My First Bird

[Stagecoach]

One area of photography that I really enjoy viewing here and also following the trials and tribulations of those learning it is bird photography. So today although I had decided to have a lazy time due to the heat I thought I would attempt some shots of our far too common minor birds.

Here's the results, nothing spectacular but I did get one in flight although it was only an inch of his tail feathers in frame

1/640s, f5.6, ISO640 200mm


1/250s, f5.6, ISO200,200mm, Flash on TTL


Comments or suggestions are welcome as always, but no I'm not going to be getting a longer lens (yet)

Grahame

[IzzieK]

I like both but I like #1 best for the bokeh...

[Stagecoach]

I like both but I like #1 best for the bokeh...

Ah, but did you spot the UFO in that bokeh?

Grahame

[IzzieK]

You mean the big ladle?

Ah, but did you spot the UFO in that bokeh?

Grahame

[Dave Humphries]

~ I did get one in flight although it was only an inch of his tail feathers in frame

That sounds like another for this thread: Just for Fun - Post your nearly photos

On these two, the second is unusual - when I tried flash on birds I got a 'red eye' effect (although it was more of a pale green) - but this one works well.

[Brownbear]

Hi Grahame,

For a first bird, I think these are very nice, beautiful focus on the eye and nice detail. I love the position of the back foot. It's a pretty bird.

[jamn4ex]

I think 2 is the better shot. It shows natural habitat, and the birds distinctive markings well.

[NorthernFocus]

Not bad for a first go, Grahame. Big feet on that guy.

The first one is an example of how conscious one needs to be of the BG. In both shots the head is turned away from the camera. With birds you rarely want them facing directly at you, but angled toward the camera works best. Smaller birds tend to be real herky jerky with their heads so shooting in burst mode helps one hopefully get a frame with a good angle.

[Wavelength]

Well begun; now please get going for more...is that bird not called Mina, everywhere ???

[Stagecoach]

Dave, Christina, James, Dan and Nandakumar

Thank you for commenting on these two shots.

Dave, I used the SB600 on camera with no diffuser due to this shot being in a shaded part of the garden where I was also able to sit on a chair partly shielded (lazy). I was interested to see the affect of flash and also it's power capability at that distance. Perhaps it is the angle of the eye to the camera that has saved it from the red eye effect.

Christina, These were very much a test to determine the image quality I could achieve with the 18-200mm lens at full 200mm. I was also very aware from your previous posts of the requirement to achieve good exposure with the dark bird with a very bright background. One of the things about this site is that we can learn so much from others projects and even greater when we can retain that knowledge and put it into practice without having to struggle through the same learning curve on our own.

Focus was on Auto-S, I should have used AF-C but overlooked this.

James, I agree the location is preferable in No 2 but wish I had opened up a bit.

Dan, For the first shot he remained in that position for a while luckily and I struggled due to my limited position to isolate him from a power pole, cables, a street light and palms but you are right in that it is something to very be concious of.

When I have another go I'll try to capture the head at a better angle as you advise.

Nandakumar, You are right, my spelling is appalling at times Mynah is one way of spelling it here

Grahame