tough choice

HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
edited January 26, 2005 in Wildlife
Hi you'll

The other day while in the wetlands I came across this scene. Now right in front of me I had this fine Great Blue Heron just standing there posing saying "take my pciture pleae". In the background a bit of a ways off on top to the dead tree was a Bald Eagle just hanging out. Do I pass by the Heron (easy shot) and go for the eagle who's a real tough shot, he's very high up and backlit?

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!"

Comments

  • Steve CaviglianoSteve Cavigliano Super Moderators Posts: 3,599 moderator
    edited January 25, 2005
    Go for the GBH
    Harryb wrote:
    Hi you'll

    The other day while in the wetlands I came across this scene. Now right in front of me I had this fine Great Blue Heron just standing there posing saying "take my pciture pleae". In the background a bit of a ways off on top to the dead tree was a Bald Eagle just hanging out. Do I pass by the Heron (easy shot) and go for the eagle who's a real tough shot, he's very high up and backlit?

    Harry
    Harry,
    I shoot lots of birds in trees or on poles and my hit rate is extremely low :cry The biggest problem is the perspective you get from the ground. You either have to move farther away to get a view of the entire bird, or you can get close and get a nice head, or tail shot. It's really hard, from the ground, to get a decent angle of the entire (or at least, most of the bird). Not to mention shooting against a bright sky (this may be a job for the Better Beamer, which I have also shot pole sitters with). From directly under the pole it fries the subject.....lol It works well from farther back, but then you wind up with a smaller bird.

    The eagle would be a challenge and if that's what you are looking for, go for it. The GBH, is a relatively easier shot, but as you point out, not very challenging. Plus, I believe you already have one or two GBH shots in your portfolio :roll


    Whatever you wind up shooting, please share it with us :D


    Steve
    SmugMug Support Hero
  • LiquidOpsLiquidOps Registered Users Posts: 835 Major grins
    edited January 25, 2005
    you can't shoot both? headscratch.gifne_nau.gif


    it is digital after all :)
    Wandering Through Life Photography
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  • ehughesehughes Registered Users Posts: 1,675 Major grins
    edited January 25, 2005
    Go for the tough shot, sure your rate of success might be lower. But that's how you might get the shot that nobody else has.

    Ed

    Of course you could always wound the Heron and feed it to the Eagle... ( kidding ):D
    Ed

    www.edhughesphoto.com
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited January 25, 2005
    Bragger!!!
    thumb.gifmwink.gif

    What a terrible fix to be in. FLIPA.gif (:D ).
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited January 25, 2005
    Steve Cavigliano wrote:
    Harry,
    I shoot lots of birds in trees or on poles and my hit rate is extremely low :cry The biggest problem is the perspective you get from the ground. You either have to move farther away to get a view of the entire bird, or you can get close and get a nice head, or tail shot. It's really hard, from the ground, to get a decent angle of the entire (or at least, most of the bird). Not to mention shooting against a bright sky (this may be a job for the Better Beamer, which I have also shot pole sitters with). From directly under the pole it fries the subject.....lol It works well from farther back, but then you wind up with a smaller bird.

    The eagle would be a challenge and if that's what you are looking for, go for it. The GBH, is a relatively easier shot, but as you point out, not very challenging. Plus, I believe you already have one or two GBH shots in your portfolio :roll

    Hey Steve,

    Yeah, I really hate those straight up shots. Those darn raptors know that and they always perch on some high tree and laugh at me. :cry

    Anyhow even though I had a bunch of perching Eagle shots already I had less of them than I had Heron pics so I went past the heron and he flew off and tried a few eagle shots. I'll post the results shortly.

    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!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited January 25, 2005
    LiquidOps wrote:
    you can't shoot both? headscratch.gifne_nau.gif


    it is digital after all :)
    The problem you have is that if you go by the heron you may spook him and he'll fly away which is what happened as I passed him. If you stop and shoot the heron and then move on tot he eagle there is a good chance he will won't be there when you get done. The eagles don't hang out on that perch too long. He flew off after I took two shots.

    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!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited January 25, 2005
    Hey Ed
    ehughes wrote:
    Go for the tough shot, sure your rate of success might be lower. But that's how you might get the shot that nobody else has.

    Ed

    Of course you could always wound the Heron and feed it to the Eagle... ( kidding ):D
    You're right Ed. I went for the eagle. I just can't pass up an eagle.

    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!"
  • AndyAndy Registered Users Posts: 50,016 Major grins
    edited January 25, 2005
    get the heron, go have your dinner at 2:30, and come back for the eagle lol3.gif

    nice one, h!
    Andy

    Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited January 26, 2005
    Ric Grupe wrote:
    thumb.gifmwink.gif

    What a terrible fix to be in. FLIPA.gif (:D ).
    What me brag? Well maybe just a bit. mwink.gif

    It was tough but I was up to the challenge

    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!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited January 26, 2005
    andy wrote:
    get the heron, go have your dinner at 2:30, and come back for the eagle lol3.gif

    nice one, h!
    What dinner at 2:30? I don't stay up that late. I'm retired don't you know. rolleyes1.gif

    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!"
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited January 26, 2005
    So you went for the eagle....
    Harryb wrote:
    What me brag? Well maybe just a bit. mwink.gif

    It was tough but I was up to the challenge

    Harry
    Without a doubt that would have been my choice. Hope you got him!

    Yesterday morning I almost got one:

    14790346-M.jpg

    Just have to keep trying.

    Good luck.
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited January 26, 2005
    Ric Grupe wrote:
    Without a doubt that would have been my choice. Hope you got him!

    Yesterday morning I almost got one:



    Just have to keep trying.

    Good luck.
    Hey Ric,

    I hate those tree branches. They have ruined more shots than I can count. I'm convinced that the birds stay behind them just to ruin our shots.

    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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