Goosebeaks, male, female

[rwenglish1]

I caught these together upnorth, just riding down a trail. I seen some flickers and they were flying away, but I just sat there then the birds started moving again. I seen a Scarlet Tanger and then this male, I had to wait a while but finally the male and the female landed on the same stump.

http://www.allmounts.com/goosebeaks_male_female_forum_2.jpg





http://www.allmounts.com/goosebeaks_male_female_forum.jpg

[canonloader]

They are such nice birds. I have a pair that come to my feeders on a regular basis. It's always nice to see and hear them. :)

[Cooper911]

Its always special to get a pair together. I really like the subject matter, the BG, the stump and the environment in this composition. It has kind of a pleasing triangular feel. But...on my monitor the birds appear to be a tad soft. Thank you for sharing these.

[rwenglish1]

They are such nice birds. I have a pair that come to my feeders on a regular basis. It's always nice to see and hear them. :)

Thanks Mitch, I was surprised to catch this shot.

[Stephen Stephen]

Randall you got images of a species I'm having a difficult time finding to photograph. I agree with Cooper about the softness of the images, at least on my monitor. What F stop were you using?

[rwenglish1]

Its always special to get a pair together. I really like the subject matter, the BG, the stump and the environment in this composition. It has kind of a pleasing triangular feel. But...on my monitor the birds appear to be a tad soft. Thank you for sharing these.

Thanks Cooper, I did not like the softness either. I was reading today, that each lens has a sweet spot, it says usually 2 f stops from the lowest or highest f stop on the lens. This shot was taken on f/5.6 maybe I should have tried f/7.1. I will be experimenting. I don't like the fact that I put in the time and still bomb with the shot. Another problem was most likely hand holding. I was sitting and holding the lens in my truck. I had the mono pod on but it was still not real solid. I can only keep on working on the problem. rw

[rwenglish1]

Randall you got images of a species I'm having a difficult time finding to photograph. I agree with Cooper about the softness of the images, at least on my monitor. What F stop were you using?

I really wanted the background in the woods blurred out. So I thought I would just use f/5.6, but when I put them on my computer, I also did not like it. I don't know enough yet about working with PS to maybe be able to sharpen them up. I am reading and trying all I can. But it is still a bummer when you think you got a real nice shot, and then to see they are both not sharp. I will be going back up to that area this weekend, maybe I will see them again, I know where the stump is, the question will be whether they are still there. The reason I stopped there was I saw a bunch of Flickers, then while watching, a Scarlet Tanger flew up in a tree, but I could not find it fast enought to get a shot. I also could not believe what I was seeing. thanks rw

[Cooper911]

RW....keep working at it . The composition in this shot was excellent. "putting in the time and bombing" is not unusual. Most of my outings are a bomb, but any chance I get I go out and give it a try. I just started birding not that long ago and I can tell you it is not easy and certainly I have not captured anything worthwile posting. But I keep coming to POTN and reading and examining some of the incredible shots many seasoned members have posted...hoping to learn something from them...and I do. So just remember...when you bomb...you are not alone...I'm right there with you and there are countless others out there trying their best. BTW, I don't think your photos were a bomb at all...they certainly demonstrate you have a good eye. Good luck.

[rwenglish1]

Its always special to get a pair together. I really like the subject matter, the BG, the stump and the environment in this composition. It has kind of a pleasing triangular feel. But...on my monitor the birds appear to be a tad soft. Thank you for sharing these.

I sure wish I had your camera equipment Cooper. It seems like when I see a picture taken with a Canon 1D MKII that the color and clarity are something else. I am sure it is, but a person has to be able to know how to use it. rw

[Alex Paul]

Here is a tip I think will help..... If you don't mind... I see that you shot this at a shutter speed of 1/80 . Very difficult to hold 400 mm at such a slow shutter speed, even with Image Stabilizing lenses... The 20D performs beautifully at higher ISO settings and so I would suggest in a less than bright shot crank it to 800 and it will get the shutter speed faster.... A good flash is also a very handy thing in these situations... I typically keep one mounted to my camera body unless I know I will only be in bright sun... Often the best oppurtunities are in less than perfect light..... You do have a great eye for composition, and your exposure is just fine... The 20D with 400 prime is an outstanding combination and should be quite capable of amazing results.... Shutter speed is king.. Take care.....

[rwenglish1]

Here is a tip I think will help..... If you don't mind... I see that you shot this at a shutter speed of 1/80 . Very difficult to hold 400 mm at such a slow shutter speed, even with Image Stabilizing lenses... The 20D performs beautifully at higher ISO settings and so I would suggest in a less than bright shot crank it to 800 and it will get the shutter speed faster.... A good flash is also a very handy thing in these situations... I typically keep one mounted to my camera body unless I know I will only be in bright sun... Often the best oppurtunities are in less than perfect light..... You do have a great eye for composition, and your exposure is just fine... The 20D with 400 prime is an outstanding combination and should be quite capable of amazing results.... Shutter speed is king.. Take care.....

Thank you Alex, sometimes, most of the time, it takes someone saying it like it is to get it into ones head. I was not happy with the low shutter speed, and even though I am going to admit this, I did not think of uping the ISO speed, you are right it would have made a big difference, and I am sure now the next time I see this situation my brain will reach back and recall this thread and act accordingly. thanks, rw

[canonloader]

I was sitting and holding the lens in my truck.
In a word, "beanbag" Get a beanbag or at the very least, carry an old towel in the truck. Slap it over the window sill and plop the lens tripod mount down on it for a cushion. Half my shots were taken this way. Steady as a tripod. ;)

I don't know enough yet about working with PS to maybe be able to sharpen them up.
What version? CS2 by any chance? Either way the fastest and best way to sharpen an image is to use Unsharp Mask. It's in Filters/Sharpen/Unsharp Mask. Click to open, a little window pops up. Set the three slider numbers to 50.0, 0.3, 0.0 and click OK. If it needs a bit more, do it a second time with the same settings, or a third. Any more than that and it's probably not savable.

And get a book, the Bible is a great reference book for PhotoShop. ;)

[dancad]

In a word, "beanbag" Get a beanbag or at the very least, carry an old towel in the truck. Slap it over the window sill and plop the lens tripod mount down on it for a cushion. Half my shots were taken this way. Steady as a tripod.


...and turn off the engine too if you can - you wouldn't believe the difference. Great perch, worth visiting again for sure.

[rwenglish1]

Thank you Mitch, and thank you Daniel, I really appreciate all of this info. I will put it all to use, CS2 9.0.2, I will work with it a little later when I have more time.

I did turn the truck off pronto when I seen the flickers flying away. I think that is why these birds calmed down and started moving around again.

thanks, rw