Tree Swallows - A challenge

[Brownbear]

Continuing from last Spring... the continuing challenge of capturing a Tree Swallow in flight.

#1


SS 1/4000 f 4 ISO 450 Focal length 300 mm




#2

SS 1/1600 f 4 ISO 800 Focal length 300 mm



The Swallows occasionally land on the post of a pier... Easier because I can focus on the bird before it takes off...

Just so you know... This is what most of my shots of look like... A wee speck of a bird



I photograph these birds at a lake and I'm starting to question my sanity as to why I keep trying...

Anyhow, this will be my last post for a little while as I'm moving at the end of this month. Additionally, the hard drive of my computer is almost full (too many photos) so I have to make time and effort to delete 1000's of images that I should've deleted long ago.

[marlunn]

Christina,

Going on #1 - looks to me like the challange is over anyway - cracking shot, as for #2 great capture, who knew they did yoga

[IzzieK]

I am breathless just looking at #1 and #2 ... first class shots, Christina...

[DEAN01]

Wow, number one is stunning, Christina. Looks like your challange is complete IMO.

[Stagecoach]

Excellent achievement Christina, they must be moving pretty fast.

Good luck with the moving, hope all goes smoothly, oh and I like the use of the negative space in No 3

Grahame

[Benjy]

one and two are belters for me Christina

[Shadowman]

Nice captures.

[Brownbear]

Thank you to Mark, Izzie, Dean, Bernard, Grahame and John.

Mark and Dean... The challenge is not over. These birds pair up and do yoga in the air, and I just missed sharp enough focus on these, so I'll likely try a few more times. And the impossible... Flying towards me head on.

Izzie... they leave me breathless, too ie; trying to follow them in the air with my lens pointed upwards. (what a nice compliment By the way I've taken a peek at your flowers and macros and your progress is leaving me breathless.

Bernard... Belter Thank you.

Grahame... I'm considering saving all of the shots like #3 and combining them into a heart shape. Then again, I need to delete a lot of photos so I'll try to forget about that idea. Thank you for the wishes for a smooth move.

[Wavelength]

#1 is just superb; #2 is funny; it looks like a drunkard's off balance fall; #3 completes the story by a distance shot; really well done.
But keep posting; you can find time and space if you really want

[Barbara Ponder]

1 and 2 are lovely shots Christina!

[bnnrcn]

Great shots Christina #1 is stunning !

Good luck with the move, I hope everything will be in order without any problems. I'm moving on Tuesday too..

[Rebel]

Nice shots Christina, love the way you captured the wings in #1

[John 2]

Oh you are getting good. These are lively so 'n so's and no.1 is a great capture.

[Brownbear]

Thank you Nandakumar, Barbara, Binnur, Matt and John...

#1 represents an goal accomplished for me, so I'm delighted to share.

Nandakumar... #2 is funny and kind of odd. True but moving house is a big job, plus it's Spring which means I'll be out photographing birds every chance I have, which means I will have to delete more images.

Binnur... Best of luck with your move! I have to admit that I'm looking forward to setting up a new home, and all that.

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Christina,

All my Swallow (and Swift) shots look like your #3 for the same reasons

Good luck with the move, I guess we'll see where you are in due course - if "Canada" changes in your profile

Also to Binnur; good luck Tuesday.

Dave

[Texas Dave]

If you can photograph swallows in flight, you're a "shutter ninja"!

Back up your hard drive if you can and I hope your move goes well. We'll miss you!

[Brownbear]

Thank you Dave and David for your comments, and well wishes with the move.

Dave...

I live in Lynn Valley on the North Shore of Vancouver a delightful place just steps away from miles of back country and mountains, yet not too far from the conveniences of the city. Condo development coming to the place we live but luckily enough we found a place in the same area, close by.

With respect to the swallows I stand at the end of a pier at a lake. I try my best to grab focus on a swallow in flight (they are eating insects) either in the air or over the lake water, and hold it hoping for the swallow to fly somewhere near me or over my head. I usually end up losing focus before that happens. I usually use single point focus but on this day I tried 51 point focus, my theory being that there would be more points on the bird to grab focus on... For some reason it didn't work for me so I switched back to single point focus and that seemed to work better. Whether it is true or not, I don't know.

David...

I just put forth a lot of effort but I love that phrase, so much so I think I'll ask to change my user name but then I would have to live up try and live up to it.

I have all my photos backed up on a hard drive and a cloud, just way too many images taken over the past 4 years that I never found the time to go through and delete the 90% that really need deleting. So now I have to attend to that mundane task.

I have one more question to post (new thread) before I sign off for a little while, but I'll be back. Seems there is always something I need to learn more about.

Thank you to all!

[Cantab]

Hi Christina,

All my Swallow (and Swift) shots look like your #3 for the same reasons

Good luck with the move, I guess we'll see where you are in due course - if "Canada" changes in your profile

Also to Binnur; good luck Tuesday.

Dave

Christina, like Dave any swallow shots I've ever taken look like your #3 or, if truth be told, much worse!