Camera was bird starved and needed nourishment...

[Bobobird]

Have not had one bird for over 3 months due to a rough cold/flu and then awful weather. Not really awful but rain and heavy overcast skies killing the light.

Finally a bit of reasonable weather last Sunday so off I went to a local park to get back into practice.

Distinct lack of variety compared to earlier sightings - only the usual gulls, mallards, geese, and 4 mute swans.

Being a good weather Sunday there were many families out with their young. That meant lots of pizza, fries, chips, even an onion of all things, for the birds to fight over. Made those feeding only bread look good.

Was happy to come away with these.

Comments/suggestions/critique always welcomed and appreciated.

Thanks for viewing.

1.


2.


3.


4.


The onion

[Sergio M.]

Nice set, Bobo, but #4 for me is a real beauty.

[jeeperman]

Good to see you able to get out some, Bobo. Nice series but #3 and #4 are fantastic. A shot that most everyone {birders} I know wait to get. Well done.

[PRSearls]

Good job on these, #3 and #4 are my favorites. Exposing those white feathers can be tricky in bright light. Their pose is very nice... very pretty birds!

Paul S

[Mike Buckley]

#3 is my favorite. You're not using mirrors are you?

[terrib]

I just want to say Awwwww. Love #3 & #4! I'd love to see that, much less photograph it. So glad your camera isn't starved anymore.

[just me]

Ooooh.....I just love these white swan pictures you took Bobo, # 4 is my favorite,

we don't have here in Australia white swans, but blacks ones........

Greetings,
Griddi.....

[tbob]

Those swans have been watching too many disney films! I am shocked and amazed that swans actually do the "make a heart" pose. My wife wants a copy of three and four. I will show it to the women at work and I am willing to bet they have the same reaction.

Seems your days off are more than compensated by your good luck. Actually, from your prior work, luck doesn't seem to be as much of a factor as skill and preparation is. Brilliant stuff.

By the way, that onion is being really optimistic. I suspect it is in for a bit of a rude shock.

[RogerCook]

Yes #4 rocks I would be pleased to have taken it.

[Bobobird]

Thanks Sergio, Paul, Paul, Mike, Terri, Griddi, Trevor, Roger. Very glad that you liked the shots.

That was ONE lucky series. No amount of preparation or anticipation or quick reactions would have caught those poses. They were together then apart in like 2-3 seconds. I was only hoping for a nice wings puffed up shot eg #2. Luckily kept the camera on him and the female started entering the frame from the right. I still was not prepared for or expecting that intimate moment or would have done a full burst.

The only credit I give myself is keeping him in the viewfinder for longer than I would have normally.

These shots were f5.6, 1/1000, 300mm, ISO 10000.

[PhotoByTrace]

So glad your camera has been suitably fed. Like everyone else I'm in awe of the scene you've captured in 3 and 4... Great work!

[Bobobird]

Thanks Trace. Nice comments gratefully accepted.

Know what? I still cannot believe that these are mine....

[jeeperman]

LOL! You better start believing, Bobo. Either that or it is going to be a long bird season this coming spring. lol You have consistantly put out some good/great work, there is no reason for you to not believe.

[Bobobird]

Thanks Paul.

One thing for sure - the camera choice was right and not getting a longer lens was also right.

But it will be a day or 2 before the pinching stops. Bad weather again next couple of days....Grrrrr.

[rawill]

Well Bobo

It seems you have created a bit of envy thing here.

I ownder if you can come up with a repeat performance, and so maybe now we will believe that the shots we elsewhere that are like this are only copies of yours!~!

[Bobobird]

Thanks Robin.

How many people are there in this world who have hit a multimillion lottery twice?

Pretty futile trying it again imho. But that will not prevent me from it...

[zen]

No. 3 does it for me, BoBo. And at ISO 10000!!

Great shots.

Zen

[Steve S]

Number 3 for me , bobo, beautifully done!



Now , do me a favor................give your computor some nourishment as well. Feed it image 3, and give it a proper edit.


It's a beautiful shot.(i know, because i edited it, and it turned out quite beautiful. Well worth the time)

[Bobobird]

Thanks Zen and Steve.

Yes - ISO 10,000. Had never ventured beyond 1600 with the 5D3, but now will be a little less uptight about low ISOs.

[Steve S]

Didn't know you responded, bobo. Now go back and read the edit to my last post.......