Show your Bird Portraits

[Eldar]

Another Great Crested Grebe. Unfortunately for us photographers, fortunately for the birds, they have set up fences which keeps us further from the birds. I got this one through some branches, which will be covered in leaves within short.

1DX-II, 600 f4L IS II + 1.4xIII

 

[Click]

Beautiful picture, Eldar.

 

[Jack Douglas]

Beautiful picture, Eldar.

Lovely.

Jack

 

[Jack Douglas]

The Junco is nicely in focus, Jack.

Alan, there are still questions but for sure the poorer light I had a few weeks back affected my shots negatively and I'm learning that noise detracts from sharpness pretty significantly so for full frame higher ISO is acceptable but not when much cropping is involved.

Jack

 

[Jack Douglas]

Good photos there Jack. The Junco is looking nice and sharp - what ISO was that?

What shutter speed were you using for the chickadee? They look very similar to the tits we have in the UK and I found that on take-off I needed shutter speeds in excess of 1/1500 even to get the body sharp.

ISO 3200 and I didn't bother with NR.

1/2000 barely cuts it for the chickadees with 800mm.

Jack

 

[Jack Douglas]

Hi Jack.
Nice series of action shots, I'm surprised that you weren't able to get a lock on the first one in this series in particular, apart from the speed required to freeze the wings it seems a lot like panning race cars, a feat at which these cameras usually excel. Did you prefocus and if so on what, how many AF points in use?

Cheers, Graham.

Two more.

Graham, here's how it works. The chickadee quickly enters the hole and is in there pecking away for who knows how long. It then suddenly appears with a huge mouthful of pulp and either doddles or takes of instantly. I'm focused on the hole (and then the bird) with single spot AI servo using AF-ON and the instant the flight begins to form I release my thumb pressure and the shutter large zone AF takes over starting from the previous AF point. There is no hope for a mere mortal like me to pan this bird. The 1DX2 AF simply can't seem to track the bird because I'll have lets say 3 AF points right over the birds body but it's clearly still focusing on the stump.

Mike, 1/2000 is marginal for shutter speed and ISOs were anywhere from 2500 (underexposed) to 6400 (slightly overexposed). Lighting is simply not enough but I have found a chunk of mirror that I can glance a sun refection where needed so that might help. However, for that to work I need the sun! Everything is stacked against me; shutter speed, DOF and ISO and sun that is playing games.

Jack

 

[hbr]

Hi Jack,
I looked at your photos on the National Geographic link and you have some beautiful photos there. I hate it that you seem to be having so many problems this year between the new camera and the weather. Come on down to North Carolina - we have warm sunny weather and tons of birds.
Cheers,
Brian

 

[Valvebounce]

Hi Folks.
My brother bought us a falconry experience for Christmas, a few shots from the day, I was grabbing the camera and taking a few shots and then participating and trying not to miss the information or appear rude to the falconer so forgive a chap for some less than sharp shots. I had a fabulous time 'flying' some of the birds (which I feel would have done nothing if not for the skill of the falconer!).

SE0A1519_DxO by Graham Stretch, on Flickr
The falconer is reaching in to try to save his gloved hand, this beautiful creature had just stuck a talon through the glove!
It made the falconer wince a bit!
Ouch.

SE0A1467_DxO by Graham Stretch, on Flickr

SE0A1473_DxO by Graham Stretch, on Flickr

4X3Z5466_DxO by Graham Stretch, on Flickr

4X3Z5477_DxO by Graham Stretch, on Flickr

Cheers, Graham.

 

[lion rock]

Graham,
Oh, aren't they gorgeous!
These birds are so soft.
Nice photos.
-r

Hi Folks.
My brother bought us a falconry experience for Christmas, a few shots from the day, I was grabbing the camera and taking a few shots and then participating and trying not to miss the information or appear rude to the falconer so forgive a chap for some less than sharp shots. I had a fabulous time 'flying' some of the birds (which I feel would have done nothing if not for the skill of the falconer!).

The falconer is reaching in to try to save his gloved hand, this beautiful creature had just stuck a talon through the glove!
It made the falconer wince a bit!
Ouch.

Cheers, Graham.

 

[Jack Douglas]

Hi Jack,
I looked at your photos on the National Geographic link and you have some beautiful photos there. I hate it that you seem to be having so many problems this year between the new camera and the weather. Come on down to North Carolina - we have warm sunny weather and tons of birds.
Cheers,
Brian

Hey Brian, thank you very much for the kind words and the offer you may regret Actually my wife and I just renewed our passports with the idea that maybe next year well head south with our little old 20' motorhome.

Not sure just yet whether I might have created some of my own problems. It was indeed frustrating being handicapped by clouds and subzero temperatures but now I'm getting some good opportunities. I do love having 400 X2 with 61 focus points.

Jack

 

[Jack Douglas]

Graham, indeed that must have been a blast. So close! Lovely.

Jack

 

[Mikehit]

Graham, here's how it works. The chickadee quickly enters the hole and is in there pecking away for who knows how long. It then suddenly appears with a huge mouthful of pulp and either doddles or takes of instantly. I'm focused on the hole (and then the bird) with single spot AI servo using AF-ON and the instant the flight begins to form I release my thumb pressure and the shutter large zone AF takes over starting from the previous AF point. There is no hope for a mere mortal like me to pan this bird. The 1DX2 AF simply can't seem to track the bird because I'll have lets say 3 AF points right over the birds body but it's clearly still focusing on the stump.

