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weekend bird shots

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Very nice. It won't be too long before the Cedar Waxwings make it to my neck of the woods. I always look forward to seeing them.

Thanks for sharing,
Jim
 
These are called Cedar Waxwings. This was my first experience with them and I am told I did quite well becuase their feathers are so soft they fool the AF.

I can attest to that. I finally figured out that I should zero in on the black and white stripe near their eye.

These were taken in Atlanta two weeks ago when they attacked a berry bush near my home.

I thought about using them for a Xmas card next year.

thanks for the comments,
Rolando
 
The camera is a 30d, len is canon 70 to 300 IS USM ( NOT DO) at ISO 200 and set in shutter priority
 
The lighting conditions were brutal. rolling clouds that kept goingf rom dark to spots of sunshine. In retrospect I should have bumped up the ISO to 400 or 800.

As for the shadows, I kind liked them because I feel it gives the Photo texture.

But your points are well taken and correct. Given how I had to do the shots, handheld and over a fence, I would not have been able to do much about the shadows. There simply was no room to move to another vantage point.

I appreciate the input and the time to look at the photos.
rolando
 
These are lovely captures; well done and you should be proud of them. I have two comments which I offer on a FWIW basis:

Firstly, I would have dialled in a stop or so more exposure when shooting against the sky llike this. The on-board meter tends to average too much in these circumstances and the subject gets undercooked.

Secondly, some digital artifacts appear in a couple of the images. This may be due to over-sharpening or just the conversion to mash the files down for web posting.
 
Dear Rolando
Mago Mex said:
These are called Cedar Waxwings. This was my first experience with
them and I am told I did quite well becuase their feathers are so
soft they fool the AF.

I can attest to that. I finally figured out that I should zero in
on the black and white stripe near their eye.

These were taken in Atlanta two weeks ago when they attacked a
berry bush near my home.
Click to expand...
In Atlanta? Huh? Why haven't I seen these beautiful birds? I have four feeders in my backyard here in Buford, just a mile from the Mall of Georgia. I must pay closer attention!

--
Sincerely,
Jaddie
Models & Miscellaneous http://www.jaddie.com/photos/

--Geez, this stuff costs way too much money!
 
Jaddie,

I have never seen them in our yard in Sandy Springs before , but my wife who keeps the bird feeders filled, says they come around once a year for a few days only.

I am not sure if that is because of a migration pattern or what. But I have had my 30D about 9 months now. I shoot the birds in the yard all the time and this is the first time I saw them.

Beats me.
Rolando
 
Since I am still learning the art of shooting birds, I appreciate your comments on the expsosure.

As for the artifacts, they are not in my base images, so they must be in the compressing or transfer.

Thanks for the comments and the advice.

Rolando
 
My favorite is the third. It has the best composition, and it just tight enough so that the subject occupies most of the real estate of the shot, but there is also enough around the bird to establish context. I also like the sharpness and bokeh.

The third shot of just the head is remarkably sharp.

The first shot has one bird with a berry in its mouth which is a great moment, but I'm not as fond of this shot because the composition doesn't focus my attention as tightly.

I also like the last shot.

Nice work!

Steven
 
Thanks Steve,

The shot with the berry--- as I took it I kept hoping the other birds would turn and face the one bird since it would put the focus on the center point speak.

Unfortunately, my "talent" were proma donnas and refused to cooperate. :)

I appreciate your comments.
 
How far were you from them? I was messing with some Cardinals this morning with a 10D and a 100-400 IS L lens and I can't seem to get anything that I like.

Thanks
Jeff
 
Mago Mex said:
The lighting conditions were brutal. rolling clouds that kept
goingf rom dark to spots of sunshine. In retrospect I should have
bumped up the ISO to 400 or 800.

As for the shadows, I kind liked them because I feel it gives the
Photo texture.

But your points are well taken and correct. Given how I had to do
the shots, handheld and over a fence, I would not have been able to
do much about the shadows. There simply was no room to move to
another vantage point.

I appreciate the input and the time to look at the photos.
rolando
Click to expand...
Hi Rolando,

Sorry for being so brutal on you, I find too many people on the internet are too nice, My comments are based on what I see on Pro forums and the type of critique that improved my captures.

I still have a long way to go, I would like to say this, your efforts will payoff, Go to Fred Miranda wild life forum and you will see what I mean.

If you want to get good at shooting wild life go there, listen and learn, it will improve your game very quickly.

Steve

--
If you would like to view my gallery http://froggy.smugmug.com/
 
308shtr said:
Mago Mex said:
The lighting conditions were brutal. rolling clouds that kept
goingf rom dark to spots of sunshine. In retrospect I should have
bumped up the ISO to 400 or 800.

As for the shadows, I kind liked them because I feel it gives the
Photo texture.

But your points are well taken and correct. Given how I had to do
the shots, handheld and over a fence, I would not have been able to
do much about the shadows. There simply was no room to move to
another vantage point.

I appreciate the input and the time to look at the photos.
rolando
Click to expand...
Hi Rolando,
Sorry for being so brutal on you, I find too many people on the
internet are too nice, My comments are based on what I see on Pro
forums and the type of critique that improved my captures.
Click to expand...
Your comments weren't so much brutal as they were unhelpful. You advised him to "watch the shadows next time," referring to shadows cast by the berries and branches.

Look, this was a bird sitting in a tree, perhaps for only a few seconds. You can't ask the bird to move to a more advantageous shooting position, and you can't reposition the sun or the branches or the berries. "Watch the shadows" just isn't helpful advice, let alone "pro" advice.

--
~ Peano
 
Jeff,
I was on a fence about 20 yards away.

At one point some flew to a tree right over my positon, but they were there for a few moments only. That the worm's eye view shot.

Of the many things I learned from that shoot is that lens length is important and so is being close. I see now why birders use stands and such to get close.

Also, while I was lucky enough to have IS, I wish I had grabbed my monopod.

Hope this helps.
Rolando
 
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