The Great Chuck & Colin Bird / Boat Challenge!

[The Blue Boy]

Firstly, @Theron, that is a stunning image of an Avocet. The colours in that shot are fantastic as most people think that it's just B&W 'cos of the RSPB (God bless 'em)

Second, n'other Bird! Having lunch.



Third, n'other Boat! Erm, not having lunch.



These pictures were taken in Kerala, India, a few years back with my digital training camera, a Fujifilm Finepix 5600 with 5.1 Megapixels.

[Colin Southern]

For what it's worth, I changed to RAW many years ago, and wouldn't have it any other way now. I think a lot of people are a bit aprehensive because they fear that there is going to be too many choices that they don't feel informed enough to make, but it's really not the case as (a) most converters have a full-auto mode, and (b) there's a really simple rule to follow when making adjustments ... if you move it and it makes the image look better then run with it; if if makes the image look worse then put it back!

[Davey]

I'd recommend anyone hesitant about shooting in raw to just jump in and almost guarantee it will suit you more. I switched from film to digital in september 2008 and am very new to it. I used jpeg for about a day and decided raw was much better and as easy. If I can pick it up so quickly as a complete beginner and take to it like a duck to water that's testimony as to it's ease. It's just familiarity, in fact a lot of what you do for a jpeg shot is the same I find (apart from maybe white balance).

The only downside I can see is size (mem is dirt cheap though as is HDD space for archiving), speed, on my cheap finepix s5600 anyway since raw are 10 times bigger the way the camera saves means longer wait between shots and I can't use high speed shooting modes which was only an issue once (chasing a giant mechanical spider, the la machine french one, I was taking lots of pics one after other so shot jpg mainly). An the last thing processing/developing time although as colin said many converters from most brands will do a full auto, including auto raw to jpeg with some converters basically just like a jpeg made in camera but done on comp (which is better).

Getting right in camera is always a good thing and raw isn't an excuse not too, it's just way to get more out of the image and to avoid the unavoidable jpeg flaws like artifacting of all types due to the lossy nature, 8bit colour problems with some wide gamut spaces and wb when you don't to fiddle about with custom wb and grey cards (my cam struggles with wb in some situations and removing sodium casts in particular makes raw useful) and so on.

[crisscross]

just came across this birdie while on a portfolio trawl - you can see its lunch underfoot & it was so determined I wasn't going to take it off him (yuk), I was able to get pretty close with only Sigma 50-150

[Dave Humphries]

That's a stunner Chris, makes a change from most compositions of them (mine included).

[Theron]

Firstly, @Theron, that is a stunning image of an Avocet. The colours in that shot are fantastic as most people think that it's just B&W 'cos of the RSPB (God bless 'em)

Thanks Chelseablue,

I'm just sitting here admiring that boat. It looks like something out of a mythical story book.

Theron

[Roxy]

Re #104
We see heaps of Seagull shots, Chris, but here you have a very sharp and perfectly exposed capture of a unique angle.
well done!

[Yan Zhang]

I like pic #104.

[Theron]

Chris I love that shot of the gull.

These two eagles were trying to decide who gets the piece of fish. They look quite small in the photo but when you're up next to them it's a different story.




Bald Eagles get their color at around three years. The eagle on the left is more than likely less than that. The one on the right has reached maturity which accounts for the white head and tail.



Amazingly enough the Great Salt Lake is the home for numerous seagulls.

[crisscross]

thanks for eagles (like the head on flight shot) and compliments Theron; I hope a bigger lens in case they thought you were interested in their lunch; have you got a teleconverter on the 200mm?. Thanks Dave & Rrox too - it was the greater black-backed that got me interested in trying to photograph birds and now fairly well taped I hope.

[Theron]

thanks for eagles (like the head on flight shot) and compliments Theron; I hope a bigger lens in case they thought you were interested in their lunch; have you got a teleconverter on the 200mm?. Thanks Dave & Rrox too - it was the greater black-backed that got me interested in trying to photograph birds and now fairly well taped I hope.

I had a teleconverter but sold it. I do have a 200mm to 500mm lens I use when they won't let me get close. But I had all kinds of problems with movement because of its size. I actually sent the lens back and had them give it a physical and improve the focus. It helped but I am conviced the biggest problem I faced was a sturdy tripod.

I just solved that problem with Colins help. I now own a Gitzo GT5540LS and am completely impressed with how stable it is.

Theron

[Theron]

Unfortunately this guy didn't give me much time to think but I still enjoy the unusual pose. Look at the length of the legs. I had no idea they were that long. When he put his wings down the snow looked like a helicopter taking off.




Lets think small.. This one was taken with D70 at 500mm. I like the effect it has on the background and you can see his tongue sticking out just a tad.

[crisscross]

nice to see these less usual bird pics coming through

[atvinnys]

holly cow, Theron, those shots are great...now it sounds to me somebody planted those pieces of fish...

I like the hummingbird very much...

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Theron,

Brilliant pictures, well done,

[ajith.rajeswari]

Nice capture Theron ..Love the look in the eagles face ..Hope the target was not you

~Ajith

[Theron]

nice to see these less usual bird pics coming through

My son in law, daughter, and four grandchildren live in Alaska. I try to make it up there at least every other year. That is where the eagles come from.

I have literally hundreds of humming bird shots. We planted several rose of sharon in our back yard. They love the flowers. So I open the back window set up the tripod and wait. It is a fun photo challenge.

Theron

[Theron]

holly cow, Theron, those shots are great...now it sounds to me somebody planted those pieces of fish...

I like the hummingbird very much...

To tell you the truth and I hate to do that. I really had an excellent opportunity with the eagles. There is an elderly lady living in Eagle River Alaska that feeds the eagles fish when the river freezes. There are many local folks that donate the fish. If you go to the VFW building in Eagle River in the winter time when its cold you can get in on the fun.

She pulls her car around opens the back door, cuts the fish up and throws it to the eagles. She does it the same time each day. The eagles learn fast. They know when to show up. You can set your clock by the eagles in the trees. I have seen as many as fifteen bald eagles sitting in one tree. It is always an amazing experience.

Homer Alaska is another great place for Eagles.

Theron

[Theron]

Hi Theron,

Brilliant pictures, well done,

Thanks Dave,

I just think luck was on my side that day. I have an extremely unusual shot of an eagle if I can find it. I'll look for it.

Theron

[Theron]

Nice capture Theron ..Love the look in the eagles face ..Hope the target was not you

~Ajith

He came right over my head. It happened so fast that I didn't really get a chance to think. I felt really lucky to get this one. The lens I was using at the time wasn't the best either. Some bald eagles stand over three feet tall. I don't really want to argue with them.

I saw a three shot clip of a fox and a bald eagle fighting over a dead deer. The fox got brave and had a go at the eagle. In the next clip the eagle had the fox off the ground hanging upside down. The fox got away but there was blood all over him.

David