Cades Cove - Coyote & Birds

Dixie

I spent today in Cades Cove. There was definitely frost on the pumpkin this morning, but enjoyed it all the same.

All taken with a Canon 50D and a rental Canon 800mm lens. These were all handheld which I can not recommend with the 800mm as it can cause your arm muscles to cramp.

Comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Click on each image for its EXIF data.

Bluebird


Coyote (up close and personal)


Meadowlark


Coyote again


Some other photos I took over the last two weeks using the rental 800mm lens can be seen in my New Photo Gallery (the others are from Dry Tortugas National Park, Everglades National Park and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and eventually some from Viera Wetlands). Thanks for taking the time to look.

bfjr

1st and 2nd very nice

dlplumer

Wow Dixie. These are good. What inspired you to rent an 800 mm?

Dixie

bfjr wrote:

1st and 2nd very nice

Thank you, Benjamin.

Dixie

dlplumer wrote:

Wow Dixie. These are good. What inspired you to rent an 800 mm?

Thanks, Dan. The longest prime I own is a 200mm and it "ain't" the best. I do most of my wildlife with a Canon 100-400mm and just wanted to see what a long prime could do. Convinced me, but I'm not going to pay 5 figures for the 800mm, but it did give me the desire to pick up a refurb 500 or 600mm which I think will be more in my budget - eventually. Borrowlenses had a deal to rent for 10 days and get an extra week for free so since I was going to Florida (Merritt Island NWR, Everglades, Dry Tortugas, and Biscayne) for about 10 days I figured I would try it and use up the remaining time in my normal shooting grounds (Great Smoky Mountains). I must say the results and the thrill were worth it to me.

Roaddog 52

1&2 are great images 3&4 are ok also. The last one of the coyote seems to have a halo effect around the head, but that could just be this old monitor finally giving up.

I am envious and will have to look into renting something like that myself.

Jack'll do

Darn good captures for handholding an 800 mm lens.

Harryb

Outstanding captures Dixie. A long prime definitely opens up the possibilities.

Ric Grupe

In my experience, you need an 800 to get that close to a Bluebird!

Very nice set of images, Dixie.

bhowdy

Great images Dixie. I also like #s 1 and 2.

I live 15 minutes from the Cove. If you are still around and want to borrow a tripod and gimbal head give me a PM.

Dixie

Roaddog 52 wrote:

1&2 are great images 3&4 are ok also. The last one of the coyote seems to have a halo effect around the head, but that could just be this old monitor finally giving up.

I am envious and will have to look into renting something like that myself.

RD,

I'm not seeing the halo around the head looking at the full-size post-processed image. The out-of-focus BG does sort of frame the head, but that is coincidental. The framed image has been reduced greatly and that could also be causing a haloing problem, but I don't see it on my monitor.

Thanks for taking the time to look and comment.

Dixie

Jack'll do wrote:

Darn good captures for handholding an 800 mm lens.

Thanks, Jack.

I did have to creative and did brace when possible. I found that by turning the lens handle out to the right I could turn my palm towards the handle and slip my hand between the lens and handle. The would raise my left arm under the lens barrel and then get in a position like shooting a rifle and it worked pretty good. I did also use a kayaking bag (the kind that you roll the top to close) and I would close it trapping air and it made a great support to rest my arm and lens on when shooting from my truck or near a fence or fence post.

Dixie

Harryb wrote:

Outstanding captures Dixie. A long prime definitely opens up the possibilities.

Thanks, Harry.

I really liked the 800mm, but found many times that I was too close. Next time I think I will try either the 500 or 600mm and see how they work out.

Again, it was great running into you at Viera Wetlands.

Dixie

Ric Grupe wrote:

In my experience, you need an 800 to get that close to a Bluebird!

Very nice set of images, Dixie.

Ric,

Your experience isn't lying too you. They are skittish. I was slipping up behind bushes and trees trying to get close enough without having them fly off just before I pushed the shutter.

Dixie

bhowdy wrote:

Great images Dixie. I also like #s 1 and 2.

I live 15 minutes from the Cove. If you are still around and want to borrow a tripod and gimbal head give me a PM.

Bob,

Thanks for the comments and the offer of the gimbal head. I actually had one with me which worked great shooting the big birds at Merritt Island NWR and the Everglades. However, it became a liability when shooting in Cades Cove. Every time I tried to get out the tripod with the gimbal head, the animals and birds became too impatient and jumpy and just moved off. However, I found that if I used my kayaking bag (mentioned above) filled with air as a support for my arm and lens the animals and birds didn't get as nervous and run or fly off near as bad. I did get to use the head a couple of times shooting deer at a distance as well as some of the horses.

We need to get together one of the times I am up there. I go right through Maryville ever time I go up. I always stay in the Townsend area (either camping or staying at the Econo Lodge <old Comfort Inn>) while I'm up there. I haven't lost a thing in Cherokee, Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge and not planning on doing so any time soon. I don't begrudge the people living there making a living doing what they are doing, but I sure do feel sorry for the people who make one of those three towns their primary reason for visiting the area.

At any rate, if you are interested in shooting together let me know and I'll drop you a line the next time I head that way. I always enjoy company.