More Close Encounters of the Bird Kind

[NorthernFocus]

A couple of days ago I did some AF tuning on my camera/lens and went out to give it a test.

Nikon D500, 200-500mm w/1.4x TC, handheld
all shot at f8

1) I was riding along on my bicycle and saw this heron in a spot just off the trail with some interesting lighting. I got a couple of shots before it walked around a corner out of view.



2) I was waiting for the bird to walk back out from behind the reeds. Instead it came flying around the corner straight at me. I was kneeling and being still so the bird didn't flare off.



3) Some details we don't normally get a chance to see



4) I rode on down to another pond and a couple of gallinules/moorhens were in some interesting water. They are not at all fearful if I sit down beside the pond (while keeping an eye out for gators). This one kept coming closer.



5) and closer...



6) and closer.



7) A few meters farther down the trail I ran into a Little Blue Heron. This was a new species captured for me. He/she was also a fairly obliging bird which paid no attention to my presence. Not sure if it is a species trait or if this is a resident bird which has become habituated.

[bje07]

Amazing series.
Congratulations Dan.

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[John 2]

Yet more excellent images Dan and you're right, no.3 is a unique capture (in my experience).

[Wavelength]

Speechless

[ccphoto]

Head on with Herons and Egrets is always interesting as the neck structure makes it nearly impossible to get even clarity. Well done. I was so much happier with my 200-500 after I tuned in all my lenses. Everything now is sharp as a tack as are yours.

[Kaye Leggett]

AF tuning ???? Tell more please, it's concept of I have not heard of before

[NorthernFocus]

Glad everyone enjoyed the post.

Head on with Herons and Egrets is always interesting as the neck structure makes it nearly impossible to get even clarity....

It's really amazing how flat there necks are which is only apparent viewed straight on.

... I was so much happier with my 200-500 after I tuned in all my lenses...

I hadn't bothered tuning it because I really haven't used it for critical work and bare it has been doing OK. I was preparing to go on a shoot with another gent who suggested I'd need the extra reach of the 1.4x. When I shot it with the TC only about 1 out of 3 shots were truly sharp. So I did a quick and dirty tuning and it made a huge difference in keepers. I have to go back and tune it bare and check it on my other bodies.

AF tuning ???? Tell more please, it's concept of I have not heard of before

Kaye, it really only becomes an issue with telephoto lenses and/or shooting wide apertures. It is a function in some camera bodies. Nikon calls is "AF fine tuning" and it is in the "pro-sumer" DX bodies and (I believe) all FX bodies.

[Rosielea]

Wonderful bird shots with great focus.

[JohnRostron]

Great images! I like #2 and #7 best.

John

[madcrow]

Bird photography at its very, very best. Exquisite images by someone at the top of their game. #3 outstanding.

[Dave A]

Stunning!

Dave

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks for the kind comments, folks.

...someone at the top of their game...

Interestingly I've only missed shooting a couple of days in the past month. I've never shot this many consecutive days before and I have to say it has made a big difference. Handling the camera is second nature and getting on target quickly with BIF offers better opportunity for success. It's the ages old advice for improving one's photography, get out and shoot.

[JBW]

Wow!
Question: Why F/8?

[NorthernFocus]

...Question: Why F/8?

That's wide open with the 1.4x TC on f5.6 lens.

[Cantab]

Dan, I've been appreciating your recent posts. What part of the world did you take these in -- obviously not Alaska this time of year! I've missed several days of CIC in the last month so presumably missed the news of your wildlife travels.

[Suzan J]

I absolutely love Number 1. A Blue Heron in this type of light is my holy grail.

[Rita]

Stunning!

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks, guys.

Bruce, this winter we're spending seven weeks on the South Carolina coast. Nearly done now. Soon we'll head back north. At least there will be some daylight when we get back up there.

Suzan, looking for those "holy grail" opportunities keeps us going

[Manfred M]

Thanks for the kind comments, folks.


Interestingly I've only missed shooting a couple of days in the past month. I've never shot this many consecutive days before and I have to say it has made a big difference. Handling the camera is second nature and getting on target quickly with BIF offers better opportunity for success. It's the ages old advice for improving one's photography, get out and shoot.

Dan - first of all, this is definitely a beautifully photographed set.

I also think that you have made an excellent point in terms of how a period of concentrated shooting does result in better photography. As someone who does a lot of photography while traveling, I had always noticed that I liked my images that I took towards the end of a trip tended to be better than the ones at the beginning.

I started getting my camera out more frequently and practicing the type of shooting I expected to do at home, before heading out and found that my image making was much more consistent throughout the trip. I suspect photography is much like playing a musical instrument - frequent and rigorous practice makes for a more polished product. I remember reading somewhere that Henri Cartier-Bresson would start his day by shooting a roll of 36-exposure film before breakfast, virtually every day.