Birding Under Cloudy Skies (FZ150)

Shooting by hand under cloudy skies today at 600mm while trying to remain at the base ISO presented a fairly good challenge. The FZ200 owners certainly have an advantage there with the faster lens. I had plenty of soft photos due to slight camera movement but managed some good ones also. I do like the soft lighting of overcast skies.

Very impressive!  I have yet to be able to hold my FZ150 steady enough to get anything this crisp.  This makes me want to keep trying.

Wowser! These are terrific! The last one is especially striking! Thanks for sharing!

Yes just keep trying, breathe easy and tuck your elbows into your sides. I also use burst mode for these, as you fire off several shots one or two are bound to be sharp. That can help.

Thanks, here is another one I liked from today. He seemed to like that one branch, landed there a few different times. Guarding his flowers.

Nice work Gary, I see you were at the Arboretum again.  One of these days, we will run into each other.

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yuki

Wonderful.  I think the smaller aperture gives a bit sharper image, even though it's harder to steady the camera.

We probably will. I usually have my Canon gear with me too, so if you see a Canon user with a Panasonic hanging on his shoulder also, it's probably me.

Gary

That's probably correct. A little more depth of field too. When you're so close a little bit can help keep more of the bird in that narrow field of focus.

Gary

These are beautiful and sharp.

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- Cheers, Maarten Sebastiaan Franks Spijker

Thanks so much. It's fun to try, kind of a challenge.

Gary

Hummers to be proud of, cloudy skies or not! How do you find these little beauties? I have to see one at the feeder and follow it to the trees and then don't have much luck with them. But these begged to be photographed.

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"Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." (A.A. Milne)

Those are great shots Gary. It's nice to see us FZ150 hangers on so well represented. Still very happy with my 150.

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Cheers
CK

These are good at web sizes. Are these heavy crops already?

I'd like to see how is the detail at least at 1600x1200. Shutter speed seems high enough and will not introduce shake unless the bird is the one moving.

-=[ Joms ]=-

Ooh, love these, Gary. The light, colors, detail, all great. Really very beautiful!

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Vickie
myFlickr
myFZ200pics

Adorable set, Gary.. well proved - pictures could be taken also under cloudy skies! ​(just kidding) ​beautiful images are certainly a keepers!.. great eye and takes, thanks for sharing ..

Best regards,

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Bruno

super, these photo's....!

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/okkie68/

Vandyu, CK, Joms, Vickie, Bruno, Okkie: Thanks very much.

Joms, they were not cropped much, a little. I was close. Here is a larger 1600 x 1000 version. You'll have to click the Original link to see it. They should make nice prints when I get around to it. Haven't printed many photos lately. Usually I would sit very still near a branch where they would land frequently. As long as you're not moving much they'll land and sit pretty close to you.

Very nice hummer shots Gary!  Do you know what kind of hummer that is?  Thanks!

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Johnny
http://www.pbase.com/big24fan

Excellent images Gary - a beautiful bird, lovely colour and crisp detail.  Having tried to capture hummingbirds, just one opportunity so far, I know how difficult it is to catch them when standing with camera primed for action. Stuart