Don't Mock Me

[Barbara Ponder]

As someone else said, think it was Brian, these guys don't back down from anything and I could not resist this one looking so regal.

[JohnRostron]

Very nice pic. What is it?

John

[Barbara Ponder]

Very nice pic. What is it?

John

It is a mockingbird. It is the state bird of Texas, I forget that some won't know it We grew up having to know it as it was taught us from a young age at school.

[JohnRostron]

It is a mockingbird. It is the state bird of Texas, I forget that some won't know it We grew up having to know it as it was taught us from a young age at school.

I should have guessed that from the title!

John

[Downrigger]

Just great, as we have come to expect from you, Barbara. Not just a capture, but one of an interesting moment. Cartier-Bresson's "Decisive moment" has meaning for wildlife too.
That 1.4X worked magnificently, and you were exceedingly sharp at 1/395, so my thought is this was tripod-shot?
Also, some wildlife pros shoot manual mode/auto-ISO to assure needed speed and desired DOF (or sweet spot f-number) and take whatever consequences necessary in terms of ISO noise. I've experimented with that and I think I prefer it to my usual aperture priority mode... You?

[Stagecoach]

Good one Barbara, he's certainly showing some attitude

I'm sitting here in the UK frustrated at not bringing my bird lens with me, seagulls like monsters flying around with wingspans the size of our herons in Fiji

[Mike Buckley]

The mockingbird is also the state bird of Florida, so I wonder how many states have named it their state bird.

[Mike Buckley]

Also, some wildlife pros shoot manual mode/auto-ISO to assure needed speed and desired DOF (or sweet spot f-number) and take whatever consequences necessary in terms of ISO noise. I've experimented with that and I think I prefer it to my usual aperture priority mode

Why wouldn't you use aperture priority and auto ISO?

[bnnrcn]

Very nice one again Barbara

[Downrigger]

Why wouldn't you use aperture priority and auto ISO?

You could.
But desire for independent control of both SS and aperture can be minute by minute with wildlife depending on what it is doing. Scenario: You might have a preferred aperture (let's say f/8) set with just fast enough shutter speed for a sessile bird, (not faster, to optimize ISO) and then see that it is about to take off, so you can quickly thumb up to a faster shutter speed for BIF shots. Just opening aperture to its max might not get you to a fast enough SS for flight (or running), and in any case you might not want to lose DOF an decrease focus error tolerances.

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks for the explanation, Mark. That makes sense.

[Barbara Ponder]

Just great, as we have come to expect from you, Barbara. Not just a capture, but one of an interesting moment. Cartier-Bresson's "Decisive moment" has meaning for wildlife too.
That 1.4X worked magnificently, and you were exceedingly sharp at 1/395, so my thought is this was tripod-shot?
Also, some wildlife pros shoot manual mode/auto-ISO to assure needed speed and desired DOF (or sweet spot f-number) and take whatever consequences necessary in terms of ISO noise. I've experimented with that and I think I prefer it to my usual aperture priority mode... You?

Thank you Mark. I do not use a tripod as I feel very restricted by them. Only on VERY rare occasions will I use it. I usually use the Aperture priority mode especially since I am still learning and find that the more experimenting I do the more I learn. I have used the Auto ISO a couple of time but again not very often. My ultimate goal is manual but I think that will be a while from now.

[Barbara Ponder]

Good one Barbara, he's certainly showing some attitude

I'm sitting here in the UK frustrated at not bringing my bird lens with me, seagulls like monsters flying around with wingspans the size of our herons in Fiji

Thanks Graham! You could always buy another while there. You can never have too many lenses I totally understand as there is nothing worse than not having your equipment when the perfect "would be shot" is right in front of you.

[Barbara Ponder]

The mockingbird is also the state bird of Florida, so I wonder how many states have named it their state bird.

I had no idea! I thought we were original but apparently not Now I will need to do research as you have me curious.

[Barbara Ponder]

Very nice one again Barbara

Thanks Binnur!

[Shadowman]

Nicely done.

[Texas Dave]

Great detail! Thanks for sharing!

BTW, I hope you guys stay safe with all these storms coming through.

[Barbara Ponder]

Nicely done.

Thanks John!

[Barbara Ponder]

Great detail! Thanks for sharing!

BTW, I hope you guys stay safe with all these storms coming through.

Thanks David! We have been lucky nothing bad so far how bout ya'll? Stay safe!

[Wavelength]

Classic shot as always; why it called a mocking bird? one feel's that way when it make a sound?