Show your Bird Portraits

[Maximilian]

First time I've ever seen one of these.

Hello Jack!
I either do not have a clue what it is.
But you took a really wonderful picture.
If I was asked, how a pic of a woodpecker should look like, I would say like yours. Really great.

My only attempt worth mentioning is the great spotted woodpecker attached.
I mised the focus a little and I had to do a lot of cropping.
But the one thing I like is the the "wooden framing".

Time for another plug - don't be lazy like I just was - put in some lens/camera/shooting data/info! It makes the CR experience a better one.

Yes, Jack, you are right.

pic data:
5D2 + 100-400L at 400 mm
1/1000, 5.6, ISO 800
approx. 60% cropping

it was moving fast over the trunk, therefore shutter priority

 

[Jack Douglas]

Maximilian, thanks for the complement.

I'm one whos replies to the comment "lucky to have a great camera/lens" with "you bet your life cause I'm no pro and it's 90% luck", but actually it's luck and patience. However, I'm trying really hard to do as many right things as I know how. And CR helps on the encouragement side and sometimes on the creative side!

Unfortunately, comments tend to be too generous and sometimes that shortchanges the usefulness towards improving - I know I also try hard not to offend the easily offended!

Time for another plug - don't be lazy like I just was - put in some lens/camera/shooting data/info! It makes the CR experience a better one.

I hope someone can answer with assurance but after sleeping on this (5 hours) I'm convinced it a Y B Sapsucker.

Jack

 

[Jack Douglas]

I think the woodpeckers must play tricks putting dabs of makeup to fool people.

Jack

 

[Maximilian]

Maximilian, thanks for the complement.

I'm one whos replies to the comment "lucky to have a great camera/lens" with "you bet your life cause I'm no pro and it's 90% luck", but actually it's luck and patience. However, I'm trying really hard to do as many right things as I know how. And CR helps on the encouragement side and sometimes on the creative side!

Yes, Jack! I know, that it is always a combination of luck, patience, open eyes, sometimes very good preparation. And I am also just trying to make the best out of equipment, chance and situation.

Unfortunately, comments tend to be too generous and sometimes that shortchanges the usefulness towards improving - I know I also try hard not to offend the easily offended!

But what, if I don't have anything to criticize at all...?
Is it allowed to be "too generous"?

 

[Jack Douglas]

Of course praise is a better motivator but one needs to know what to improve also. Seems my upbringing included a healthy dose of "there's always something that can be improved".

I won't but probably I should take a course. Trouble is, all my life I've taken the self-teach approach, reading and experimenting and observing and it's in my blood. Now I'm just more interested in having FUN!

Anyone, is a course a good idea for a hobbiest who's primarily interested in wildlife? One thing, I don't have a clue about those graphs relating to white balance etc.

Jack

 

[Mr Bean]

Eastern Rosella and baby (on the left, in the nesting hollow). No matter what both parents did, bub wasn't that keen to leave the nest.
5D3 with 300mm f4 + 1.4x TC

 

[Northstar]

some guy tried barging into one of my rooms while I was at work ... left his mark!

Wow..and the bird wasn't laying dead on the ground after a hit like that?

 

[J.R.]

some guy tried barging into one of my rooms while I was at work ... left his mark!

Wow..and the bird wasn't laying dead on the ground after a hit like that?

Surprisingly, no. That was the first thing I checked.

 

[Jack Douglas]

Mr Bean,

That must have been a thrill to watch, and then on top of that photograph. I guess it's always "the grass is greener on the other side of the fence" but I wish I could be there. And other places too! So, where is this?

Thanks for posting, very nice.

Jack

 

[Jack Douglas]

Maximilian, that woodpecker is very nice, in composition particularly. But what do I know? All I know is that I like it.

And thanks for including the info. I thought about how I might make that suggestion again without offending anyone, as I'm often not too tactful. It's kind of sad that to some extent we have to pussy-foot around but humanity is a strange mix from the most benevolent to the vicious. I'm most thankful that CR tends to have a kind respectful easy going nature.

Jack

 

[dolina]

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) by alabang, on Flickr

The Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) is a cosmopolitan species of heron (family Ardeidae) found in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zones. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Bubulcus, although some authorities regard its two subspecies as full species, the Western Cattle Egret and the Eastern Cattle Egret. Despite the similarities in plumage to the egrets of the genus Egretta, it is more closely related to the herons of Ardea. Originally native to parts of Asia, Africa and Europe, it has undergone a rapid expansion in its distribution and successfully colonised much of the rest of the world.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattle_Egret

Location: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Ba%C3%B1os,_Laguna

Settings: 1/800 ƒ/8 ISO 160 800mm

===========

Thoughts for the day:

As many of you may have seen online or on the telly the Philippines got hit really bad by a Category 5 Super Typhoon by the name of Haiyan/Yolanda.

