Variety of Captures

[wlaramie]

Had some backyard visitors around Dusk and did some experimentations with my external flash.

Downy on a Stick
http://wplaramie.smugmug.com/photos/204818250-L.jpg (http://wplaramie.smugmug.com/photos/newexif.mg?ImageID=204818250)

Nuthatch -- Looks like he's smiling.
http://wplaramie.smugmug.com/photos/204818373-L.jpg (http://wplaramie.smugmug.com/photos/newexif.mg?ImageID=204818373)

Framed at Dusk
http://wplaramie.smugmug.com/photos/204818293-L.jpg (http://wplaramie.smugmug.com/photos/newexif.mg?ImageID=204818293)

Evening Snack
http://wplaramie.smugmug.com/photos/204818321-L.jpg (http://wplaramie.smugmug.com/photos/newexif.mg?ImageID=204818321)

Red-Bellied at sunset
http://wplaramie.smugmug.com/photos/204818405-L.jpg (http://wplaramie.smugmug.com/photos/newexif.mg?ImageID=204818405)

[Sindri Skulason]

Very good shots with the first one being my favorite. :-)

[wlaramie]

Thank you Sindri. I very much appreciate your comments and enjoy your posts.

[canonloader]

Great series Bill. I never would have known it was flash, except the Nuthatch with the seed. I can see some shadow in that one. :)

[wlaramie]

Thanks Mitch. It's fun to push the envelop and test out new techniques. I'm still getting jumping birds with some of my flash shots so I'm not sure how to overcome that one other than maintaining some distance. I'm missing your posts and looking forward to seeing your results with the 1D.

[hTr]

Great Set Bill

[canonloader]

Thanks Mitch. It's fun to push the envelop and test out new techniques. I'm still getting jumping birds with some of my flash shots so I'm not sure how to overcome that one other than maintaining some distance. I'm missing your posts and looking forward to seeing your results with the 1D.
There isn't any way to stop them from jumping, on the first flash shot. However, after a lot of experimenting with fill flash, I did notice if I shot two shots and the flash went off both times, the second time, they didn't jump. Found that out shooting hummers in the last couple months.

So I thought about that a bit and bought some of those high energy rechargables to see if I could make the 550ex recycle faster and more dependably. At first, I bought four of these (http://thomasdistributing.com/shop/-nimh-rechargeable--aa-nimh-batteries-c-122_104_106.html). 2700mAH NiMH batteries work a lot different than Duracells and will recycle remarkably faster. However, it was still taking a few seconds between most flashes. Sometimes I could get two in a row in burst mode, but most of the time, recycle time took about 4 seconds, down from 7 seconds with duracells.

After a couple weeks of experimenting, I bought 8 more 2700mAH NiMH batteries and ordered the CP-E3 Battery Pack (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/348419-REG/Canon_9836A001_Compact_Battery_Pack_CP_E3.html) from B&H. Now we're getting somewhere. With this puppy attached, I can shoot one shot about every 2 seconds on single shot, or, just leave it in 3 frames per second burst mode and get a good flash every second shot for as long as I want to hold down the button. It works pretty darn good, no more jump shots. ;)

[wlaramie]

Thanks Mitch that's great advice on the flash cycles. I appreciate your knowledge sharing very much.

[wlaramie]

Great Set Bill

Gary thanks. Your views and comments are always appreciated.

[ajosteve]

Nice shots...I like the first one too, as it's hard to get close to these peckers. I never use flash for fear of the bird taking off. I just keep shooting as the bird moves around until it gets into the right light...at least I get some shots this way without spooking the birds with a flash. Maybe I'll try flash and see what happens, but alot of times the birds are too far away, and the flash wouldn't do anything to help....steve

[wlaramie]

Nice shots...I like the first one too, as it's hard to get close to these peckers. I never use flash for fear of the bird taking off. I just keep shooting as the bird moves around until it gets into the right light...at least I get some shots this way without spooking the birds with a flash. Maybe I'll try flash and see what happens, but alot of times the birds are too far away, and the flash wouldn't do anything to help....steve

Steve, Thanks for viewing and comments. Mitch gave some good advice above on the use of flash. There is also an accessory that attaches to an external flash unit called a Better Beamer. That adds distance to the flash and really puts a nich catchlight in the birds eye. Look forward to seeing some of your posts with flash.

[canonloader]

I have the Beamer and it is good for about twice the normal distance on my 550ex. Out to about 35 feet or so. And my experience shows the birds do flinch on the first flash, but almost never fly away. It does happen, but not enough to make me quit flashing them. I think Gary Fairhead also uses flash all the time and we know about his shots. ;)

[wlaramie]

Mitch, I agree completely. On the jump shots that I have encountered and yes there have been plenty, the birds still 99% of the time stay where they are. Seems like the further away they are the less they jump at the flash. I too have used the beamer and find it produces excellent results. I didn't use them on these shots as I was trying out some of the 40Ds programming capabilities with the 580EXII.

[Reyno]

Very nice captures indeed Bill.

[wlaramie]

Reyno, Thanks. I appreciate you taking the time to comment and view and your comments are most welcome.