Bolsa Raptors

bfjr

Another excellent morning with Jeff at Bolsa.
Wheather was good, except them darn Raptors love to be backlight, but you just gotta keep pushing forward.

Coopers trying to hide from us


Osprey trying to stay backlight


I think I can land right there


RTH Looking good

Harryb

Hey Ben,

Excellent shot. Its a crying shame that branch got in the frame on the 3rd shot. Why don't you try the clone tool and the healing brush and try to remove it?

gus

Crisp shots ben...very nice

GREAPER

Nice set. I have no luck with BIFs, I need faster glass I think. You did very well.

Rohirrim

Excellent Ben, I love the expression you captured on the 3rd one. thumb

jwear

well not bad for a slow day with no birds to shoot all we have to do is say lets go home and they all come to have their picture taken ,funny great job my hawk shot was very bad but look at the osprey ,today was fun and full of interest

bfjr

Harryb wrote:

Hey Ben,

Excellent shot. Its a crying shame that branch got in the frame on the 3rd shot. Why don't you try the clone tool and the healing brush and try to remove it?

Ok I'l try but no guarantee's

iceman17

Wow yet another fantastic set of pics.To get a BIF with a fish in its talon is priceless.Keep up the great work..ice

bfjr

Humungus wrote:

Crisp shots ben...very nice

Thanks Gus
I aim to please

bfjr

GREAPER wrote:

Nice set. I have no luck with BIFs, I need faster glass I think. You did very well.

Afternoon
You don't need fast glass. Just practice
Ever shot clay pigeons, same kinda idea ......... get focus lock then follow even lead a bit

bfjr

Rohirrim wrote:

Excellent Ben, I love the expression you captured on the 3rd one. thumb

Yeah that one got me too

bfjr

jwear wrote:

well not bad for a slow day with no birds to shoot all we have to do is say lets go home and they all come to have their picture taken ,funny great job my hawk shot was very bad but look at the osprey ,today was fun and full of interest

thanks for the company, buddy
always a blast

ginger_55

You all, well, Ben, good captures, especially even seeing that hiding raptor. I stare at the trees, just know there is a bird in there, but darn, I am not finding them. Good get there.

On Birds in flight, I shoot them with my 400f5.6, I need to be in a wide open area, have and I need to have my camera on al servo (or ie servo, I can never remember, but that is important. The focus point locks onto the "object", whatever is at the point, I use one point. I hate that everything is in the center, I have never shot that way, but it does give a good lock.

That and the wide open space. If there are trees around, I lose the bird. I mean if the bird can go behind a tree every few feet, I lose the lock and I don't get it back, if I ever got it in the first place. So, if you are just learning this, as I am, don't get down on yourself. Try to find an area where you have plenty of space and time to get a lock on the bird.

What is really cool is a brisk wind. The bird can't fly well, so he/she kind of sits up in the air trying to get somewhere against the wind. If I am braced at all, that gives me the time to find the bird, and gives the camera time to focus and get a lock on it. Make sure it is in the correct mode.

ginger (I have been practicing on my higher power's gift to me this week, egrets and seagulls. Never have I seen so many seagulls) Oh, and make sure you have a good shutter speed. Unless it is very bright out, when I put the 400 on, I usually put the ISO on 400, especially if I expect flying birds.. I shoot in AV mode at between 5.6 and 11. F 8 works best for me.

bfjr

iceman17 wrote:

Wow yet another fantastic set of pics.To get a BIF with a fish in its talon is priceless.Keep up the great work..ice

Your right but if you keep after it they will come with fish in talon
thanks for your comments and support