A Preview of MI IV

pathfinder

Nightingale and I spent a few days with Harry and Linda prior to the shuttle launch two weeks ago.

Thanks to Harry's excellent advise, we were able to see a few wild creatures at Vierra Wetlands.

Here is a preview of what might be seen at MI IV.
GBH of course


A kingfisher can usually be seen - but hard to capture



An eagle may inspect YOU!!



We saw spoonbills at the Alligator farm in St Augustine, but they will probably be at Merritt Island also.



These are just a few of the birds to be seen in February.

I want to thank Harry and Linda once again for being such excellent hosts!:clap

Harryb

Excellent set PF. Really nice work with the exposures on those shots. Whcih ones were with teh Sigma and which were with the Tamron and were you satisfied with your results from those two lenses?

Linda and I really enjoyed having you and Nightingale over.

pathfinder

I picked a few shots that I thought were representative of what we all will be sure to see in February.

The GBH and the Kingfisher were shot off hand with a 20D and a 300 +2x TC while were were sitting on the bank shooting that little greenie wading the shoreline. I am sure you remember this little guy


The eagle was shot with a 5D and the Sigma 300-800, at 800mm, from a tripod, at sunrise, of course. I have better eagle shots, but I thought having the eagle look directly at the viewer was kind of neat shot. Here is another


The roseate spoonbill was shot with a 1DMkll and a Tamron 200-500mm at 500mm handheld again. We were just taking a brief walkthrough of the alligator farm in Saint Augustine and I was not sure if a tripod would be allowed or helpful. I would use a tripod or a monopod if I were to return.

Here is a parrot shot at the alligaator farm with the little Tammy lens again.



We had a great time too, Harry, you and Linda are great hosts.

I found the Sigma to be sharp, but 800 really isn't that much longer than 500. Less difference than you might think. The ability to find your subject at 300mm and then zoom in is worthwhile. It is big, heavy, and requires careful attention to tele technique. The real advantage of the Sigma 300--800 is that it lets a Canon guy like me sneak in among the Nikonians and they do not realize it because the lens is BLACK!

The Tamron 200-500 is a small, light, easily carried and handled long piece of glass. It is not fast, but it can be pretty sharp with careful technique. A tripod helps - I found using a small tripod on the hood of my truck was a nice compromise - small, light easy to handle, yet stable and easy to pick up and move. It is a little cheaper than a Canon 400f5.6 which is certainly a sharper optic, but you cannot zoom back with your feet to widen your view as easily as you can with the Tamron. I am satisfied with it for now.
This was shot with the little Tammy also. And remember it is black also, so I do not get noticed by the Nikonian patrols!

Osprey Whisperer

Nice shootin' ...JIm. Good variety of birds. Must be great living in Florida with that vast variety of birds. Shooting them close up with a 200mm is also sweet.

pathfinder

Quit laughing at me, Mike - I need all the help (millimeters) I can get. I can never seem to get within a 200mm lenses range with birds like you do so often!

Are you coming to MI IV?

dbaker1221

fantastic shot!

Osprey Whisperer

pathfinder wrote:

Quit laughing at me, Mike - I need all the help (millimeters) I can get. I can never seem to get within a 200mm lenses range with birds like you do.

Are you coming to MI IV?

I wasn't laughing AT you.....just WITH you. I wish I had your glass. I just have to be creative in my approach. Dressing up like a big mullet seems to work with the osprey. It does get a bit dangerous when they try and fly off with me.

I'm planning on attending MI4..but am running into some small l0gistic issues. I'll definitely be here for the West coast leg of it. Are you coming to the Gulf coast shoot ?

Harryb

I'm planning on attending MI4..but am running into some small l0gistic issues. I'll definitely be here for the West coast leg of it. Are you coming to the Gulf coast shoot ?[/quote

You're coming over to the Space Coast part of the shoot if I have to drive over to you and get you.

Osprey Whisperer

Harryb wrote:

You're coming over to the Space Coast part of the shoot if I have to drive over to you and get you.

Thanks Boss. I'm talking with Ron...looks like he and his wife might put up with me for a ride there...and possibly back. Can I get there by boat? I could leave now.