Exactly the problem I have had photgraphing them coming off the nesting hole.
I have not yet had chance to try the 'focus on things entering the focus zone' (case 5) and wonder if that would help.

 

[Valvebounce]

Hi lion rock, Jack.
Thanks, yes it was a fabulous experience to interact with such fantastic creatures.

Cheers, Graham.

 

[Valvebounce]

Hi Jack.
Nice Sparrow.
It sounds like you are on top of the AF settings and that it may just be a limitation of the little blur that is a bird. Mike's suggestion of a case might help but I am not even at the little birds in flight stage yet. :

Cheers, Graham.

Hi Jack.
Nice series of action shots, I'm surprised that you weren't able to get a lock on the first one in this series in particular, apart from the speed required to freeze the wings it seems a lot like panning race cars, a feat at which these cameras usually excel. Did you prefocus and if so on what, how many AF points in use?

Cheers, Graham.

Two more.

Graham, here's how it works. The chickadee quickly enters the hole and is in there pecking away for who knows how long. It then suddenly appears with a huge mouthful of pulp and either doddles or takes of instantly. I'm focused on the hole (and then the bird) with single spot AI servo using AF-ON and the instant the flight begins to form I release my thumb pressure and the shutter large zone AF takes over starting from the previous AF point. There is no hope for a mere mortal like me to pan this bird. The 1DX2 AF simply can't seem to track the bird because I'll have lets say 3 AF points right over the birds body but it's clearly still focusing on the stump.

Mike, 1/2000 is marginal for shutter speed and ISOs were anywhere from 2500 (underexposed) to 6400 (slightly overexposed). Lighting is simply not enough but I have found a chunk of mirror that I can glance a sun refection where needed so that might help. However, for that to work I need the sun! Everything is stacked against me; shutter speed, DOF and ISO and sun that is playing games.

Jack

 

[hbr]

Exactly the problem I have had photgraphing them coming off the nesting hole.
I have not yet had chance to try the 'focus on things entering the focus zone' (case 5) and wonder if that would help.

Try that setting, Jack. It might help. When I am using my 400 f/5.6 there is precious little time to focus on a moving subject so that is the setting I use most often with my 7D II. Good luck.

Brian

 

[hbr]

Incredibly beautiful shots of the owls, Graham! I bet you had lots of fun.

Brian

 

[Click]

Hi Folks.
My brother bought us a falconry experience for Christmas, a few shots from the day, I was grabbing the camera and taking a few shots and then participating and trying not to miss the information or appear rude to the falconer so forgive a chap for some less than sharp shots. I had a fabulous time 'flying' some of the birds (which I feel would have done nothing if not for the skill of the falconer!).

Hi Graham,

Wonderful experience.

Very nice series.

Cheers

 

[Jack Douglas]

Graham, here's how it works. The chickadee quickly enters the hole and is in there pecking away for who knows how long. It then suddenly appears with a huge mouthful of pulp and either doddles or takes of instantly. I'm focused on the hole (and then the bird) with single spot AI servo using AF-ON and the instant the flight begins to form I release my thumb pressure and the shutter large zone AF takes over starting from the previous AF point. There is no hope for a mere mortal like me to pan this bird. The 1DX2 AF simply can't seem to track the bird because I'll have lets say 3 AF points right over the birds body but it's clearly still focusing on the stump.

Exactly the problem I have had photographing them coming off the nesting hole.
I have not yet had chance to try the 'focus on things entering the focus zone' (case 5) and wonder if that would help.

Mike, I'm going to present some sample photos to my Canon support guy and see if he'll give me the best possible settings. I'm not optimistic it's possible for the AF to handle this. I remember the video of whomever shooting an otter running towards him at 14 FPS and that was successful but a chickadee must be 10 times faster! And if he's flying towards you .....

Jack

 

[Mikehit]

I know what you mean, Jack.
The only viable solution I have come up with is rather hit and miss: pre-focus on a point 15-30cm outside the nest hole, learn to recognise any tell-tale signs of them about to take off, press the shutter, hammer the fps and hope they pass through your pre-focus point. Not very satisfactory for me (I still like the challenge of offering some level of operator skill) but still enjoyable when and if I get it right. I guess it is not really much different to setting up a trip-operated shot but less assured.

 

[Jack Douglas]

I know what you mean, Jack.
The only viable solution I have come up with is rather hit and miss: pre-focus on a point 15-30cm outside the nest hole, learn to recognise any tell-tale signs of them about to take off, press the shutter, hammer the fps and hope they pass through your pre-focus point. Not very satisfactory for me (I still like the challenge of offering some level of operator skill) but still enjoyable when and if I get it right. I guess it is not really much different to setting up a trip-operated shot but less assured.

It would work great if a person could get a flash to fire at 14 FPS and use maybe F16 and 1/4000. Yes it can be fun but it's not fun seeing a great shot that is almost in focus! Still, that makes one more determined.

Jack