Raining Raptors

Osprey Whisperer · December 28, 2006

Hello folks,

Just a few from the other morning. The ospreys are busy busy busy. Shot for 4 hours and now have about 175 osprey "keepers" to process. :huh

That's not counting the other birds that flew by and got in the way. :rofl Needless to say it was a rather productive morning. . Filled up about 2.5 gigs. :barb :ivar I've never shot that much at one time. Uh oh.....intervention might be needed. Good thing I don't have one of those fancy 8 fps machineguns.

Will share some of the nest building and dirty bird shots when I get them processed.

Thanks for looking.

BigAl · December 29, 2006

Looks like you had a ball :ivar. If these are anything to go by, looking forward to the rest!

Dick on Aruba · December 29, 2006

Well...you wand to be called Bird Man? Here you have it!

Great captures, well done.

Dick.

dbaker1221 · December 29, 2006

great shots... how close are you getting?

Osprey Whisperer · December 29, 2006

BigAl wrote:

Looks like you had a ball :ivar. If these are anything to go by, looking forward to the rest!

Thanks Al. Here are a few more . Soooo many to look throuigh and process. it's going to take 'til Christmas.

Maestro · December 29, 2006

I'm envious. Good job!

Harryb · December 29, 2006

Outstanding work Mike.

Of course with all the shots you took you had the law of averages on your side.

jwear · December 30, 2006

you may need to go to Betty Ford

they have a group for the long lens and to many pixels addicts --good luck oh yea the shots are nice

Osprey Whisperer · December 30, 2006

Dick on Aruba wrote:

Well...you wand to be called Bird Man? Here you have it!

Great captures, well done.

Dick.

Bird Man?

That's what many of the locals call me. I'll pass them..or they see me shooting and then when I run into them later...they say "Your that bird man photographer" or "Your that photographer with the big lens"

:ivar Guess it was as good as any for a user name.

Thanks for looking and commenting, Dick. Hope to get some more shots up soon.

erich6 · December 30, 2006

Nice shots Mike. Yup, anytime I shoot birds I end up with tons of photos. I'm still teaching myself to be selective.

Looks like you did well though. Great captures.

Erich

Osprey Whisperer · December 30, 2006

dbaker1221 wrote:

great shots... how close are you getting?

Thanks DB.

AS CLOSE AS I WANT!!!

I've been as close as a few feet (as in less than 5') They are quite use to me. It's nice to have such access to 3 nests/pairs of ospreys.

:ivar

:ivar Most of these shots were taken at about 25' give or take a few.

Chip · December 31, 2006

Nice job Mike,
I enjoy the behavioral shots alot.

Osprey Whisperer · December 31, 2006

Maestro wrote:

I'm envious. Good job!

Thanks Maestro. Some amazing shooting down here.

Osprey Whisperer · December 31, 2006

Harryb wrote:

Outstanding work Mike.

Of course with all the shots you took you had the law of averages on your side.

Thanks Harry. Now...be nice. The only law in my favor ...is Murphy's .

I think you did the math wrong. That's a good bit of keepers, silly. That wasn't counting the several dozen other flight shots of pelicans, egrets and herons. :ivar

:ivar

Osprey Whisperer · January 1, 2007

jwear wrote:

you may need to go to Betty Ford they have a group for the long lens and to many pixels addicts --good luck oh yea the shots are nice

Thanks Jeff. You and yours have a great New Year. Be safe and don't drink and fly.

Osprey Whisperer · January 1, 2007

erich6 wrote:

Nice shots Mike. Yup, anytime I shoot birds I end up with tons of photos. I'm still teaching myself to be selective.

Looks like you did well though. Great captures.

Erich

Thanks Erich. I figure I can take the shots and process them later, when the birds are not cooperating.

dallas · January 1, 2007

You lucky dawg you......all those birds to your self, but thanks for sharing. Happy New Year Mike.

Osprey Whisperer · January 2, 2007

Chip wrote:

Nice job Mike,
I enjoy the behavioral shots alot.

Thanks Chip. Glad you enjoyed them. I had a ball taking them.

:ivar

gildco · January 2, 2007

No surprise.
The quality of your work is not a surprise, which is why so many of us enjoy seeing your photos. For us "wannabees," what lens were you using? I know it's a pain in the butt, but could you post some exif info for some of your shots? That would give us some help in using our own equipment.

I look forward to seeing more of you fine captures, Birdman. Have a rewarding New Year.

Osprey Whisperer · January 2, 2007

dallas wrote:

You lucky dawg you......all those birds to your self, but thanks for sharing. Happy New Year Mike.

Thanks Buddy. Next time you're in town...you'll have to stop in for a guided osprey boat tour.

Happy New Year William.

BIG BROTHER · January 2, 2007

Bird Man Photographer wrote:

Thanks Buddy. Next time you're in town...you'll have to stop in for a guided osprey boat tour. Happy New Year William.

Great shooting Mike

Be careful what you promise, the last time I was in a boat with Bill we almost had to row back

_____
Jim

Osprey Whisperer · January 2, 2007

gildco wrote:

The quality of your work is not a surprise, which is why so many of us enjoy seeing your photos. For us "wannabees," what lens were you using? I know it's a pain in the butt, but could you post some exif info for some of your shots? That would give us some help in using our own equipment.

