No flowers here, but I found these... for C&C please...

[IzzieK]

It makes me happy to view this set Izzie. You did your groundwork and pre-shoot set up and it paid off big time. A great set, I want to see more. I'm curious about your remote shutter release, did you use a motion detecting release? please provide details on that for me, I will be most grateful.

Thank you Richard...no motion detecting release...I did not think of that...I used to have a trip-per for lightning before...but having forgotten that, I just spread my tripod legs as far low as I can go with it, put my camera on it, have to go down low myself to positioned it pointing to the bird feeder. I remembered using matrix setting, WB cloud; SS at 1/1250 (as per Christina's advice on flying birds) and my aperture somewhere between F 9 - F11 or F13...can't remember now. Then I put the remote control on top and went inside the kitchenette door leading to the deck and pressed the button when there are movements. And oh, I used continuous shooting (CL) on my camera too and manual focus no autofocus so it stays where it is without noise generating from the autofocus. (This last one I think I got from Dave Humphries' comment in some post about birds, use manual focusing...)

You'd think it is too much to remember but when one is on a one-track mind about the posts here at CiC and improving oneself in a certain genre, the past comments from someone else's post sticks very closely in my mind to use myself if I ever get to that point...I take notes on certain shooting advice for ones I am interested in...I think I read it somewhere that if you take notes your mind remember them well than when you are just reading it.

Thank you for your comments and feedback. I really do appreciate it very much...

[bnnrcn]

Great shots Isabel I would erase the halos in #2.

[Loose Canon]

These rock Izz!

Atta Girl!

[Brownbear]

Hi Izzie,

Wow! Your progress is amazing! Small birds in flight are so challenging to photograph and these are wonderful for the positions, moments, sharp focus, and detail (except somehow soft, noise reduction in post processing?) Great timing, too!

My favourites for the especially beautiful moments captured are #2, followed by #3 and #5... I hold great admiration for your BIF skills for capturing #8, head on and so sharp.

In your exif data I see that you used an aperture of f/16 for #6 and I wonder if this was necessary as a smaller aperture would allow you to lower your ISO (3200 seen in exif data)... f/8 was your choice for most which is likely necessary to capture two birds and a bird feeder in focus/sufficient DOF.

I also wonder if you could try this again on a brighter day (not in harsh sun) to allow you to use a lower iso and less NR? I'm assuming you've used NR because something about the backgrounds/softness. (even though the birds are sharp) I also loved your red cardinal but the Robin looked soft. I'm being extra picky, only, because your progress is extraordinary!

If you like if you send me one of your raw images by Dropbox, I'll give post-processing one of them a try (on the weekend when I have more time) and send the PSD to you via PM.

Bravo!

[IzzieK]

Great shots Isabel I would erase the halos in #2.

Thanks for the comment and feedback...I will do that...'appreciate it.

[IzzieK]

These rock Izz!

Atta Girl!

Thank you Terri...appreciate your comment!

[IzzieK]

Hi Izzie,

Wow! Your progress is amazing! Small birds in flight are so challenging to photograph and these are wonderful for the positions, moments, sharp focus, and detail (except somehow soft, noise reduction in post processing?) Great timing, too!

No noise reduction in any of my shots...

My favourites for the especially beautiful moments captured are #2, followed by #3 and #5... I hold great admiration for your BIF skills for capturing #8, head on and so sharp.

That is one of three shots I think...I used my 70-300mm and positioned myself handholding the camera while on a swing. The bird turned around and flew away...looking at it at the back with the +button, this was when I realized I am using the wrong lens so I set myself up using the continuous shooting technique with a remote after several disasters.

In your exif data I see that you used an aperture of f/16 for #6 and I wonder if this was necessary as a smaller aperture would allow you to lower your ISO (3200 seen in exif data)... f/8 was your choice for most which is likely necessary to capture two birds and a bird feeder in focus/sufficient DOF.

I checked the shot and I was using the 70-300mm zoom lens in that one so the aperture went to F16. I stuck to your advise of locking up my SS to 1250 for flying birds. Birds has been flying all over the place at times and I just got to capture this one with them. And yes I have to eliminate some other birds and the feeder as I want to concentrate on this one which I discovered after the fact (when post processing). This bird is only about 2 or 2.5 inches and very hard to capture. And I must admit, all these shots were too sharp for comfort (or I am beginning to be so discerning with my post processing???) and I did them all in my laptop (not a good idea) because I got lazy going upstairs. I am not going to do that again...

I also wonder if you could try this again on a brighter day (not in harsh sun) to allow you to use a lower iso and less NR? I'm assuming you've used NR because something about the backgrounds/softness. (even though the birds are sharp) I also loved your red cardinal but the Robin looked soft. I'm being extra picky, only, because your progress is extraordinary!

I have no Robins in my shots here. I only have three sorts, the cardinal, nuthatch and the sparrows.

If you like if you send me one of your raw images by Dropbox, I'll give post-processing one of them a try (on the weekend when I have more time) and send the PSD to you via PM.

Bravo![/QUOTE]
I lost my dropbox when I formatted this computer and did not want to bring it back again as I do not use it often. I am sorry...Thank you so much for your response. I do appreciate learning from you and the others for most of the technique that I used here. I will PM you...

[Brownbear]

No noise reduction in any of my shots...

I have no Robins in my shots here. I only have three sorts, the cardinal, nuthatch and the sparrows.

Bravo!

Hi Izzie,

Perhaps it is just my eyes but something seems odd about the greenery in the background hence I thought that you might have used noise reduction. I guessed NR because I would see definite noise at ISO 3200 with my camera which I don't see in your images but I believe your camera performs better at higher ISOs than mine does. The birds are beautifully focused and sharp!

My reference to a Robin was to another thread of yours and the greenery in the background... There was also an image of a beautiful red bird which you captured beautifully!

Anyhow, double Bravo!

[IzzieK]

Thanks again for the follow-up comment...I appreciate it very much..