ABOUT ME

I live in a camper van with a West Highland Terrier for company.
My passion is creating images but it is a work in progress.
I am always willing to share what knowledge I have and can be contacted through the comments on this post or e-mail ADRIAN
ALL IMAGES WILL ENLARGE WITH A LEFT CLICK

Wednesday 27 February 2013

I’M TRYING TO BE A BIRDY. (27/02/13)

It’s not often I do two posts in a day but this one is to ask for help. I love landscape, I’m not lazy. I’m just a little idle. I carry filters and tripod. I have been with birders……really posh ones. KEITH AND TREVOR. I listened to their cameras and, by god, it shocked me. In film days they would be shooting a roll a minute.

I live and learn, digital gives one this freedom. I also have tried cropping in……I’m a hopeless birder. Thought about my problems and offer the following.

Camera set to fast drive flash set to high sinc and TTEL or whatever  auto is with Canon. I think it means fill flash. I’ll try and refine the job. I am half way there.

BIRDS IN FLIGHT.

_V0G5554_edited-1       Chaffinch, a bit crap….okay really crap! it is moving at a hundred miles an hour.

_V0G5560_edited-1      This is better. The poor old Great Tit is just to the right of the left hand feeder. I’m amazed it has survived. Glad it has….I know what it feels like to be a cripple.

_V0G5564_edited-1           Mr and Mrs Collared dove not sure which is which….I suspect he was late back from the pub.

_V0G5580_edited-1       Incoming Long Tailed Tit.

_V0G5582_edited-1      Can’t win them all but I think fill flash is worth pursuing.

As always I try to maintain political neutrality. However if you live in Eastleigh and vote for a Liberal or Conservative then may you rot in your own excrement. If in doubt don’t vote. Take to the streets or if you are wealthy just withhold your taxes….sorry that is patronising Eastleigh residents have already sussed the latter.

Have fun…..I doubt Nicky Cleggy Baby will have much to laugh about this time tomorrow. Hopefully Dithery, devious Dave will be similarly affected though I don’t have that much faith in this constituency.

Just have fun…..Vote Monster Raving Lunacy Party if in doubt.    

19 comments:

  1. I really like the second photo from the top where you see the shape of the whole whatever-it-may-be-called that the feeders are hanging on. And all those different birds enjoying their meal at the same time! :)

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    1. Monica, the feeders are doing brisk business..

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  2. wat leuk om ze zo bij de voederbakken te kunnen fotograferen,tja vliegend is toch een kunst apart.

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  3. Much easier just to spoil your ballot paper and leave an appropiate doodle often seen drawn on the walls of mens toilets (y'know the drawing I mean) photgraph it then tweet it lol
    Adrian I love BIF (birds in flight) it's what birds do. 1st image you done well to keep the finch in the frame. If i was on my garden feeder I would do this 1)Set up your camera on a tripod. 2) switch from autofocus to manual and wait for a bird to settle on the feeder and Mfocus on the bird, check in focus etc 3) pick a spot a few inches left or right of feeder and wait for incoming bird and try photographing manually. I get much better results using manual focus for feeders then autofocus and I use a 1D series Canon it takes alot of practises and often the end results of BIF images will leave you feeling lousy but your posted images aren't a bad start especially that Long tail tit coming in to land

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    1. Douglas, thanks for the encouragement and advice. I'll keep trying.

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  4. These are pretty impressive Adrian. Birds in flight ain't easy, but you've certainly stopped these in their tracks.

    Mrs. Collared Dove has a slightly more pinkish head than Mr. But not always easy to tell them apart, unless they're pretty close.

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    1. Ta Keith, I'll have a good look at their heads.

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  5. Hi Adrian...It is refreshing to hear that you feel the same as we here sometimes do about those in high positions..perhaps you could get a shot of one of them falling from there high perch : )
    That's great now you can make time stand still while in motion "what did I just say ???? ; ) HMMM
    Grace

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    1. Grace, the strobe light is a cunning invention.

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  6. To catch birds in flight is hard work. Each time you go out you learn more and get better at what you know.

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    1. Red, I'm slowly getting to grips with Canon gear and it's idiosyncrasies.

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  7. I can see skill, patience, fortitude and expensive equipment is paying off. I can see some really awesome shots coming .

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    1. I'm not sure about the skill bit.....Expensive definitely. I enjoy playing I just hope that one day consistent results will be achieved.

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  8. Cropping is my way, I find that is importance. But, you'll find out sooner or later. And, don't be impatience.

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  9. Cropping is my way, I find that is importance. But, you'll find out sooner or later. And, don't be impatience.

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    1. Bob, cropping does work and your images prove it works perfectly. I'll keep plugging away.

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  10. I'd never even thought of using flash with bird photography - certainly food for thought.

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  11. John, It is one way of freezing them in flight. They don't seem to mind. It is still a random job though.

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