Barn Swallow

[AJ Montgomery]

While in Sequim, yesterday, at the Lavender Festival, I came across this lil' guy. He was a poser and allowed me to approach within 10 feet.

http://www.kajmonty.com/gallery/albums/fowl/IMG_9854.jpg

EF 70-200 F/4L at 200mm
Model = Canon EOS 20D
Exposure Time = 1/400"
F Number = F5.6
Exposure Program = Aperture priority
ISO Speed Ratings = 200
Date Time Original = 2000-01-01 00:01:27
Shutter Speed Value = 8.64 TV
Aperture Value = 4.97 AV
Exposure Bias Value = 0EV
Metering Mode = Pattern
Flash = Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Focal Length = 200mm

[Jim_T]

Great shot.. I love barn swallows, they're very attractive birds..

I had a few in the spring that wanted to get in my garage in the worst way.. Whenever I opened a door, one would fly over my shoulder and in to the garage. Unfortunately they never seemed to sit still long enough for me to get a decent photo..

[AJ Montgomery]

Thanks Jim!

[HJMinard]

Wonderful image, AJ ... nice depth of field, and smooth, even background.

[tupe]

That's a beauty, AJ. Great shot.

[cfcRebel]

Very nice and sharp. Look at the detail on the rusty barbed wire. :)

[liza]

Absolutely beautiful!

[MarkoPolo]

Very nice shot. I'll be in your neck of the woods next week as I will be visiting my daugher in Seattle. What a beautiful part of the country.

[Airedale1]

Wonderful capture!

[AJ Montgomery]

To all who commented, thank you!!!

[Stephen Stephen]

AJ, great image, colour and wonderful composition. I've gotten some nice images of tree swallows this year but no "barns" as yet.

[dancad]

The rusty barbed wire really adds to the picture. Nice and sharp picture.

[Curtis N]

Nice shot!
Swallows are the fighter jets of the aviary world. When I was dairy farming they were always around during the summer an I used to love watching them fly. Their colors are more interesting when their wings are extended, but it would be a real challenge to focus on one in flight!

[Stephen Stephen]

Hi Curtis I agree about their flight capacity. I'm attaching a photo* I took last month of a tree swallow. Their were several of them flying around me but they were against a very light grey sky so lighting was difficult. I have sharper images but none with this unique positioning of the bird.

I was using my Sigma 70-200 EX APO F2.8 and Sigma EX 1.4 teleconverter.

* Originally pasted on Photography Cafe

[Curtis N]

Nice shot, Stephen! How did you manage to focus?

[Stephen Stephen]

Nice shot, Stephen! How did you manage to focus?


Thanks Curtis,

I had the camera on autofocus and just kept shooting. Every so often a bird would pause for a split second before changing directions.