Western Kingbird

[cfcRebel]

I saw this beauty while waiting for the red-shouldered hawk. He/She was willing to pose for me.
C/C welcome.

[mrclark321]

Nice shots Rebel....Were do you get all the time to take these great shots?
Keep up the good work!!

Dan

[cfcRebel]

THanks Dan!:D Actually these subjects were not targeted in the first place. I couldn't find my main subject(hawk), so i'd settle for whatever available at that time. http://www.initial-d.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[sparker1]

Nice shots.

[cfcRebel]

Thanks Stan.

[tupe]

Nice shots, CFC. This is a new bird to me.

[cfcRebel]

Thanks tupe. I, too, just learned its name two days ago. :D

[herderdog]

I like the first one. You really caught the eye!
Super.

[cfcRebel]

Thanks Bonnie. I'm glad you like it.
#2 reminds me of something that i took not too long ago - Mr. Woody. See the similarity in the other #2? :D
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=72463

[weemannie]

Nice shots cfcRebel :)

[cfcRebel]

Thanks Weemannie.
I'm happy with my lenses but I still wish i had a 100-400L like yours and Bonnie's for my bird photography :D

[herderdog]

cfcRebel--
I still have at least one want--and that is the 70-200 2.8.
It is always cloudy (it seems)-- and I have trouble getting enough shutter speed--especially when shooting action shots of the trial dogs.
Today (finally a day off of work) is overcast and rainy. I have set up some bird feeders--and the birds are starting to come around--I am almost tempted to put the tc on the 85 f/1.8 today and see if that works. Maybe the tc doesn't work on that lens? Dunno.

[cfcRebel]

Are you using Canon TC? I read about it and it requires a minimum focal length of 135mm. I dunno about Sigma or Kenko TC though.
Rebel XT has a better handling of noise than DRebel. So you can crank up the ISO to get higher speed at f4. I have tried shooting in cloudy outdoor at f5.6, 300mm ISO800. It wasn't as bad as i thought. ;) Of course, the birds have to sit very still.

[herderdog]

I have a Kenko 1.4--
I just tried it out--It works fine! on the 85 f/1.8 (I do have the contacts taped)
This has got me thinking I might order the Kenko 2.0 and use it for awhile for my dog shots on the field in combination with the 85. It is sure a much lighter combination. Maybe go for the 135 f/2.0 if I need a little more reach. I have carpal tunnel pretty bad, and holding the 100-400 or the 70-200 2.8 is not always that fun.

I have started using a little mono pod thing that hooks around my neck (had it for a video camera). It works pretty good. With the lighter lenses it would be a snap.

[cfcRebel]

Heh hey, glad to hear that! Maybe i should get a Kenko 1.4 TC too.
If your 100-400 is collecting dust and looking for new owner, send me a PM. http://initial-d.com/forums/images/smilies/hi.gif

[herderdog]

I'm going to fool around with the 85 f/1.8 and the 1.4 tc. I'll post some pics when (and if LOL) I get some.

Oh ..I think I am probably married to that 100-400. Impresses the friends when you pull it out too. :rolleyes:

Might sell the 70-200 f/4 if I get the 135?

[cfcRebel]

70-200f4 was in my list at one point but i realize it is probably too short for birds, and too long for landscape/cityscape. Those two are my main interests in photography. But I always welcome a nice Christmas present like this. http://initial-d.com/forums/images/smilies/love.gif

[Dragonslayer]

Adam pretty nice shot but the light looks alittle flat here and the bird a little under exposed, angle of attack is steep but not much you can do about that when they perch on a wire, I have a pair of these nesting in my backyard.

[cfcRebel]

Hi Eric! Glad to see u here. Thanks for the comment. I really appreciate it.
What type of post processing can i do to enhance the image? More saturation, contrast, shadow?My current tools are Picasa2, and Digital Photo Professional (DPP).

[Dragonslayer]

Hi Eric! Glad to see u here. Thanks for the comment. I really appreciate it.
What type of post processing can i do to enhance the image? More saturation, contrast, shadow?My current tools are Picasa2, and Digital Photo Professional (DPP).

I use Breeze browser pro but without seeing a raw image or full sized shot it's hard to say what you would need to correct this on this shot. You can adjust the exposure or gamma normally in the software but I would have suggested to adjust the AE setting in the camera, when ever you shoot against a lighter or brighter colored background your subject will normally be flat in color. You need to actually over expose the shot which means the background might get to bright but the subject will look fine, Also the use of fill flash can help in a situation like this to balance the lighting and bring up the details on the darker side of the bird here.

[cfcRebel]

Cool! I never thought of increasing the EC when shooting bird with a bright bg. I recently just discovered how to switch from evaluative to partial metering in my 300D. I guess that would help too, correct?

[Wayne Wood]

Its amazing how similar your western Kingbird is to our Great crested fly catcher while yours looks nothing like our eastern Kingbird good shots Rebel

[cfcRebel]

Thanks liv2trip. I would say they are 90% similar except the crest. They are definitely relatives. W. Kingbird is in the Flycatcher family too.
I have yet to see a Eastern Kingbird in real life. I guess i have to travel east more. ;)

[ngannet]

Very nice! Did you happen to get any of the Red-shouldered hawk? I'd love to get some shots of them, but they are not commonly seen around here at least.

[cfcRebel]

Thanks ngannet. I finally got some better shots of the red-tailed. Here it is. http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=77327