Post your Bird Portraits

Western Jackdaw on the look out.

P.

Really happy to have a visit from this Barred Owl tonight, who I found perched in the tree right out in front of my house when I got home from dinner. Closest I have ever been to an owl! We had a Barred living in the woods out back last year who disappeared over the summer, who I was never able to get a clear shot of... hopefully this fella is back for winter break

Shot from tripod, focused in Live View. Wish I could have taken the photo just 10 minutes earlier for better light. It was 13(F) degrees and breezy, making for a challenging shot!

MatthewK wrote in post #18535169
Really happy to have a visit from this Barred Owl tonight, who I found perched in the tree right out in front of my house when I got home from dinner. Closest I have ever been to an owl! We had a Barred living in the woods out back last year who disappeared over the summer, who I was never able to get a clear shot of... hopefully this fella is back for winter break

Shot from tripod, focused in Live View. Wish I could have taken the photo just 10 minutes earlier for better light. It was 13(F) degrees and breezy, making for a challenging shot!

Hosted photo: posted by MatthewK in
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forum: Birds

Nice Matt. Its cool when they come for a visit. i also have a pair that almost never come in good light but i hear daily. in the summer he can make me smile at 3am with his calling and purring. best sounding owl on the planet I think. back in november I got my shot in the dark too lol.

Hoverfly watching by a resident jackdaw.

P.

MalVeauX wrote in post #18535014
Your shutter speed is the initial source of blur here (you just posted like 6~8+ photos with 1/200s shutter on all of them) especially if you and your subject were moving (which they all nearly all were).
If shooting totally manual, set your shutter to 1/800S~1/1000s for that focal length (600mm-ish), set focal-ratio, then float ISO to whatever it takes to get a proper exposure to taste.
Otherwise, if using something semi-auto, push ISO so that shutter speed is significantly faster.

You can get away with very, very slow shutter speeds from a monopod with a long lens if your subject is not moving very much. But that takes a lot of bracing and practice. Until you're to this point, just use a faster shutter with a higher ISO.

Very best,

Thanks for the detailed guidance, much appreciate it.

MalVeauX wrote in post #18535119
I totally agree with Archibald and MalVeaux......

IS should be on when using a Monopod. I only ever use a Monopod. I also always have a 1.4x TC permanently on my 500mm. It never comes off.
I cannot get a decent shot when hand holding......So only monopod and NOT a tripod.
The Majority of my photo's are taken in Woods where the light is poor and in the UK every location I goto especially this time of year it is a challenge.
Many of my photo's are taken between 1/80s - 1/400s in Wood/forest locations. I do not ever go above ISO 1000 and I have a technique that seems to work and not let me down. As an example the photos below are at 1/80s & 1/100s ISO 800 @700mm

Thank you for sharing the knowledge. This is a lake I was shooting and it was sunny. I should have increased the shutter speed as you all pointed out or the ISO. One simple thing I forgot in the excitement is to check the images in the field often and adjust.

Hopefully I am not spoiling too much here for others with my sub-standard pics, apologies.

There is so much quality and experience in this community. Sheer joy just looking at the pictures and the beautiful birds from all around the world.

Thank to All in The Forum

arsurendran wrote in post #18535225
Thank you for sharing the knowledge. This is a lake I was shooting and it was sunny. I should have increased the shutter speed as you all pointed out or the ISO. One simple thing I forgot in the excitement is to check the images in the field often and adjust.

Hopefully I am not spoiling too much here for others with my sub-standard pics, apologies.

There is so much quality and experience in this community. Sheer joy just looking at the pictures and the beautiful birds from all around the world.

Thank to All in The Forum

Never think that, friend, you are welcome here. We all had to start somewhere, and often times taking that next step only can happen when we learn from those who have gone before us. Just last year I was frustrated beyond belief with the same exact combo you are using now (80D + 100-400 II), and the amazing photographers here got me on track. There's definitely a learning curve, so stick with it, we're here to help

philmar wrote in post #18535156

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/7AQG​3F curious sleeping position - duck in Costa ta Rica by Phil Marion, on Flickr

Looks like a black bellied whistling duck. We have them in Florida too, cool birds.

Vermillion flycatcher, immature male. First time sighting for me this afternoon

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Jj8m​6H

edmidlifecrisis wrote in post #18535263
Vermillion flycatcher, immature male. First time sighting for me this afternoon

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Jj8m​6H Vermillion flycatcher by Ed Spenser, on Flickr

WOW that stands out a bit nice shot my friend

P.

PCousins wrote in post #18535119
IS should be on when using a Monopod. I only ever use a Monopod. I also always have a 1.4x TC permanently on my 500mm. It never comes off.
I cannot get a decent shot when hand holding......So only monopod and NOT a tripod.
The Majority of my photo's are taken in Woods where the light is poor and in the UK every location I goto especially this time of year it is a challenge.
Many of my photo's are taken between 1/80s - 1/400s in Wood/forest locations. I do not ever go above ISO 1000 and I have a technique that seems to work and not let me down. As an example the photos below are at 1/80s & 1/100s ISO 800 @700mm

Thanks for sharing the info.
I always struggle with sharpness, as well.
Those have amazing details given your shutter speeds.

A Female Flame Robin from Falls Creek VIC

It has been extremely cold and windy up here the past week or so. Temps with the wind chill have been flirting around -40C. Yesterday, the sun finally came out in the afternoon and with the high winds, I figured that the Snows would be grounded. Even with her heavy markings, this young one was not easy to spot sitting in a clump of long grass out in a field. she gave herself away when she started preening. Sat with her until the light faded out. Feet, body and head was nice and warm. Still working on the hands. That clinking noise in the background were my fingers falling off, one by one

IanD wrote in post #18535373

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Wow, that is just gorgeous.