Messages

46

Animal Kingdom / Re: Avian Pox

« on: April 14, 2013, 12:21:03 PM »

And another one......

47

Animal Kingdom / Re: Avian Pox

« on: April 14, 2013, 12:20:21 PM »

Another one....

48

Animal Kingdom / Avian Pox and other Illnesses

« on: April 14, 2013, 12:17:06 PM »

Hi,
pretty gruesome I know but I have a few new shots of a great tit in my garden that has the Avian Pox.
Any donations made I will surely pass on for his medical bills..........

As if life isn't hard enough already. Poor thing?

Cheers

49

Animal Kingdom / Re: MY dog

« on: April 14, 2013, 06:37:39 AM »

Chops, that's cool how you can just lift him straight up by his lips!   

Looks more like his nostril hair to me 

50

Animal Kingdom / Re: MY dog

« on: April 14, 2013, 06:33:49 AM »

Dave the BC:

Canon 5DIII EF 100-400.

51

Animal Kingdom / Re: Show your Bird Portraits

« on: April 14, 2013, 06:28:31 AM »

Nothing too startling here, just a Siskin Squabble, a lone Siskin, a Robin and a Blue Tit attack:

Canon 5DIII EF 100-400

52

Animal Kingdom / Re: Show your Bird Portraits

« on: April 14, 2013, 05:33:42 AM »

Great Grey Owl

For some reason that owl reminds me of "Gandalf the Grey" (from Lord of the Rings) ... Man that owl has so much character ... superb image ... Great job.

Great shot, seems somehow to remind me of Marvin.

How did you get the shot? In the wild?

Cheers Brian

53

Reviews / Re: Review - Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM

« on: April 14, 2013, 05:26:52 AM »

Hi, I want to post a pic and try to use the attachment function - but I have no success. The file is 1,3 mb and a jpeg format. I want to upload it from my HDD. But it failed all the time.
In the browser address I have this: http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?action=post2;start=45;board=70

and then I can wait for a lot of time and the screen is only white.

I havn`t found any helpdesk for my problem and I also don`t know how to reach an administrator to help me.
So I choose this way

WHO CAN HELP ME     

Hi, one time I had similar problems, seems like some pgms create .jpgs that the CR website cant handle. Try to download a jpg from the site and then post it again. You know that jpg will be OK. If it works then just modify your post. Now, what exactly the problem is with certain jpgs, who knows?

Cheers

54

Animal Kingdom / Re: Show your Bird Portraits

« on: April 08, 2013, 11:26:12 AM »

I had asked a while ago for advice on photographing Chickadees. I got lots of useful advice on setting up blinds, use of long lenses, remote triggers, etc. It turns out that what I needed was a pocket full of sunflower seeds.

Taken with a 60D, 100L macro lens, ISO320....while using the camera one handed This is the full picture, no cropping.

Hi, I've managed it with Blue Tits, Great Tits, Thrushes and I'm now working on a Robin.
For most birds Mealyworms are the way to go, obviously they must be insect eaters.

I get the birds to associate me with food and can call some with a whistle (through my lips).
Some even sit on the patio and call me if there is no other food out.

The best time is coming up when they are in feeding stress with their young, then they are easier
to "Persuade". Keep fairly quiet, provide a safe place for them to feed (where you sit) and try to give
them a reproducable situation at the start, makes them less nervous.

A good way to start is a white saucer with a few worms on it under/near  the normal feeding spot,
they'll notice the movement pretty quickly. Then you move the saucer gradually in your direction.
Going onto my hand was a big step for most birds, but they would fairly quickly sit in the bush next
to me and take worms out of my hands, while still sat on a branch.

And in the end you keep hold of the worm, meaning it gets torn apart between your fingers, but keeping
the bird closer for a longer period.

Here's fluffy, been a around a while now.

Cheers

55

Animal Kingdom / Re: Show your Bird Portraits

« on: April 07, 2013, 11:50:59 AM »

Not a particularly well lit (against the sun) or sharp shot. And he's a long way off. Saw this guy in our garden about a week ago looking very bloody, today he does look somewhat better. Obviously something got him. But I think he's going to survive.

Cheers

I think what got your bird was avian pox.

Is that a joke? Obviously not I just googled it. I got another shot this afternoon and it is a growth of some sort.
Last time it was very bloody, now seems to have a crust.
Had another one in the garden a few years ago that had something similar growing out of one eye.
It got very tame when it realized that food could be had very easily. Hung around for at least 8 weeks.
Here's a better shot taken this afternoon:

56

Animal Kingdom / Re: Show your Bird Portraits

« on: April 07, 2013, 04:22:45 AM »

Not a particularly well lit (against the sun) or sharp shot. And he's a long way off. Saw this guy in our garden about a week ago looking very bloody, today he does look somewhat better. Obviously something got him. But I think he's going to survive.

Cheers

57

Canon General / Re: Physical Ailments From Heavy Gear

« on: April 06, 2013, 10:21:36 AM »

I'm not sure if heavy is the cause of my "injury" but i'm sure it played some part since i started photography.
Recently, i've been having severe back pains and finally went to a doctor for an MRU and founf out that i have some disc and nerve damage and i now have to lay off heavy lifting of surgery to fix the problem…
I go out weekly for shoots and i carry everything in a backpack.
Basically my 5D3, couple of lenses, flash, accessories etc..the bag does get pretty heavy and i bring the same gears out every weekend for a couple of hours for shoots. So MAYBE that isn't such a good idea..i've since bought a trolley and put every on it since i can no longer lift the bag without pain…My next worry now is…how am i going to travel and not carry a bag..hmmm..

I'm not a doctor, but I have had 4 slipped discs, 2 have been operated on. Only one thing helps, and obviously there are caveats as to how bad you damage is already, but get a good phsical fitness trainer, learn and do the correct exercises 2-3 times a week. And go swimming regularly if you can. And learn how to lift correctly.
It is amazing how the correct stretching and tension exercises can provide relief very quickly.

I've been hit by stupid movements, I guess when I had to lift heavy things I was prepared. Its, for example, bending to wash my feet in the shower etc that is dangerous.
My 2 cents.
I wish you luck.


 

58

Animal Kingdom / Re: Early bird dinner

« on: April 05, 2013, 10:46:12 AM »

if the original RAW file was available, with a bit more time spent on PP, I think a lot more detail/sharpness could be achieved.

Hi, so please tell me what else you woul do apart from sharpening to bring out more detail?
I can only think of maybe adding some contrast, oh and maybe some Clarity in LR.

I'm also astounded that the bird hasn't flown away yet. Good shot though.
In some ways he appears to be pretty confident, he's probably thinking "just try to take this off me boy..."!


Cheers Brian

59

Abstract / Re: Transit of Mercury - Hydrogen Alpha

« on: March 29, 2013, 08:04:13 AM »

Whoa...sorry about that...but this NOT my photo.  I would have given attribution but I have found at least four sites/photographers claiming the photo as theirs.  Near as I can tell the real photographer is Alan Friedman.

Yep, a Fine Art print of it costs 950$. I'm hoping its possible to get a poster of it maybe?
I emailed Alan, lets see how he answers.

Cheers Brian

60

Abstract / Re: Transit of Mercury - Hydrogen Alpha

« on: March 28, 2013, 12:45:07 PM »

Doesn't look real to me.  Here is one of venus transiting the sun in the summer.  FWIW...none of us will see this happen again.  Its not do to occur again in our lifetimes.

Hi Woollybear, that is a fabulous shot. Any chance of getting hold of a high quality version of it?

Cheers Brian