Hey Harry :) I Got Me A BIF Whoohooo!

Skippy

Having worked every day since I got back from USA, and no sign of a day off coming my way till things settle down at work, I decided to go down to the boat ramp late this afternoon.

There I found a few Seagulls, but was hoping for a Pelican ohhhh well :dunno

I saw those Gulls and I thought of Harry :rofl and I figured I would try my hand at trying to follow a bird in flight with my Canon 400mm, I fired off a full 1 Gig CF card during that time, but I got a couple of keeps so I'm really pleased.

Well Harry this one's for you it is NOT CROPPED in any way, and he's got dinner in his beak too :clap



The second shot was some other kind of bird I have not seen around before, larger than the Seagulls, and those Gulls got out of it's way....he was bobbing his head in the water and eating something, managed to catch the water droplets too

Adrian van Ammers

Wow, neat shot!

Skippy wrote:

Having worked every day since I got back from USA, and no sign of a day off coming my way till things settle down at work, I decided to go down to the boat ramp late this afternoon.

There I found a few Seagulls, but was hoping for a Pelican ohhhh well

I saw those Gulls and I thought of Harry and I figured I would try my hand at trying to follow a bird in flight with my Canon 400mm, I fired off a full 1 Gig CF card during that time, but I got a couple of keeps so I'm really pleased.

Well Harry this one's for you it is NOT CROPPED in any way, and he's got dinner in his beak too



The second shot was some other kind of bird I have not seen around before, larger than the Seagulls, and those Gulls got out of it's way....he was bobbing his head in the water and eating something, managed to catch the water droplets too

Canon 400?

ginger_55

Cool shots, Skippy!

That first one is really a good catch!

I fill up cards rapidly, too. Then I can't see to chimp. I have a 2 gb card and two 1 gb cards. For emergencies, used yesterday, I have a slow 512 card.
I would love another card in the gbs, either 1 or 2. 2 would be best, of course, but there are other places to put the money I find.

both shots are good, but the BIF with food and composed well, that is a good get, very good.

ginger

Skippy

Hi There Adrian

Adrian van Ammers wrote:

Canon 400?

Yep the Canon 400mm ......... what I need is just time to play with it, and not rush to do what I want to do.

Soon as I get a chance I will be going back to the bird sanctuary and spending quite a bit of time there, and the Melbourne Zoo......the Zoo is really where I wanna be thanks for looking Adrian...... Skippy (Australia)

Skippy

It was a Fluke Ginger

ginger_55 wrote:

Cool shots, Skippy!

That first one is really a good catch!

I fill up cards rapidly, too. Then I can't see to chimp. I have a 2 gb card and two 1 gb cards. For emergencies, used yesterday, I have a slow 512 card.
I would love another card in the gbs, either 1 or 2. 2 would be best, of course, but there are other places to put the money I find.

both shots are good, but the BIF with food and composed well, that is a good get, very good.

ginger

While I was down at the boat ramp, a man came down with some fish scraps from a fishing trip no doubt, and he said to me "are you waiting for a Pelican" and I said yeah but the Seagulls will do if the Pelicans don't turn up

So he threw the scraps and I had to move back away from him because the Gulls came in toooooo close.........yep I need heaps more practice at panning with the bird in flight, it's not easy to do at all, I was surprised at how hard it was to do......its fun though, hopefully next time I may get the Pelicans coming in for a landing.........now that would be real cool if that happens.
Thank you for your kind words Ginger..... Skippy (Australia)

rahmonster

Great shots skippy Lovely light.

Skippy

But I really wanted a Pelican

rahmonster wrote:

Great shots skippy Lovely light.

Had to settle for Seagulls.......the Pelicans were on strike
Thanks for looking........ Skippy (Australia)

ginger_55

Skippy, don't forget when panning to put your AF on al servo. I use center pt. It puts all my birds in the center, but at least I get them.

And to maximise your chances, the higher the shutter speed the better.

ginger

I particularly like the blurring of the wings on the BIF. It is just enough to show the motion of the bird, but the bird, in fact, is in perfect focus. Love it.

Skippy

Thanks Ginger

ginger_55 wrote:

Skippy, don't forget when panning to put your AF on al servo. I use center pt. It puts all my birds in the center, but at least I get them.

And to maximise your chances, the higher the shutter speed the better.

ginger

I particularly like the blurring of the wings on the BIF. It is just enough to show the motion of the bird, but the bird, in fact, is in perfect focus. Love it.

I had my camera set up just as you said it was late in the day, so next time I will head out earlier to have another go.......those things can fly so dang fast though can't they, you see them then they're gone or they are at your feet .
Skippy (Australia)

ginger_55

Skippy wrote:

I had my camera set up just as you said it was late in the day, so next time I will head out earlier to have another go.......those things can fly so dang fast though can't they, you see them then they're gone or they are at your feet .
Skippy (Australia)

Actually, I think pelicans are easier than seagulls, IF they are there.

And the shore birds, like the egrets, if there aren't trees to mess up the focus lock, they are easier, too. Anything that messes with the lock, I am not good enough to get it back easily.

One day it was so windy it almost blew me over. That was easy pickins on the birds. They were trying to fly into the wind and they just "hung" there.

Seagulls tend to dart more than some, IMO. The only good thing is that there usually are so many of them...........some places.

Little birds, I can't get them in flight, but I don't work on it much, either.

g

Harryb

Congratulations Skippy!!!! The BIF is sweet and the second shot is also outstanding. It looks like you had a lot of fun. When I go for BIFs I end up with a whole lot more culls than keepers but the keepers can be really good.


Not to worry about the pelicans, Ginger is right they are a whole lot easier than the gulls to shoot. You will get one real soon.

Skippy

Thanks Harry

Harryb wrote:

Congratulations Skippy!!!! The BIF is sweet and the second shot is also outstanding. It looks like you had a lot of fun. When I go for BIFs I end up with a whole lot more culls than keepers but the keepers can be really good.


Not to worry about the pelicans, Ginger is right they are a whole lot easier than the gulls to shoot. You will get one real soon.

It was great trying to keep up with them as they flew past, good practice at panning.......it's not easy to do by golly gosh...... I could barely keep up with them cause they seem to dart in and out and up and down.

Least there is a variety of birds get down there, I shall go back there again when I get time and hope the Pelicans are in they are normally there sometimes up to 12 or more, but they must have found a better feed else where......thanks for looking Harry.....take care........ Skippy (Australia)

bfjr

Yes you did Skippy and well done indeed
I hope it's not just for Harry you know he like his birds with Pineapple :lol4

Skippy

Thanks bfjr

bfjr wrote:

Yes you did Skippy and well done indeed
I hope it's not just for Harry you know he like his birds with Pineapple :lol4

Pineapple hu.... mine only come with fishbits secondhand at that too
I had fun trying to keep up with the birds.......yup I will be giving this another try reall soon......thanks for looking....... Skippy (Australia)