I look forward to seeing more of you fine captures, Birdman. Have a rewarding New Year.

Thank you for the very kind words, Gil. Greatly appreciated. Hope I can share some more shots at this level soon.

Exif Schmexif.

Ok..I'll let you know what I "usually" do. For most birds on a sunny day it's the 20D with the 200mm f/2.8 (if more reach is needed then I slap the 1.4x TC on). I usually shoot hand held waiting for those birds in flight. I either shoot manual or shutter priority. Speed is more important to me when shooting on a rocking boat. I try and keep shutter speeds at 1/2000 or slight faster. I try and keep aperture at f/8...especially with a TC. I set ISO appropriately to reach these settings (usually ISO 400..with teles). If there are white birds I use the EV. In the bright Florida sun...it can vary from -2/3 to -1 1/2 easily. I try and get a test shot fired before the flight action. Read the histogram and make sure I'm not blowing highlights. If on land..it's pretty easy. Track the bird and press that silver button when you like what you see.

The trick on the rocking boat..is to swivel them hips and bend them knees. You need to try and keep that camera level and steady. (not easy I know).

Like the saying goes. f/8 a 12 pack.... and BE THERE.

Most of the shots would reveal similar EXIF info. 1/2000 @ f/8 -EV 2/3 (birds with white & dark) +EV 1/3 (dark/black birds) -EV 1 (white birds) / ISO 400 ...and work from there.

Good luck.

windoze · January 3, 2007

Gotta tell you that i enjoy your posts! I havent been a great fan of raptors buts that because i rarley get a chance to "catch" my own, but nevertheless your images are always great to see and informative! one of my photography 2007 resolutions is to appreciate "raptors" more and to try to get some of my own!!!

thanx for sharing so much!

troy

Osprey Whisperer · January 3, 2007

BIG BROTHER wrote:

Great shooting Mike
Be careful what you promise, the last time I was in a boat with Bill we almost had to row back

_____
Jim

Thanks Jim. I'll heed your warning.....but I doubt I need Williams help getting in trouble with a boat.

Osprey Whisperer · January 3, 2007

windoze wrote:

Gotta tell you that i enjoy your posts! I havent been a great fan of raptors buts that because i rarley get a chance to "catch" my own, but nevertheless your images are always great to see and informative! one of my photography 2007 resolutions is to appreciate "raptors" more and to try to get some of my own!!!

thanx for sharing so much!

troy

Thanks for the kind words, Troy. I too enjoy your posts/photos.

Honestly..I'm not a fan of the itty bitty bird either......but you make them enjoyable.

My resolution...was not to make any resolutions.

Happy New Year Troy.

raptorcaptor · January 3, 2007

Great ospry shots Mike!

They're going a little crazy with their building!:D

davev · January 3, 2007

Nice shots.
It will be months before I see another osprey here in Mn.:cry

Osprey Whisperer · January 4, 2007

raptorcaptor wrote:

Great ospry shots Mike! They're going a little crazy with their building!:D

Thanks Glenn. It was pretty neat shooting this pair of osprey taking off....landing with nesting materials...and doing the "wild thing".

Busy birds for sure. A good time was had by all.

:ivar

Osprey Whisperer · January 5, 2007

davev wrote:

Nice shots.
It will be months before I see another osprey here in Mn.:cry

Thanks Dave. Keep warm up there in MinnySoter. I'll put in a good word for you and maybe get some of those extra osprey to leave to fly Norht a bit early.

gildco · January 7, 2007

Bird Man Photographer wrote:

Ok..I'll let you know what I "usually" do. For most birds on a sunny day it's the 20D with the 200mm f/2.8 (if more reach is needed then I slap the 1.4x TC on). I usually shoot hand held waiting for those birds in flight. I either shoot manual or shutter priority. Speed is more important to me when shooting on a rocking boat. I try and keep shutter speeds at 1/2000 or slight faster. I try and keep aperture at f/8...especially with a TC. I set ISO appropriately to reach these settings (usually ISO 400..with teles)....Like the saying goes. f/8 a 12 pack.... and BE THERE.quote]

Thanks, Mike, for taking the time to provide this info. I shall use it. Most appreciated was the advice about a 12-pack. Funny thing, but my Rebel XT becomes a 20D about half way through the 12-pack, and all my frames are in perfect focus.

Osprey Whisperer · January 8, 2007

gildco wrote:

Bird Man Photographer wrote:

Ok..I'll let you know what I "usually" do. For most birds on a sunny day it's the 20D with the 200mm f/2.8 (if more reach is needed then I slap the 1.4x TC on). I usually shoot hand held waiting for those birds in flight. I either shoot manual or shutter priority. Speed is more important to me when shooting on a rocking boat. I try and keep shutter speeds at 1/2000 or slight faster. I try and keep aperture at f/8...especially with a TC. I set ISO appropriately to reach these settings (usually ISO 400..with teles)....Like the saying goes. f/8 a 12 pack.... and BE THERE.quote]

Thanks, Mike, for taking the time to provide this info. I shall use it. Most appreciated was the advice about a 12-pack. Funny thing, but my Rebel XT becomes a 20D about half way through the 12-pack, and all my frames are in perfect focus.

You're welcome. Hope that helped. Regarding the 12 pack...it does get difficult deciding which of the two birds to put the focus point one.

Raining Raptors

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