A couple of birds, a day of "firsts"

[Scottes]

American Golden Finch on my thistle feeder. This is by far the best picture I've gotten of one of these pretty little birds - in fact the first one that didn't make vacuum sounds. I'm not sure why they've been so difficult for me. I think they're out to get me.

http://www.itsanadventure.com/postimages/AmericanGoldenFinch.jpg

Another first for me - I got a picture of a bird on my dead tree.

http://www.itsanadventure.com/postimages/ChickadeeBranch.jpg

Yep, I stuck a dead tree between my feeders in an attempt to get a "natural" image. For some reason whenever I look out the window I'll see 2 or 3 birds on the tree at one time, but when I get the camera they all ignore the tree. And any time it's sunny out they always ignore the tree. I'm pretty sure they're all out to get me.

Both images were taken on a very cloudy day, with an attempt at fill flash on my 420EX. (I should have gotten a 550.) Though I feel that both images were flashed too much (even at -2 FEC) but the flash did a great job at putting catchlights in the eyes. Even so, I think my flash is out to get me.

Thanks to ISO 800 and dark backgrounds they both had noise reduction using Neat Image, something else I have to play with more. At least Neat Image isn't out to get me. Yet.

[JZaun]

Excellent photos Scottes,, now I gotta work harder :D

I like the idea of adead tree next to the feeder :?

I gonna have to try that one.

JZaun

[IanD]

Scott,
Great images. Must be fun working with normal birds. :lol:
Good idea with the dead tree. Will have the bird bath out soon and that really draws them in close.

[JoseC]

Great pictures, very crisp.
Jose

[Jim_T]

Good shots..

Yes, the tree idea works.. Things look more natural on a branch than a feeder..

That chickadee looks great perched there.. (But I bet it wasn't there long.. Those little guys can't sit still for more than 5 seconds) :)

[J.A.F. Doorhof]

Great shots, I don't think they are overflashed.
Very clear and wonderful detail.

When using flash I think you can try to bump the ISO down to 200-400.

Greetings,
Frank

[LazyPhotographer]

Speaking of dead trees...

Maybe you already know this - take a big ole branch or skinny log, and drill some 1in holes on the backside away from the camera. Hide the seed or bird treat in the holes... viola!

I just scrounged a broken off branch today from some office park - it's nice, a few little twig branches and some pine cones still attached. Gonna make pictures from my 3rd floor balcony look real natural. :wink:

[Scottes]

Maybe you already know this - take a big ole branch or skinny log, and drill some 1in holes on the backside away from the camera. Hide the seed or bird treat in the holes... viola!

Great idea! I'm gonna try that one, too. :wink:

[Laziferous]

That's a great idea using the dead tree Scott. The picture does look very natural. I really like that second one, I know it can be hard to get a shot of these smaller birds, because they never seem to sit still very long. To compose a shot, focus accurately, and to get exposure right in that small period of time when they do settle, is a real accomplishment.

[CyberDyneSystems]

These shots are really nice. :)

Man I wish I had a bird feeder,....


...and a yard to put it in.... :roll:

[xuxu1]

Awesome..........!!!!

Too bad i put the bird house away already :(

Regards
Ed

[eric1]

nice shots Scott,
how far away is the bird, and how long a lens? i can't seem to get that close with my 400 5.6.

thanks,
eric1

[Scottes]

how far away is the bird, and how long a lens? i can't seem to get that close with my 400 5.6.

About 10 or 11 feet, 100-400 @ 400mm + a 20mm tube. Both images are about 70% of the original frame - I had to crop some light patches out.

My feeders are on my deck, and I have a basement window facing the deck, so the windowsill is about eye-level with the railing. The window is covered with some thin black cloth with a hole for the lens and flash. I can see through the cloth because I'm facing the light, but with the room dark they really can't see in. Movements are slow or the whole cloth moves and ripples, which is even worse than if I just moved the camera. I may just remove the cloth or try another method - it's a pain with the flash, but works great with just the lens sticking out.