The mayhem, destruction and death has really weighed on me for the past two weeks.

Just makes you wonder what the future holds for everyone with this being the most deadly Typhoon in the history of my country.

 

[Rienzphotoz]

Thoughts for the day:

As many of you may have seen online or on the telly the Philippines got hit really bad by a Category 5 Super Typhoon by the name of Haiyan/Yolanda.

The mayhem, destruction and death has really weighed on me for the past two weeks.

Just makes you wonder what the future holds for everyone with this being the most deadly Typhoon in the history of my country.

True ... but most people think about such things only when disasters like these happen and eventually forget about it ... but we can do our little bit on a day to day basis that could make the recovery from these disasters a lot faster ... e.g. in many Asian countries (especially in India) millions of people throw away plastic bags which eventually find their way into the drains that choke up the outlets of the drains into the sea ... what this does during heavy rains or when there are disasters like these is, the water on the streets builds up without any way to recede (due to the outlets being clogged with plastic bags) ... as we all know stagnant water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes and diseases ... every year far too many people (who actually survived deadly desasters) die due to sicknesses that could have been prevented in the first place with just a little discipline. The worst part about this is that its not just the uneducated who throw plastic bags, even the educated do it. I know we cannot stop disasters like these deadly typhoons but a little effort on our part, ona daily basis, will go a long way in the recovery process. Every year during monsoons (rainy season) we go on awareness campaigns to educate people on proper disposal of plastic bags, but its just a very small drop in the ocean.
Almost forgot, very nice image of the Cattle Egret.
Cheers

 

[chauncey]

Are portraits allowed here...Red Tailed Hawk.

 

[Jack Douglas]

dolina, I appreciate your photos and the included information. If one has a heart it's impossible to not feel the pain these disasters bring. We who are so blessed can help by contributing to relief efforts and should do our part.

I had no idea about the plastic bag issue. I think sometimes it's easier to train a bird than educate people to simple reqirements. We all need to do better.

Jack

 

[Jack Douglas]

Are portraits allowed here...Red Tailed Hawk

I had to chuckle as one time I looked at the title of this thread! Seems we're all pretty guilty.

Wonderful shot!

Jack

 

[Mr Bean]

Mr Bean,

That must have been a thrill to watch, and then on top of that photograph. I guess it's always "the grass is greener on the other side of the fence" but I wish I could be there. And other places too! So, where is this?

Thanks for posting, very nice.

Jack

Thanks Jack. I live on the outskirts of Melbourne, Australia. The nest is in next doors property and the picture was taken from my veranda with the camera setup on a tripod. Rosellas tend to find a nesting hollow and return the following year. Which all means, I can justify that 600mm f4 lens next year

....I guess it's always "the grass is greener on the other side of the fence" but I wish I could be there.

Yeah, I see wonderful pic's of hummingbirds, birds of prey in this thread that I simply don't see around here, or, I don't have the landscape to photograph (I'm in a fairly treed environment, which makes it tricky to track/photograph).

 

[Mr Bean]

Some more Mejiro photos from my yard this afternoon. 5D3, 100-400L, handheld while balancing on the top of a ladder.


C69A2924-dpp-c by EricJ777, on Flickr

Beautiful pic's serendipidy. Love the sharpness and the colours.
The bird reminds me of one we have down here in Australia. The Silver Eye, which is quite common. Not my best pic of one, unlike your pic

 

[Synkka]

The rain here has finally stopped to give me a go with the new camera. Noisy Miner feeding off the back deck, 5d3 and 70-300L


Noisy-Miner by Synkka~, on Flickr

 

[Jack Douglas]

Thanks for the posts everyone and Mr Bean for the feedback.

Gear isn't everything but here's what I never post that disappoints me relative to the 6D. I've tried very hard but might get 10% if lucky. This might help someone who's shopping/thinking (I knew before I bought and accepted it).

Of course I have not given up on another camera when Canon gets it out the door, cause I'm hooked on my 300 with extenders hand held.

I guess it's possible that the flight focus problem is adding the 2X but I think it's more the 6D. Monday my friend will have his new 1Dx and thereafter I'll begin to see what's up, since we shoot together often.

Jack

 

[Jack Douglas]

I was just searching for a BIF to illustrate and as my friend pointed out I was using 1/800th, which would never cut it. So the previous shot is not a good example although I doubt the focus would be bang on anyway, as this is not the first time and I have had higher speeds on different occasions.

So, here's what tends to happen to me and maybe someone has a suggestion. In the case of the waxwings my expectation was to get the highest, closest to filled frame shot at lower ISO that I could get, with enough DOF. I was thinking perched not flight and so 1/800th seemed a good choice. With hindsight given the number of birds and opportunities I should have known there could be some flying/fluttering birds that could be nice captures. How would you approach this situation??

Jack