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Flight Shots

HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
edited December 20, 2004 in Wildlife
Hi all,

One of my favorite shots is the bird in flight shot. These are a pain to get especially when shooting with a slow focusing lens like the 80-400VR. One of the difficulties in getting a decent flight shot is the simple fact that the bird is tired of the photographer's attention and wants to get away from him/her. This results in the classic "bird butt shot". LIke this one of a Great Blue Heron .

Harry
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!"

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    HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 19, 2004
    What I'm been doing lately is to move to the side of my intended target so that when he/she notices me and decides to leave I get one or two side shots before it gives me the butt view.


    A White Ibis
    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!"
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    HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 19, 2004
    a tri-colored heron
    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!"
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    HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 19, 2004
    a Great Blue Heron
    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!"
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    AndyAndy Registered Users Posts: 50,016 Major grins
    edited December 19, 2004
    really nice, harry.
    Andy

    Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
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    ehughesehughes Registered Users Posts: 1,675 Major grins
    edited December 19, 2004
    Harryb wrote:
    Hi all,

    One of my favorite shots is the bird in flight shot. These are a pain to get especially when shooting with a slow focusing lens like the 80-400VR. One of the difficulties in getting a decent flight shot is the simple fact that the bird is tired of the photographer's attention and wants to get away from him/her. This results in the classic "bird butt shot". LIke this one of a Great Blue Heron .

    Harry
    Harry, I could make an entire gallery of "bird butt shots" so I understand what you mean there. I really like the shot of the White Ibis thumb.gif
    Ed

    www.edhughesphoto.com
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    NirNir Registered Users Posts: 1,400 Major grins
    edited December 19, 2004
    Beautiful catches! Butts or not mwink.gif
    __________________

    Nir Alon

    images of my thoughts
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    HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 19, 2004
    andy wrote:
    really nice, harry.
    Why thank you Andy. :D

    Harry
    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!"
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    ian408ian408 Administrators Posts: 21,916 moderator
    edited December 19, 2004
    Duck butts, egret butts, heron butts...got 'em all. Thanks for the
    tip. Getting ready to leave for another try. Palo Alto Baylands.

    It's a waiting game for sure.

    Ian
    Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
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    HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 19, 2004
    Hey Ed
    ehughes wrote:
    Harry, I could make an entire gallery of "bird butt shots" so I understand what you mean there. I really like the shot of the White Ibis thumb.gif
    Ed,

    I have so many butt shots I don't even process the newest ones anymore. How many different takes can there be on a heron's butt. :D

    I was real happy with the ibis shot. He was coming towards me to make a landing. When he noticed me he made a turn and I got him on the turn.

    Harry
    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!"
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    HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 19, 2004
    Nir wrote:
    Beautiful catches! Butts or not mwink.gif
    Thank you Nir :D

    Harry
    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!"
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    Steve CaviglianoSteve Cavigliano Super Moderators Posts: 3,599 moderator
    edited December 19, 2004
    Super shots Harry clap.gif I like that Ibis too. Sharp as a tack. I hope you're not throwing rocks at these birds just so you can get some side shots.....lol
    Geeze, you guys got something against bird butts? :lol That only covers about 90% of my bird shots rolleyes1.gif
    Hope you're feeling better and thanks for sharing these thumb.gif

    Steve
    SmugMug Support Hero
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    HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 19, 2004
    Hey Ian
    ian408 wrote:
    Duck butts, egret butts, heron butts...got 'em all. Thanks for the
    tip. Getting ready to leave for another try. Palo Alto Baylands.

    It's a waiting game for sure.
    Ian
    It sure is Ian. Good luck on your next try. I'm looking forward to seeing what you come back with.

    Harry
    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!"
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    cletuscletus Registered Users Posts: 1,930 Major grins
    edited December 19, 2004
    Great shots harry! thumb.gif
    ab0wa.smugmug.com
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    gtcgtc Registered Users Posts: 916 Major grins
    edited December 19, 2004
    very nice
    you are obviously enjoying your retirement-i particularly like the white heron-nice and crisp and lots of eye
    Latitude: 37° 52'South
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    Canon 20d,EFS-60mm Macro,Canon 85mm/1.8. Pentax Spotmatic SP,Pentax Super Takumars 50/1.4 &135/3.5,Pentax Super-Multi-Coated Takumars 200/4 ,300/4,400/5.6,Sigma 600/8.
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    HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 19, 2004
    Hey Steve
    Steve Cavigliano wrote:
    Super shots Harry clap.gif I like that Ibis too. Sharp as a tack. I hope you're not throwing rocks at these birds just so you can get some side shots.....lol
    Geeze, you guys got something against bird butts? :lol That only covers about 90% of my bird shots rolleyes1.gif
    Hope you're feeling better and thanks for sharing these thumb.gif

    Steve
    Thanks for the kind words about the pics. I don't have to throw rocks to get them to fly it just seems that my pleasant personality is all it takes to get them airborne. rolleyes1.gif

    Bird butts are ok but the problem you have is getting some life into the pic. Birds are cool but don't have a lot of personality. The best bird pics are usually those that have the bird's eye shown clearly. In this series most folks seem to like the Ibis shot the best. The ibis shot has the most distinct view of the eye of all the pics. Its hard to get a good view of the eye with a butt shot.

    Harry
    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!"
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    HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 20, 2004
    cletus wrote:
    Great shots harry! thumb.gif
    Thamks Eric. :D

    Harry
    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!"
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    HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 20, 2004
    gtc wrote:
    you are obviously enjoying your retirement-i particularly like the white heron-nice and crisp and lots of eye
    Love retirement. There ain't no better feeling than to wake up and know you don't have to be in the bloody office. :D

    Harry
    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!"
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