Post your Bird Portraits

Blackbird.........yes definitely a Blackbird. 100% white. It was amongst other blackbirds. I contacted the RSPB and was told Its snow white feathers are the result of leucism, a condition which affects the pigmentation of the skin. Unlike albinism, it does not turn the eyes pink. Birds with leucism or albinism have a shorter lifespan than others because they are more conspicuous to predators in the wild. A pure white one is very rare as even when they are first hatched they are thrown out of the nest at an early age. I am very privileged to have seen one.

markesc wrote in post #18435274
There's just a look the images have, something about the perfect DOF with a more immediate bokeh. It seems to me, and I could be completely wrong on this, but it seems like the F5.6 lenses need to be stopped down further to match the same DOF compared to say an f2.8 stopped to F4.0. I know this is completely contrary to how it is supposed to work, but then I get on here and look at the exif results. The other part is your F2.8-F4 buyer typically has more years of experience/patience and is more selective in which images to share.

I don't know about that, you may be right, but that lens was magically amazing. I also had a 500 for a week on loan as well as borrowing one, and it had the magic too. The 300 with 2x TC is more my speed I think. Easier to travel with, slightly. I want one.......

Along with Butterflies, I see hummingbirds as natures purest. It's distressing to see them broken. I guess they heal, but I don't think she'll ever be the same.

markesc wrote in post #18435274
There's just a look the images have, something about the perfect DOF with a more immediate bokeh. It seems to me, and I could be completely wrong on this, but it seems like the F5.6 lenses need to be stopped down further to match the same DOF compared to say an f2.8 stopped to F4.0. I know this is completely contrary to how it is supposed to work, but then I get on here and look at the exif results. The other part is your F2.8-F4 buyer typically has more years of experience/patience and is more selective in which images to share.

We have a lot of sun here in Florida so perhaps my experiences don't count for much.... but I'm with you. I stop down to at least f/7.1 most of the time and still get shutter speeds at 1/1000 or higher. I'm also photographing larger birds most of the time and I'm sure that factors in. I want everything in focus.

To get that nice blurred background, I really need some distance between the bird and the background. Sometimes that isn't possible and in those settings, I'm more likely to use f/5.6.

lucky_shot wrote in post #18435367
Along with Butterflies, I see hummingbirds as natures purest. It's distressing to see them broken. I guess they heal, but I don't think she'll ever be the same.

Hosted photo: posted by lucky_shot in
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forum: Birds

Great shot is that the af-s or none af-s 300 f4 you have?


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Phoenixkh wrote in post #18435379
We have a lot of sun here in Florida so perhaps my experiences don't count for much.... but I'm with you. I stop down to at least f/7.1 most of the time and still get shutter speeds at 1/1000 or higher. I'm also photographing larger birds most of the time and I'm sure that factors in. I want everything in focus.

To get that nice blurred background, I really need some distance between the bird and the background. Sometimes that isn't possible and in those settings, I'm more likely to use f/5.6.

Yep f5.6 is about the best compromise on my set up, its still sharp there and gets me slightly lower ISO and higher sh speed.

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Another hover fly watcher.


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Pagman wrote in post #18435448
Great shot is that the af-s or none af-s 300 f4 you have?

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It is the original screw drive. Built like a tank, low element count, sharp as all get out. Using a 20mm extension tube here to shorten the minimum focus distance.

lucky_shot wrote in post #18435485
It is the original screw drive. Built like a tank, low element count, sharp as all get out. Using a 20mm extension tube here to shorten the minimum focus distance.

Same as mine Stunning lens.


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Gull on the pottery.

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Image hosted by forum (872511) © Pagman THIS IS A LOW QUALITY PREVIEW. Please log in to see the good quality stuff.

edmidlifecrisis wrote in post #18434633
It is a juvenile coloration night heron, I think a black-crowned. Great shot!

Night Heron... Thanks everyone who "liked" it. I don't usually shoot birds, I was testing the Case Settings on my new Camera. I found that shooting BIF is a good way to practice Panning and different AF points.
Bob.

Tall and proud

A Bateleur from Botswana having a drink.

Photo from CyberDyneSystems's gallery.