Wild Turkey

[R.T.]

This was taken this morning while sitting in my blind. The Turkey came within 30 feet of me which is rare. This and a little bird was all I had to show for 4 days work, so I was a little excited to get this pic. The Turkey spotted me about the same time I spotted it, but it didn't freak, just walked away slowly.

I'm a rookie at this and would welcome any suggestion on how I could improve this shot. I took the first shot pretty fast thinking it would get away. I zoomed in a little more but the shot was no good (camera shake) :oops:

Camera and settings were Canon 20D, 100-400 lens, 400 ISO, shot at about 210mm at F-8 and 1/1000sec. Thanks!
http://www.thewoodchucker.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/turkeytwo.jpg

[HJMinard]

Nice looking hen and a good capture ... it's always fun when you get to watch wild animals at close range. The patchy lighting makes things a little difficult, but the easiest improvement I would recommend is using a larger aperture (shallow depth of field) to better isolate the turkey from her background.

[R.T.]

Thanks Jay, good point! Had my subject been farther away would a larger aperture still be a good idea? I need to take more pictures so that I get more relaxed and think more about the settings and not just getting the shot. Thanks for the tip, I really appreciate the advice!

[Dante King]

Wow, nice capture of a very leary bird.

[R.T.]

Thanks Dante King, appreciate the comment!

[robertwgross]

I've photographed a few wild turkeys in my time. You could try to use a wider aperture to tighten the depth of field to isolate the subject from the background. Part of the problem is that if the depth of field is too tight, then you might get the front half of the bird in and the back half out. You could simply try to move the background farther behind the subject. With something wild like this, you have to make some compromises.

This is your own blind? I think that is what the Brits call a hide. Move it around a little so that you create a "kill zone" for the bird when it wanders in. That zone will have little background clutter, and it hopefully has good light coming through the forest canopy. I might even go so far as to sprinkle some turkey bait into the zone, just to improve my odds. An audible turkey caller might be another tool.

I know of one suburban park where the wild turkeys just wander around without serious threat by humans or predators. That is a good place for a nature photographer.

---Bob Gross---

[R.T.]

Thanks Bob, appreciate the advice!

Yes, its my own blind and a little to large to move around. There is a beautiful spot that would have been perfect had the Turkey just been willing to walk to it, but she went right around it. :)

I have a salt lick and corn out for the deer and other animals, in fact, just a couple of hours later 3 doe walk up and I got pics of them also. But it was getting a little darker by then and had to use a real slow shutter speed. Guess I should have pushed up the ISO a little but didn't think about it then. :oops:

Oh well, this is good practice for me and I'm learning a little each time I screw up so all in all it was a good day and I had fun. I'll post the deer pic later. Thanks!

[robertwgross]

R.T., you know how duck hunters have a duck call? Well, they have those for wild turkeys also. That should bring them in if they are within a quarter mile.

Then some turkey bait should help, once they get there. For the first visit, just let them eat it and leave. But then they will come back for more the next day. You keep feeding them, and they will become your pet turkeys. Eventually, they will come over and peck on your blind to see if you can put out some more for them.

For turkey bait, I think there is some kind of ground-up worm.

---Bob Gross---

[HJMinard]

R.T., you know how duck hunters have a duck call? Well, they have those for wild turkeys also. That should bring them in if they are within a quarter mile.

Then some turkey bait should help, once they get there. For the first visit, just let them eat it and leave. But then they will come back for more the next day. You keep feeding them, and they will become your pet turkeys. Eventually, they will come over and peck on your blind to see if you can put out some more for them.

For turkey bait, I think there is some kind of ground-up worm.

---Bob Gross---

Excellent advice from Bob ... just make sure turkey baiting/feeding is legal in your location and the current season. I'm pretty sure it's legal here in Michigan, as long as you're not hunting over the food.

To answer your earlier question ... no, I wouldn't use a larger aperture if the subject was farther away (assuming you don't have a lens that can zoom in tighter). Under those circumstances you should just try for a more "environmental" shot like the one you have here.

[R.T.]

Thanks guys!

I have a Turkey call that I used years ago when I was a hunter, but I didn't even think about it for this. I' ll give it a try and see if I can still do it.

And thanks for advice on DOF, appreciate it!

[IanBMW]

Nice, I wouldnt mind seeing your deer pic either.

[R.T.]

Nice, I wouldnt mind seeing your deer pic either.

Thanks! I just posted it. :)