BIF Phototip

[Loupey]

The weather on Wednesday was near ideal for shooting swallows - windy, sunny, blue skies.

The wind direction is always a factor and it was coming out directly from the west. It was so strong at times on my back that I nearly fell forward into the water. The trick is to find an obstruction that the birds have to fly around/through as they come towards you upwind. In my case there is an irregular weedbank that they come around before coming towards me.

So the wind acts to brake their approach (relative to you) and also orients them for a head shot (if that's what you're after) and it forces them to use a somewhat regular approach path.

In short order I was able to capture all three swallow species (tree, rough-winged, and barn). Still, these are significantly cropped. All with the 500mm.

[OldClicker]

I can't figure out whether I'm going to be inspired or find a new hobby. :-) Excellent and beautiful shots. - TF

[Frog]

Good observational skills you put to good use there.
Got me thinking about whether I could capture a swallow but I decided I'd leave it to you.

[AgingEyes]

Wow, very good Loupey !!

In case anyone want to give it a try, many also suggest finding a nest/nest box, camp near there, pre-focus and...pray...I mean keep shooting

I like shooting by the pond because swallows like to fly around, back and forth and low over the water. That means, it's easier to track them since there's certain kind of pattern you can follow. It's easier in the sense that it's better than trying to catch them flying randomly in mid-air. Also, they don't just fly over the water, they could be drinking, bathing or catching bugs.

Still, swallows's size is the main problem that makes them difficult to shoot, IMO.

Haven't you noticed that most bird-in-flight shots are shots of bigger birds?

[SARtech]

LOL... OC and Frog!!

Loupey my man.... way to go. Make them come to you! I love it.:thumbsup:

[Loupey]

Thanks, everyone.

It is interesting how differently the three species fly. At this low altitude, the rough-wings are the most difficult to shoot as they fly very erratically. The tree swallows are the easiest and most predictable. With a little practice, it is easy to predict exactly which one amidst the group is going to go down and get a drink or a dunk. Tree swallows also fly in the tightest circle so they are in front of the camera longer than the other two species.

But this morning I had a whole flock of migrants show up in my backyard so I think I'm done with the swallows. With my coffee I had a pair of Baltimore orioles, a pair of rose-breasted grosbeaks, several black-throated green warblers, couple yellow warblers, blue-headed vireos, and one Nashville warbler (which I didn't even know was a Nashville until I took a look at what I shot a few minutes ago).

I think I'd rather spend the mornings shooting in my backyard

[mn shutterbug]

Well done, but I think you are obsessed with swallows. Of course, there are worse obsessions out there.

[paulnj]

Very nice. I really like the barn swallow the best.