Mr & Mrs Blackie

Venomator · 04-01-2006, 23:51

A couple of our immigrant friends ... studied last week ?

Mr first off ...

Followed closely by Mrs ...

Good, bad or what guys & gals ?

Boon · 04-01-2006, 23:53

Absolutely cracking shots Ven, even got the catchlight in the eye, great stuff, what sort of distance from them were you.
stevannie

Venomator · 04-01-2006, 23:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevannie

Absolutely cracking shots Ven, even got the catchlight in the eye, great stuff, what sort of distance from them were you.
stevannie

Thanx Stev - only 5 or 6 ft or so ! They are only after me worms !!!

Exif if you're interested;

Nikon D70s
Lens: VR 80-400mm F/4.5-5.6 D
Focal Length: 400mm
1/60 sec - F/5.6
Exposure Comp.: 0 EV
Sensitivity: ISO 360

barrymoir · 05-01-2006, 09:27

wow great stuff, im just thinking, a nice play here, taking the male and putting in same pic as female but both looking at each other (my head is mince today)

CT · 05-01-2006, 10:45

There's a very real tendency when we use a long lens to fill the frame as much as we can, which is what you've done here. It's great that you can get that close to wild birds, they tend to be very wary, but you'd have done better to have used less focal length and got the whole bird in shot including some of the background. Magazines often prefer shots showing the bird and some it's surrounding habitat. Have a look at Dod's bird shots to see what I mean. See the difference pictorially too if you wanted to frame any of these shots? Try to think of the overall shot and how it succeeds as a picture rather than just being a close-up of a birds head. You can get away with this with larger more dramatic birds, raptors etc., but smaller birds often benefit from less focal length and leaving yourself room to crop is usually desirable.

Think about getting a bird feeder or bird table and siting it somewhere advantageous for your shots where you can get a nice oof background.

You often need the patience of Job for these sort of shots, but it's very rewarding when you pull them off.

RobertP · 05-01-2006, 11:28

Very helpful comments about the 'picture' CT. I won't be trying so hard for a 'birds eye view' next time something interesting lands in my garden

Venomator · 05-01-2006, 22:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by CT

There's a very real tendency when we use a long lens to fill the frame as much as we can, which is what you've done here. It's great that you can get that close to wild birds, they tend to be very wary, but you'd have done better to have used less focal length and got the whole bird in shot including some of the background. Magazines often prefer shots showing the bird and some it's surrounding habitat. Have a look at Dod's bird shots to see what I mean. See the difference pictorially too if you wanted to frame any of these shots? Try to think of the overall shot and how it succeeds as a picture rather than just being a close-up of a birds head. You can get away with this with larger more dramatic birds, raptors etc., but smaller birds often benefit from less focal length and leaving yourself room to crop is usually desirable.

Think about getting a bird feeder or bird table and siting it somewhere advantageous for your shots where you can get a nice oof background.

You often need the patience of Job for these sort of shots, but it's very rewarding when you pull them off.

Thanks for the comments CT - much appreciate the feedback. And tips.

And I thought these (studies) showed a different than normal type of shot of some really common birds ... Blackbird (turdus merula)

These immigrants are regular visitors to my back door begging for food (wax worms) and they were perched on a rather unnatural perch - garden fork - having taken some full shots e.g.;

I decided they did not look natural enough for my purposes and decided on these two 'studies' for the post.

By the way, our garden has more feeders than plants ! Even the squirrels have their own .. but that's another story !

AquilaEagle · 06-01-2006, 17:19

Fantastic!!

Venomator · 06-01-2006, 19:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by AquilaEagle

Fantastic!!

Why thank you Aquila Eagle ... much appreciated !

Boon · 06-01-2006, 20:27

nice shot, but i still prefer your first shot, think thats a cracker.

Venomator · 06-01-2006, 20:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevannie

nice shot, but i still prefer your first shot, think thats a cracker.

Thanx Stev - My point well made !

Matty · 06-01-2006, 22:18

i like all the shots you got here Rog, i argree with CT that most birdie shots in mags will be full frontals(as it were, lol)but the first shots you have posted are very good, and a crop on the blackie on the spade will really bring that up too...

...now wheres your borders!!

Venomator · 06-01-2006, 23:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matty

...now wheres your borders!!

Sorted ... as you will see already !?!

And just in case you've not seen the other yet ...

Not brill but give me time ...

04-01-2006, 23:51	#1 (permalink)
Venomator Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 922	Mr & Mrs Blackie A couple of our immigrant friends ... studied last week ? Mr first off ... Followed closely by Mrs ... Good, bad or what guys & gals ?

05-01-2006, 10:45	#5 (permalink)
CT Feet under the table Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: West Mids UK Posts: 3,500	There's a very real tendency when we use a long lens to fill the frame as much as we can, which is what you've done here. It's great that you can get that close to wild birds, they tend to be very wary, but you'd have done better to have used less focal length and got the whole bird in shot including some of the background. Magazines often prefer shots showing the bird and some it's surrounding habitat. Have a look at Dod's bird shots to see what I mean. See the difference pictorially too if you wanted to frame any of these shots? Try to think of the overall shot and how it succeeds as a picture rather than just being a close-up of a birds head. You can get away with this with larger more dramatic birds, raptors etc., but smaller birds often benefit from less focal length and leaving yourself room to crop is usually desirable. Think about getting a bird feeder or bird table and siting it somewhere advantageous for your shots where you can get a nice oof background. You often need the patience of Job for these sort of shots, but it's very rewarding when you pull them off. __________________ Canon 1DMk2N/ EF 50mm 1.4/ EF 17-40L/ EF180L Macro/ EF100-400L Canon 20D /17-85 EF-S 580EX Flashgun/ Gitzo Explorer

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

04-01-2006, 23:53	#2 (permalink)
Boon Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Robin Hood County Posts: 523	Absolutely cracking shots Ven, even got the catchlight in the eye, great stuff, what sort of distance from them were you. stevannie

05-01-2006, 09:27	#4 (permalink)
barrymoir Been here a while Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 369	wow great stuff, im just thinking, a nice play here, taking the male and putting in same pic as female but both looking at each other (my head is mince today)

05-01-2006, 11:28	#6 (permalink)
RobertP Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Woodford Essex Posts: 841	Very helpful comments about the 'picture' CT. I won't be trying so hard for a 'birds eye view' next time something interesting lands in my garden

06-01-2006, 17:19	#8 (permalink)
AquilaEagle Been here a while Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Herts, UK Posts: 311	Fantastic!!

06-01-2006, 20:27	#10 (permalink)
Boon Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Robin Hood County Posts: 523	nice shot, but i still prefer your first shot, think thats a cracker.

06-01-2006, 22:18	#12 (permalink)
Matty Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: kings hill Posts: 5,269	i like all the shots you got here Rog, i argree with CT that most birdie shots in mags will be full frontals(as it were, lol)but the first shots you have posted are very good, and a crop on the blackie on the spade will really bring that up too... ...now wheres your borders!!