Mini Competition #403

[Cambridge in Colour]

This is an open-themed competition that is open to all CiC members.

ENTERING. Add your image in a new post below. Make sure to change your post title to a name for your picture (click the "Go Advanced" button). We request that there be just one entry per person. For help posting images, go here.

VOTING. When this competition reaches 10 entries, a poll will be automatically added and any member may then vote. After 3 days, voting ends and the winner is determined.

Once voting begins, a new competition will be automatically started.

Good luck!

Note: Please do not request feedback, or make comments on other images, until after voting has closed as it could be unfair to other entrants.

PS: Make sure to also vote on the previous competition here.

[b00gym4n]

[MiniChris]

[Rasbury]

[ABPhoto]

[Camellia]

R

[benbull]

Nikon D90
Nikkor 18-55 F/3.5-5.6 lens plus macro filter.
Bowens Gemini 500 flash head with small softbox.
Lightroom/Photoshop... 'Fractalius' plugin from Redfield.

[hoddo]

Dancing in the Dark...well, almost

[ldunnvt]

[ScoutR]

Wendy

[Bobobird]

[Bobobird]

This one was tight. Thanks everyone for your votes.
benbull - limefire is a very imaginative presentation. Can you share how it was made ?

[jiro]

Congratulations, Bobo.

[Bobobird]

Thanks Willie

[Frankie]

Congrats Bobo! Awesome shot, and I can appreciate how difficult it was to get. Bravo!

[Bobobird]

Thank you Frankie. Was hoping to catch it just as the feet left the branch but milliseconds too soon.

[Frankie]

Thank you Frankie. Was hoping to catch it just as the feet left the branch but milliseconds too soon.

How are you "stalking" them? I find them so skittish that they fly away as soon as I get within a decent range to get a shot and I'm using a 75-300mm lens. Any insights you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

[Bobobird]

Another 70-300 user. Great!

The shots of that series were initially posted here
Red-winged Blackbird

This was a small marshy pond with lots of water growth and tall weeds. Normally they will either go up high on trees or light poles but in the ponds they will feel it is safer on top of the tall weed because they have an unobstructed view of everything around them.

Both the male and female were flitting from weed to weed but stopping for a while to scold me for pointing the camera at them. Once I knew where they most frequently landed, got closer and waited.

As long as our movement is slow and gentle they do not seem to be that easily scared off. Being used to seeing humans also helps I suppose.

Sorry if this is not much help but guess luck has also a great part to play in photographing birds of any kind.

[Frankie]

Another 70-300 user. Great!

The shots of that series were initially posted here
Red-winged Blackbird

This was a small marshy pond with lots of water growth and tall weeds. Normally they will either go up high on trees or light poles but in the ponds they will feel it is safer on top of the tall weed because they have an unobstructed view of everything around them.

Both the male and female were flitting from weed to weed but stopping for a while to scold me for pointing the camera at them. Once I knew where they most frequently landed, got closer and waited.

As long as our movement is slow and gentle they do not seem to be that easily scared off. Being used to seeing humans also helps I suppose.

Sorry if this is not much help but guess luck has also a great part to play in photographing birds of any kind.

Huge help! Thank you. This afternoon I played around with inching closer to one and I think I got at least 1 decent shot. Problem was lighting - storm coming in so it was overcast. But I will see what I have.
I love photographing birds... they are a challenge. And each kind is different, so figuring out what works best for what bird is fun. Thanks again for your insight and for sharing your photos - they are incredible. I remember when you posted them and meant to comment.
frankie

[Bobobird]

Thanks Frankie.