Show your Bird Portraits

[Valvebounce]

Hi Isaac.
Thanks for the response, that combination of camera and lens does seem to work well from the shots I see on here, of course I could probably get crap from it proving it is not only the gear! ;D
As for the weather, it is what it is, I'll get over it. We have had some really nice weather up until now so I think it is the sudden change that makes it feel worse.

Cheers, Graham.

Hi Isaac, Steven and Claudelec.
Very nice shots, I also like the light on your little Song Sparrow Isaac, was there some flash on that or are you somewhere not affected by a dreary winter light, dull, overcast, foggy, raining and that's this week so far.

Cheers, Graham.

Thanks Graham. No flash. Photo was taken shortly after sunrise on a cool, cloudless day. I actually had to tone down the colors a bit as the warm light of the sun was too colorful. I live in New York City and we have been blessed this fall with a lot of high pressure, so clear skies and perfect shooting conditions. I have been a birder my whole life so when the weather does not cooperate I just go birding and don't worry about taking pictures. I think my camera and lens (7d2 and Sigma 150-600 C) can take very nice shots when the conditions are ideal. Once the light is poor the image quality degrades quite a bit. I think the lens in ideal conditions performs well above what it should so do my best to only take pictures when I think the results will follow. Sorry to hear about your weather.

 

[Isaac Grant]

We all get crap shots. I just don't post those. I think it really is a matter of optimizing your situation. Great light and close subjects go a long way in closing the gap between a good lens and a great lens. I firmly believe that knowing the birds and having good field craft makes a huge difference in the quality of the photos you can get. Modern cameras and lenses are so good that really very little needs to be done to have proper exposure and sharp focus. The real art comes in having the right composition which I have been trying to improve at.

Hi Isaac.
Thanks for the response, that combination of camera and lens does seem to work well from the shots I see on here, of course I could probably get crap from it proving it is not only the gear! ;D
As for the weather, it is what it is, I'll get over it. We have had some really nice weather up until now so I think it is the sudden change that makes it feel worse.

Cheers, Graham.

Hi Isaac, Steven and Claudelec.
Very nice shots, I also like the light on your little Song Sparrow Isaac, was there some flash on that or are you somewhere not affected by a dreary winter light, dull, overcast, foggy, raining and that's this week so far.

Cheers, Graham.

Thanks Graham. No flash. Photo was taken shortly after sunrise on a cool, cloudless day. I actually had to tone down the colors a bit as the warm light of the sun was too colorful. I live in New York City and we have been blessed this fall with a lot of high pressure, so clear skies and perfect shooting conditions. I have been a birder my whole life so when the weather does not cooperate I just go birding and don't worry about taking pictures. I think my camera and lens (7d2 and Sigma 150-600 C) can take very nice shots when the conditions are ideal. Once the light is poor the image quality degrades quite a bit. I think the lens in ideal conditions performs well above what it should so do my best to only take pictures when I think the results will follow. Sorry to hear about your weather.

 

[Jack Douglas]

We all get crap shots. I just don't post those. I think it really is a matter of optimizing your situation. Great light and close subjects go a long way in closing the gap between a good lens and a great lens. I firmly believe that knowing the birds and having good field craft makes a huge difference in the quality of the photos you can get. Modern cameras and lenses are so good that really very little needs to be done to have proper exposure and sharp focus. The real art comes in having the right composition which I have been trying to improve at.

Hi Isaac.
Thanks for the response, that combination of camera and lens does seem to work well from the shots I see on here, of course I could probably get crap from it proving it is not only the gear! ;D
As for the weather, it is what it is, I'll get over it. We have had some really nice weather up until now so I think it is the sudden change that makes it feel worse.

Cheers, Graham.

Hi Isaac, Steven and Claudelec.
Very nice shots, I also like the light on your little Song Sparrow Isaac, was there some flash on that or are you somewhere not affected by a dreary winter light, dull, overcast, foggy, raining and that's this week so far.

Cheers, Graham.

Thanks Graham. No flash. Photo was taken shortly after sunrise on a cool, cloudless day. I actually had to tone down the colors a bit as the warm light of the sun was too colorful. I live in New York City and we have been blessed this fall with a lot of high pressure, so clear skies and perfect shooting conditions. I have been a birder my whole life so when the weather does not cooperate I just go birding and don't worry about taking pictures. I think my camera and lens (7d2 and Sigma 150-600 C) can take very nice shots when the conditions are ideal. Once the light is poor the image quality degrades quite a bit. I think the lens in ideal conditions performs well above what it should so do my best to only take pictures when I think the results will follow. Sorry to hear about your weather.

Isn't it funny how the bar continues to get raised, how looking back many shots no longer cut it. I guess that's a good thing but in a way, I know for myself, I have to be careful because some of what I'm tossing out others still seem to enjoy!

