Flight Images

HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
edited June 7, 2011 in Wildlife
Hi Y'all,

As most of you know the Alligator Farm is one of my favorite locations to shoot. Last year I shot there in April with a very good friend, Frank Wilson (aka Flew). Frank helped to organize the Ron Reznick Workshop that I attended in 2004 which transformed my photography. Later on he helped me coordinate the Merritt Island wildlife shoots . He was also the co-founder of the Nikon Cafe forum. That was the last time I saw Frank as he passed away a few months later.

One of the things Frank was fanatical about was flight shots and his mentoring was a big help in my own attempts at flight shots. These are for Frank.

Great Egret - D3s with the 70-200 2.8 +1.4 TC
1237701203_y2w3g-XL.jpg

Wood Stork -D3S with 79-200 2.8 + 1.4 TC
1237704757_vWfEc-XL.jpg

D3 with the 200-400
D3D3278-XL.jpg

Snowy Egret - D3s and the 70-200 2.8 + 1.4 TC
D3D3370-XL.jpg

Cattle Egret - D3 with the 70-200 2.8 + 1.4 TC
D3D3354-XL.jpg

Little Blue Heron with the 3 and the 70-200 2.8
D3D3284-XL.jpg
Harry
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"

Comments

  • IraRunyanIraRunyan Registered Users Posts: 1,013 Major grins
    edited May 28, 2011
    Outstanding set of flight shots, Harry. clap.gif
    I find the Cattle Egret an interesting shot. A white bird shot using a ISO of 800, f7.1 at 1/5000 second.
    My Photo Gallery
    http://ira-runyan.artistwebsites.com/index.html

    Florida Wildlife & Nature Photography
  • IcebearIcebear Registered Users Posts: 4,015 Major grins
    edited May 28, 2011
    bowdown.gifbowbowdown.gif
    John :
    Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
    D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
  • NorthernFocusNorthernFocus Registered Users Posts: 1,347 Major grins
    edited May 28, 2011
    Wonderful set, Harry. What a variety. Nice thumb.gif
    Dan

    My Photo Gallery:Northern Focus Photography
    I wish I was half the man that my dog thinks I am...
  • BradfordBennBradfordBenn Registered Users Posts: 2,506 Major grins
    edited May 29, 2011
    Nice shots as usual Harry.
    -=Bradford

    Pictures | Website | Blog | Twitter | Contact
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited May 29, 2011
    IraRunyan wrote: »
    Outstanding set of flight shots, Harry. clap.gif
    I find the Cattle Egret an interesting shot. A white bird shot using a ISO of 800, f7.1 at 1/5000 second.

    Thanks Ira.

    As for the cattle egret capture. I had just finished shooting a set of a nest in some fairly deep shadows so I had a higher ISO setting and an ev adjustment of minus a third of a stop. That's when I saw the cattle egret in bright light.

    I locked onto it and adjusted my ev setting as I locke d the focus. I have my rear command dial set to change the ev settings so I can do that w/o taking my eye away from the OVF. My prior settings in that light had ranged from -1.3 to -2.3 so I went for -1.7. The jpeg preview afterwards showed some blinkies but the RAW headroom of the D3 was able to handle that. If I had tried to adjust the ISO down I would have had to take my eye from the OVF and I would have missed the capture.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited May 29, 2011
    Harry, Frank must be smiling, because those are great shots. Like Ira, I love the cattle egret photo. It seems to me to be of the same caliber as that wonderful snowy egret flight picture you have. Every detail is sharp, the lighting looks great to me, and the BG is defocused and has such beautiful colors. And your explanation of how you did it is most interesting. I think it would be hard to get a better cattle egret in flight photo. clap.gifbowdown.gif :ivar

    Best, Pam
  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited May 29, 2011
    All fantastic flight poses; sharp and the color is fantastic! Well executed! thumb.gif
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited May 29, 2011
    Icebear wrote: »
    bowdown.gifbowbowdown.gif

    Thanks John
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • korandokekorandoke Registered Users Posts: 517 Major grins
    edited May 29, 2011
    verry nice work harry

    kind regards,
    korandoke
    Best regards,
    Korandoke
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited May 30, 2011
    NorthernFocus wrote: »
    Wonderful set, Harry. What a variety. Nice thumb.gif


    Thanks the rookery in St Augustine does have a good variety of birds nesting there.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • bobmielkebobmielke Banned Posts: 89 Big grins
    edited May 30, 2011
    Very impressive photos in this set. After reading Moose Peterson's "Captured" book on wildlife photography I can understand your choice of gear to capture these shots. Great job!
  • Dennis KaczorDennis Kaczor Registered Users Posts: 2,413 Major grins
    edited May 30, 2011
    Very nice captures Harry.
    Regards - Dennis

    Dennis Kaczor Photography
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited May 30, 2011
    clap.gifGood stuff, Harry!clap.gif

    I think the Cattle Egret pleases me the most due to the light and nicely blurred BG.
  • johnbrinerjohnbriner Registered Users Posts: 61 Big grins
    edited May 31, 2011
    Very impressive set, Harry! clap.gif I like the variety as well as the action. You certainly have the eye for these subjects. Now I'm having a hard time picking which one is my favorite headscratch.gif. All of them are just superb.
    John Briner Art
  • MikeAldrichMikeAldrich Registered Users Posts: 145 Major grins
    edited May 31, 2011
    Outstanding captures Harry! clap.gifclapclap.gif
    “The digital camera is a great invention because it allows us to reminisce. Instantly.” -Demetri Martin

    http://www.shuttershockphotobooth.com/
  • GaleGale Registered Users Posts: 1,052 Major grins
    edited May 31, 2011
    Great set of images as a tribute to our dear friend Flew.
    Still hard to grasp his passing.
    Best Regards
    Gale

    www.pbase.com/techwish
  • johnbrinerjohnbriner Registered Users Posts: 61 Big grins
    edited May 31, 2011
    I find all the shots very appealing! I love the snowy egret shot! Good contrast!
    John Briner Art
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited June 2, 2011
    BradfordBenn wrote: »
    Nice shots as usual Harry.

    Thanks Brad
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited June 3, 2011
    PGM wrote: »
    Harry, Frank must be smiling, because those are great shots. Like Ira, I love the cattle egret photo. It seems to me to be of the same caliber as that wonderful snowy egret flight picture you have. Every detail is sharp, the lighting looks great to me, and the BG is defocused and has such beautiful colors. And your explanation of how you did it is most interesting. I think it would be hard to get a better cattle egret in flight photo. clap.gifbowdown.gif :ivar

    Best, Pam

    Thanks Pam I was rather happy with how that image came out. Usually those snap captures don't work out this well.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited June 4, 2011
    Maestro wrote: »
    All fantastic flight poses; sharp and the color is fantastic! Well executed! thumb.gif

    Thanks Stephen, the rookery is a gold mine for flight captures.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited June 4, 2011
    korandoke wrote: »
    verry nice work harry

    kind regards,
    korandoke

    Thanks very much. wave.gif
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited June 5, 2011
    bobmielke wrote: »
    Very impressive photos in this set. After reading Moose Peterson's "Captured" book on wildlife photography I can understand your choice of gear to capture these shots. Great job!

    Thanks Bob, I read Moose's book yet but its on my list. The rookery in ST. Augustine is one of the very few locations where I use the 70-200 for wildlife shooting. Normally its just too short for wildlife.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • carlogallianicarlogalliani Registered Users Posts: 769 Major grins
    edited June 7, 2011
    wonderful series and great shots
    Carlo Galliani
    http://www.pbase.com/carlogalliani
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