excellent!!

 

[guava1950]

Common tern chicks - Nickerson Beach
E-M5 Nikon 500 f4

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"1024" height="799" alt="Common tern chicks - Nickerson Beach"></a>[/IMG]

Feed ME!

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"1024" height="738" alt="Common tern - Nickerson Beach"></a>[/IMG]

FEED ME!! FEED ME!!

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"1024" height="778" alt="Common tern chicks - Nickerson Beach"></a>[/IMG]

 

[LowTEC]

Really nice work Dennis! Certainly shows the value of the shallow DOF from shooting the 75mm wide open. And your field craft is just awesome to get so close!

Got a couple questions about these 3 that would be helpful. The close up of the Mallard's eyes sure shows how useful the very short min. focus of the 100-300 can be. Flickr says this was shot @ ISO 2500 but there's so little noise showing. Is the EXIF data wrong? What noise reduction did you use in PP?

The BIF of the hawk is terrific. I especially like the Air Patrol. Did you crop these 2 any/much? Did you use AF or MF? Can you tell us helpful tips about your shooting work flow for these?

Thanks so much!

Thank you guys for such great compliments, totally unexpected :smile:

First of all, I got my best photos mostly from the 75mm. It is one incredible and versatile lens, it is so sharp, I would dare to say this is one of, if not the sharpest lens (wide open) on this planet. There are lenses out there that comes close but none of them can do that at 1.8 :tongue: The isolation is unmatched in M4/3 lineup, bokeh is smooth, color is beautiful, I can't stress how godly this lens is. It has got enough resolution detail that I actually use it as my semi close range birding lens. And nope, it is not long enough (neither is a 600mm equiv.) but it is so sharp, I can crop my photos at 100% expanded rate and it still comes out sharper than most 300+mm zoom lenses out there. Like this one

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, on Flickr
THE only complain about this lens is it has one of the worst magnification rate of any lens , something like 1:11. So it is basically useless for shooting butterflies or dragonflies despite with the ultimate sharpness

Yes, the 100-300 has a much better magnification rate than the 75 and it has its place. I double checked my RAW and the Mallard shot was indeed shot at 2500. I didn't pick ISO 2500 but I did put in manual to ensure I shot at 1/400 and at sharpest aperture of the lens which is f8. I used LR4 or 5 to PP the photo and turned the NR to reasonably high to get rid of the noise. Masking the sharpening is also the key, I had it at 75 to ensure I sharpen the feather but not the background noise. For OMD, IMHO ISO2500 is as high as I would go for birding, because I like to see the eyelashes of them in every single shot

And about the BIF, I did in fact cropped them big time (as usual for any birding shots) . The shots are actually pretty poor (no eyelashes). I have to confest those 2 shots were the only ones that were shot with my Sony A55 with a VERY cheap and SUPER slow screw AF motor Tamron 70-300mm zoom and were
shot in my early birding attempt. Despite with the ultra slow and forever hunting AF, I hadn't learn to use MF back then. The lens was blur after 180mm, but was the lighting, timing, the wind that helped holding the hawk in mid air almost stationary, right above me, at perfect angle of light, and position of the moon. I bet my OMD setup can do alot better now but I have yet able to meet such perfect moment again.

Lastly, for my short tips, shoot at 1/400 or faster (bird moves fast), shoot at the lens tack sharp aperture (check SLRgear.com for that), let the ISO run but no higher than 2500 (OMD, EPL5). If you can't meet all 3, get a strong flash with extender. Happy shooting!

 

[thelaxong]

^^^^ Excellent tips. Thanks again for sharing the 'insider information'

 

[jrsilva]

LowTEC ,
Thank you for the tips
Again, great shots!
Very inspiring.

 

[ricseet]

Hi Low, we appreciate you sharing your shooting n PPing techniques. Been meaning to buy the 75 mm for portrait but both Paul n You have convienced me to buy this lens for birding. For the long end I have to stick the 100-300 until domething better comes along.
Wishing ALL a Happy Weekend n happy shooting
Ric

 

[Maczero]

It looks to me Mac that you are doing pretty well with BIF. The next challenge for you is to catch one (or more) doing some chasing and catching (more active than gliding and cruising).

OK. I thought I'd give that challenge a try. The swallows by us have hatched their broods and are feeding like mad before they fly south. It stopped raining today, so I thought I'd give it a go. Here are a few heavily cropped.

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None are exhibition standard, but considering the problem I had getting them into the viewfinder, let alone tracking them, this is a start I am reasonably happy with. All OM-D and 75-300 Mk 1. In manual, ISO 400 9-box area focus SAF-M.

 

[uci2ci]

Another great set paul. I cant get enough of these tern chicks

Common tern chicks - Nickerson Beach
E-M5 Nikon 500 f4