Jack

 

[Isaac Grant]

We all get crap shots. I just don't post those. I think it really is a matter of optimizing your situation. Great light and close subjects go a long way in closing the gap between a good lens and a great lens. I firmly believe that knowing the birds and having good field craft makes a huge difference in the quality of the photos you can get. Modern cameras and lenses are so good that really very little needs to be done to have proper exposure and sharp focus. The real art comes in having the right composition which I have been trying to improve at.

Hi Isaac.
Thanks for the response, that combination of camera and lens does seem to work well from the shots I see on here, of course I could probably get crap from it proving it is not only the gear! ;D
As for the weather, it is what it is, I'll get over it. We have had some really nice weather up until now so I think it is the sudden change that makes it feel worse.

Cheers, Graham.

Hi Isaac, Steven and Claudelec.
Very nice shots, I also like the light on your little Song Sparrow Isaac, was there some flash on that or are you somewhere not affected by a dreary winter light, dull, overcast, foggy, raining and that's this week so far.

Cheers, Graham.

Thanks Graham. No flash. Photo was taken shortly after sunrise on a cool, cloudless day. I actually had to tone down the colors a bit as the warm light of the sun was too colorful. I live in New York City and we have been blessed this fall with a lot of high pressure, so clear skies and perfect shooting conditions. I have been a birder my whole life so when the weather does not cooperate I just go birding and don't worry about taking pictures. I think my camera and lens (7d2 and Sigma 150-600 C) can take very nice shots when the conditions are ideal. Once the light is poor the image quality degrades quite a bit. I think the lens in ideal conditions performs well above what it should so do my best to only take pictures when I think the results will follow. Sorry to hear about your weather.

Isn't it funny how the bar continues to get raised, how looking back many shots no longer cut it. I guess that's a good thing but in a way, I know for myself, I have to be careful because some of what I'm tossing out others still seem to enjoy!

Jack

It is all about what is enjoyable and acceptable to the individual. Funny you mention looking back. Just a few days ago I was looking at my flickr site and came across some shots that I thought were just crap from a while ago. At the time I was very happy with them but now I would quickly delete them without a moments hesitation. They really were not good. Colors were off, lighting was off, were not nearly as sharp as what I am getting now with my new set up. The new technology in cameras and lenses really has made it very easy to get a sharp shot. I mean I know have a crop sensor that shoots 10 frames per second and a 600mm lens that is a little over 4 pounds that I can easily hand hold all day. Talk about spoiled...

 

[Jack Douglas]

It's good to progress and improve of course, but there is the danger in becoming elitist as we get better.

It reminds me of how determined I was to get rid of my early years school work. After all, who in grade six wants to see what they did in grade one, how embarrassing. So before you know it all the valuable keepsakes, reminders of the path you've followed and how you improved, get destroyed. I guess, as humbling as it is, it's best to display some of what we used to be proud of, even if it's just to assure beginners that everyone has to start somewhere and that improvements will follow.

The gear we have is amazing, for sure and still we want better, of course.

Jack

 

[Northbird]

7DII + 600 II


Short-eared owl (Asio flammeus) by Tony Varela Photography, on Flickr

 

[Click]

7DII + 600 II

Beautiful shot, Tony. 8)

 

[Northbird]

7DII + 600 II

Beautiful shot. 8)

They are beautiful owls and just beg to be photographed, on this day there were at least six of them and all very active.

 

[TheJock]

A couple from my recent trip to London and the Zoo.

1. Tawny Frogmouth
2. Lilac Breasted Roller
3. Hammerkop (IQ not 100%, but couldn't resist the pose and he flew off just as I clicked)

 

[TheJock]

and a few more

1. Hooded Pitta
2. Amethyst Starling
3. Hawk Owl

 

[Click]

Beautiful series, Stewart. I really like the pose on the 3rd one.

 

[Isaac Grant]

Seem to be having good luck lately with Song Sparrows. Here is a shot of one a bit later in the morning than I would like. Sun angle a little too high. This was taken at the edge of coastal scrub at the beach. Very gray colored sand and bushes in the background. Canon 7D2 and Sigma 150-600 C.

Song Sparrow by Isaac Grant, on Flickr

 

[Cog]

 

[Click]

Very nice shots, Cog.

 

[Cog]

Very nice shots, Cog.

Thank you, Click!

 

[Cog]

 

[Valvebounce]

Hi Cog.
One word.
Wow.

Cheers, Graham.

 

[Click]

Excellent shot, Cog.

 

[Don Haines]

nice to see these in the middle of the city.....

 

[TheJock]

I have a huge public park next door to me, today was my first visit and I managed two new species, very happy.
5dIII, 100-400L + 1.4xTCIII

1. Black Drongo
2. Masked Shrike