Cockatoos for Bobo

[HAZZA]

After my visit to Cockatoo Island earlier in the year and no pics of Cockatoos to speak of, these fellows visited the trees outside my balcony yesterday, one of my first shoots with my new Sigma 120--400mm lens - all hand held - didnt want to miss them by grabbing the tripod! C&c welcome

1. 1/125, 5.6, iso 100


2. 1/60, 5.6, iso 100


3. 1/200,5.6, iso 200


4. 1/500, 6.3, iso1600


5. 1/500,6.3, iso 2000

[Aforns]

Lovely images Harry Only suggestion I have is to give the bird a little more exposure and don't worry about the bg, will be high key !!! Sure wish I had them outside my window !!!!

[HAZZA]

Lovely images Harry Only suggestion I have is to give the bird a little more exposure and don't worry about the bg, will be high key !!! Sure wish I had them outside my window !!!!

Thanks Alfred, will work on the exposure, cheers

[Bobobird]

Thanks Harry, yes cockatoos are my favourite bird. I could watch them all day.

What mode were you shooting in?

[WJT]

The Sulphur Crested Cockatoo. Very common throughout Australia and a noisy bird which is territorial. Live mostly in hollow trees with its immediate family group. These shots could benefit from cropping, the foreground on 1. and the background on 4 & 5 as it is distracting and out of focus. I would not usually recommend adding saturation but it could be worth trying on 2. which is very nice with the sun behind it, perhaps a little more contrast too. Love this bird, it lives longer than 100 years all things going well and mates for life.

[FootLoose]

Also known for destroying timber decks and balconies and ... any wooden part of your home, actually.

Good captures, Harry. You have to seize the opportunity when it presents.

[WJT]

If your in the bush and hear this bird it means water is nearby. They always live near creeks and billabongs so can be a good for survival as you can hear them miles away.

[HAZZA]

What mode were you shooting in?[/QUOTE]

Hi Bobo, will work on getting some more. I was shooting in Manual mode, auto ISO, it was late in the afternoon so light was changing quickly,

Cheers

[HAZZA]

The Sulphur Crested Cockatoo. Very common throughout Australia and a noisy bird which is territorial. Live mostly in hollow trees with its immediate family group. These shots could benefit from cropping, the foreground on 1. and the background on 4 & 5 as it is distracting and out of focus. I would not usually recommend adding saturation but it could be worth trying on 2. which is very nice with the sun behind it, perhaps a little more contrast too. Love this bird, it lives longer than 100 years all things going well and mates for life.

Thanks Wayne, will spend some more time on PP, not one of my strong points at this stage

[HAZZA]

Also known for destroying timber decks and balconies and ... any wooden part of your home, actually.

Good captures, Harry. You have to seize the opportunity when it presents.

Thanks Greg, yes they caught me off guard as they don't usually stop off in these trees, they are good to watch in their natural environment

[Bobobird]

Thanks Harry for the info. I was wondering why the ISO was jumping around so much.

I do manual 99% of the time but there are times when AV works better. Particularly in a white on bright situation similar to the one you had.

For the next time perhaps switch to evaluative metering, AV, + EC by 2/3 to 1, ISO fix it at 800. f5.6 or f8 probably should be fine unless you can go lower. The only thing you will need to adjust is the EC. You may need to adjust ISO to get a ballpark shutter speed of 500-1000 or thereabouts but iso 800 should be fine based on my own experiences of swans in the sky.

[HAZZA]

Thanks Harry for the info. I was wondering why the ISO was jumping around so much.

I do manual 99% of the time but there are times when AV works better. Particularly in a white on bright situation similar to the one you had.

For the next time perhaps switch to evaluative metering, AV, + EC by 2/3 to 1, ISO fix it at 800. f5.6 or f8 probably should be fine unless you can go lower. The only thing you will need to adjust is the EC. You may need to adjust ISO to get a ballpark shutter speed of 500-1000 or thereabouts but iso 800 should be fine based on my own experiences of swans in the sky.

Thanks Bobo, will give that a go, appreciate the advice

Cheers

[HAZZA]

Ok Bobo - took your advice - managed to get a few this morning before work - not great compositions as the trees were an obstacle and the Cockatoos were buried in them a bit (apart from 2) - all evaluative metering as suggested - c & c appreciated - no pp yet apart from minor cropping
1. 1/400, av 11, iso 400

2. 1/200, av 11, iso 400, exposure +1

3. 1/500, av 5.6, iso 400, exposure +1

[Shadowman]

Very nice captures.

[HAZZA]

Very nice captures.

Thnx John, was happier with these than last weeks ones, cheers

[Bobobird]

Now these new ones are truly excellent. #3 is spot on. #1 very good too but lighten it a bit in pp. #2 some highlights blowing but no biggie you will get it right soon enough.

[HAZZA]

Now these new ones are truly excellent. #3 is spot on. #1 very good too but lighten it a bit in pp. #2 some highlights blowing but no biggie you will get it right soon enough.

Thanks Bobo - your advice really helped - no' 3 is my favourite as well, cheers