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Post by John Parry on Jun 9, 2008 14:58:23 GMT -5
This is where a digital SLR would really come in handy - blast away, check out the best when you get home, delete the rest. (These were the best from a roll and a half of film...) But... A house martin delivering the goods (chick's head just showing in the entrance), breaking and turning at the same time.  A barn owl at a flight demonstration (same as taking snow pictures - you always lose definition when it's white against a dark background). Never realised that 95% of the world population of barn owls are brown. Ours are almost all white. Privileged.  This one I'm proud of - captured everything I was trying to catch.  Critique away - I know what you're going to say. But I don't care! Regards - John ps - Back on film! |
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jack
Senior Member
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Post by jack on Jun 9, 2008 15:24:42 GMT -5
John, I like the last 2, especially the owl. they are easily recognizable and the feeling of motion i.e. flight is there.
The only question I have is whats in the Birds feet on 2 and 3.
Jack
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PeterW
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Post by PeterW on Jun 9, 2008 16:04:33 GMT -5
John, I think they're pretty good. I've often admired pictures taken by pros in books about birds and their habitats, but they ain't easy to do. I've tried it - and failed dismally.  . PeterW |
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Post by John Parry on Jun 9, 2008 17:16:58 GMT -5
Jack Those are the jesses used to attach a lead to a falconer's wrist. These birds were at the UK Owl Trust headquarters at Muncaster Castle in Cumbria. During the demonstration they are at pains to explain it isn't a falconry display however.... They have to use the tried and tested means of flying the birds, but these birds are basket cases - they think they're human, as opposed to feral raptors. The buzzard in the last photo is quite happy to 'hunt' for scraps of meat by jogging across the ground with the most comical gait you've ever seen. Peter's right - it isn't easy to capture shots like this. You need a long lens to get any detail (this was a Sigma 400 for the Yashica 230). You need a reference to focus on, then give it your best guess as to their landing or take-off trajectory. I had two shots that would have been perfect - except that the birds came round at an angle and slipped outside the DOF. Check this one out:  Not to worry - flying insects are even harder! Regards - John |
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jack
Senior Member
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Post by jack on Jun 9, 2008 19:20:01 GMT -5
Hello John
About 20 years ago I attend a meeting of a rapture club who trained and flew these Birds. I burned 3 24 esp. rolls of film and did not get one usable photo. The birds had a mind of their own, you could not count on them going in the direction you were aimed at Any photo of these birds in flight is a major accomplishment.
Jack
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Post by minoltaman on Jun 11, 2008 15:47:11 GMT -5
I think any AF SLR with Continuous Focus while shot in P mode, film or digital, would've been a huge help with shots like these.
That said though, you did manage to get some nice motion shots, especially #2 and #3.
You did great for shooting such fast moving creatures and using a non-AF camera. I know I'd never be able to do it.
Nice work!
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Post by Randy on Jun 11, 2008 16:50:24 GMT -5
Great shots John!
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Post by John Parry on Jun 12, 2008 8:20:16 GMT -5
Tommy
The 230 actually is Auto Focus, but nowhere near fast enough for this. I used it to focus on the landing post, then turned it off. I then turned the camera slightly away from the post, giving it my 'best guess' for the trajectory that the birds would come in at (or take off at). I used a remote switch to fire the camera, so that I could be watching for the right moment.
Trouble was that with a 400mm/F4.6 lens at that distance I reckon that the depth of field was no more than a foot or two either way. As you can see from the last shot, I had better positioning, but the focus was out.
Regards - John
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