Birds, A Few I Worked On Recently

[jprzybyla]

Before I start on this posting let me apologize to those who commented on my last posting. I did not return and acknowledge the comments I should have but life jumped up in the way, then the holidays came and went, so please accept my apology.

Roseate Spoonbill... I captured this image with all the wrong settings. I was photographing a perched bird and saw this spoonbill landing. I only had time to turn, find the bird, focus, and capture a burst of images. Thankfully the bird was slowed down landing and the image was sharp so the rest I was able to recover.

Nikon D7000, Nikon 70-300mm F/4.5-5.6 VR AF-S shot at 300mm, 1/500 F/8, Matrix Metering 0 EV ISO 250



Snowy Egret... I captured this image on a overcast morning which helped the exposure as I was shooting against the light.

Nikon D7000, Nikon 80-400mm F/4.5-5.6 VRII AF-S ED shot at 400mm, 1/1600 F/5.6, Matrix Metering + 1 EV ISO 1000



Foggy Morning Mandarin Duck... I captured this image on a foggy morning. I knew I had to add light because the morning was dark so I added + 1 EV. Arriving at the edge of the lake I saw a mid-tone Mallard female, captured the image and checked the histogram. The mid-tones of the duck were too far to the left so I added more light, using that for the morning exposure.

Nikon D7000, Nikon 80-400mm F/4.5-5.6 VRII AF-S ED shot at 400mm, 1/1000 F/5.6, Matrix Metering + 1 2/3 EV ISO 2000



Mallard Bathing...I captured this image on a dark overcast morning, because the sun was not shining I had to add light. The meter is dumb if the sun is not shining bright or the light is not bright... add light to prevent under exposure.

Nikon D7000, Nikon 80-400mm F/4.5-5.6 VRII AF-S ED shot at 390mm, 1/1600 F/5.6, Matrix Metering + 1 EV ISO 1250



Crested Caracara... Bright overcast, dark bird against a mid-tone background add light to prevent under exposing the bird.

Nikon D7000, Nikon 80-400mm F/4.5-5.6 VRII AF-S ED shot at 400mm, 1/2000 (shutter speed was a screw up, must have hit the dial when raising the camera inside the car) F/5.6, Matrix Metering + 1 EV ISO 2800



Little Blue Heron... I found this heron perched on a square post that screamed man made so I opted to get close for a portrait. The sun was going in and out of clouds, so I waited until the sun was behind a cloud because I was on the wrong side of the light. With the sun behind the cloud I had to add light to keep from under exposing.

Nikon D7000, Nikon 80-400mm F/4.5-5.6 VRII AF-S ED shot at 400mm, 1/1600 F/5.6, Matrix Metering + 1 EV ISO 2200

[Shadowman]

Very nice series.

[Nicks Pics]

Before I start on this posting let me apologize to those who commented on my last posting. I did not return and acknowledge the comments I should have but life jumped up in the way, then the holidays came and went, so please accept my apology.

Don't worry Joe, this is just standard web-communication practice

The birds are excellent! Crisp details in all of them. The splashing mallard is fun and the Caracara has nice BG and surroundings. The little blue Heron must be one of the best of them. It looks very lifelike.

May I ask, if there are two Nikon 80-400 mm lenses, which one are you using- I'm not sure how to differentiate by name, but is it the more or less $$ one?

[jprzybyla]

Very nice series.

Thanks John, I appreciate you viewing and commenting.

[jprzybyla]

Don't worry Joe, this is just standard web-communication practice

The birds are excellent! Crisp details in all of them. The splashing mallard is fun and the Caracara has nice BG and surroundings. The little blue Heron must be one of the best of them. It looks very lifelike.

May I ask, if there are two Nikon 80-400 mm lenses, which one are you using- I'm not sure how to differentiate by name, but is it the more or less $$ one?

Hi Nick, thanks for viewing and commenting. The Nikon lens is the new 80-400 the one labeled... AF-S Nikkor 80-400mm 1:4.5-5.6G ED. It sells new for about $2700 but I bought mine refurbished by Nikon for $1999 at BuyDig.com. The lowest price I could find. All of my gear is refurbished by Nikon, working well without problems.

[Nicks Pics]

Hi Nick, thanks for viewing and commenting. The Nikon lens is the new 80-400 the one labeled... AF-S Nikkor 80-400mm 1:4.5-5.6G ED. It sells new for about $2700 but I bought mine refurbished by Nikon for $1999 at BuyDig.com. The lowest price I could find. All of my gear is refurbished by Nikon, working well without problems.

Thanks Joe. You take great images with your equipment.

[ST1]

Great set of images Joe, well done

[Geoff F]

As usual, all excellent shots.

I don't always comment if others have already replied; but I do always view your images.

[jprzybyla]

Great set of images Joe, well done

Thanks Peter, very much appreciated.

[Downrigger]

Special as always, Joe. You may have not had the time you wanted to shoot that spoonbill, but I can't imagine what I would want improved.
When are you going to set up some guided tours so some of us can come down and at least see your aviary?

[Brownbear]

Hi Joe,

As always, absolutely gorgeous! My favourite is the Egret for the unique composition and truly exquisite whites! Followed by the Crested Caracar (a first ever for me to see- beautiful bird) for the artistry.

I really like all the tips you've added to this post... Thank you. Very helpful.

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Joe,

Welcome back and glad to see you've not lost your knack for turning in excellent shots.

I really like the Roseate Spoonbill shot, for the interesting (and informative of anatomy) when they land like this.

The Little Blue Heron is probably my next fav.

Thanks for sharing, Dave

[Stagecoach]

Wonderful series Joe, all such characters it's difficult to choose a favorite.

[IzzieK]

As usual, all excellent shots, Joe...Did you take all these in Lakeland? Just curious...

[Otavio]

Hi, Joe. We missed you and your beautiful bird shots

Beautiful set, as usual. Your Caracara is exactly the same species we have here (I shot a lot of them in Pantanal). They are great birds to shoot.

Well done!

[Barbara Ponder]

Wonderful shots and so informative! I love the Spoonbill it is one of my favorite birds and I hope one day to capture a shot as fine as this incredible example.

[jprzybyla]

As usual, all excellent shots.

I don't always comment if others have already replied; but I do always view your images.

Thanks Geoff, very much appreciated.

[jprzybyla]

Special as always, Joe. You may have not had the time you wanted to shoot that spoonbill, but I can't imagine what I would want improved.
When are you going to set up some guided tours so some of us can come down and at least see your aviary?

Hi Mark, thank you for viewing and commenting. Guided tours....hmmmmm, Florida is special for bird photography. A lot of bird and the ability to get close.

[jprzybyla]

Hi Joe,

As always, absolutely gorgeous! My favourite is the Egret for the unique composition and truly exquisite whites! Followed by the Crested Caracar (a first ever for me to see- beautiful bird) for the artistry.

I really like all the tips you've added to this post... Thank you. Very helpful.

Thanks Christina, your viewing and comments are very much appreciated.

[jprzybyla]

Hi Joe,

Welcome back and glad to see you've not lost your knack for turning in excellent shots.

I really like the Roseate Spoonbill shot, for the interesting (and informative of anatomy) when they land like this.

The Little Blue Heron is probably my next fav.

Thanks for sharing, Dave

Hi Dave, I have always been checking of the forum just not posting much. Thank you for viewing and commenting. Your advise is always timely and on point.