More lousy ducks :)

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/9163/imgp3286wi4.jpg

http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/3623/imgp3396te1.jpg

100% crops ? :D :D

those white ducks are great. I am waiting to hear about you snorkeling up to get the clear shot.lol:D

Hmmm, I've never seen white "ducks" before. Nice shot, though.

Thanks for the comments folks. I typically shoot ducks for practice.
Once in a while, I get a good one. :)

Very nice photo of the ducks. I especially like the glassy appearance of the water on the first one. I have a question for you.

I am thinking about getting into some wildlife amateur photography and really could use some advice or recommendation on good set ups/lenses. Most of my photography will be of true wild animals and you just can't get close without the proper equipment.

I have had some good feed back from others on this site, but would love to hear your opinions about cameras and lenses.

Thanks

Bart,
Thanks for the very nice and kind words. Let me ask a question before I offer my advice / opinion on shooting birds, or atleast, I can share what I do and use.

My first question is, what camera and lenses do you have?

Here are a few more recent ones of some of my favs.

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/7021/birdzp2.jpg

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/681/ducks6hl9.jpg

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/1664/ducks4iw6.jpg

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/1768/ducks2pd6.jpg

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/2928/duckspk9.jpg

Some pretty birds you got there !!

May be you should change the subject line :)

Nice shots, but maybe you should get out of bed earlier, and avoid the harsh sunlight. :idea:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mn shutterbug

Nice shots, but maybe you should get out of bed earlier, and avoid the harsh sunlight. :idea:

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Harsh sunlight? Please explain.

Currently I do not have any equipment. I am not completely ignorant about equipment and terminology although very much a novice. Most of my photography will be in Colorado on truely wild animals/birds.

It appears that you are shooting many of your waterfowl shots on city type ponds where the birds will be a bit more accustomed to the presence of people. That is not a criticism at all, just an observation.

In the area where I live I will have a need for a relatively fast telephoto because the ducks really spook at about 150-200 yards. And of course picking a small song bird out of a tree will require closing the distance too.

Harsh sunlight? Not sure about this comment other that you have nice pics for the conditions you shot your photos. I especially like the head shot of the wood duck.

Thanks

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bartmaverick

Currently I do not have any equipment. I am not completely ignorant about equipment and terminology although very much a novice. Most of my photography will be in Colorado on truely wild animals/birds.

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Then the first place you need to start with is budget. Be realistic about how much money you want to spend. The last white Duck I shot with a camera and lens combo that cost less than $1000.00 and then I have other Camera and lens combos that cost $3000.00.

Quote:

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It appears that you are shooting many of your waterfowl shots on city type ponds where the birds will be a bit more accustomed to the presence of people. That is not a criticism at all, just an observation.

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There are 5 local ponds that I go practice at. Practice makes for a better photographer....But I also go hiking allot and out to the desert and so forth. I know my equipment very well and know how to adjust to different conditions...

Quote:

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In the area where I live I will have a need for a relatively fast telephoto because the ducks really spook at about 150-200 yards. And of course picking a small song bird out of a tree will require closing the distance too.

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150-200 yards, be prepared to spend at least 5k for a lens...The longest reach I have is 750mm and it will not capture a bird or duck at that range.

Quote:

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Harsh sunlight? Not sure about this comment other that you have nice pics for the conditions you shot your photos. I especially like the head shot of the wood duck.

Thanks

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Thank you, I don't know what the harsh light he is speaking of either.

Here are a couple more ducks from today.
Camera was a K10D, with Sigma 70-300APO and 1.4tc

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/1963/ducks1ke2.jpg

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/1015/ducksop4.jpg

Here are a couple more from today...Coming in for a crash landing.
http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/8...anding1rb5.jpg

http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/5...anding2tz6.jpg

Javier,
Thanks for your feedback on the equipment. Just curious, what type of lens and speed did you use to capture the landing ducks?

Bart

Bart,
I was using the Pentax K10D, with the Sigma 70-300APO lens and Tamron 1.4TC. This particular set up I like allot because it is relatively light weight. If you notice, I was shooting at ISO 500 in the middle of the day, Normally this would leave you with blown highlights, but I have found that it comes down to metering and anticipation. Depending on what I am after, will depend on what metering I use. For example, had I used ''spot metering'', my birds would be sharper still, and show more color, but the water would look black, darker or that ugly green. The image would also have a tad more bokeh...By using center weighted metering it then becomes more of an average and then I meter between the duck and the water, this way, I get good color between the two and not overly contrasty...
Allot of this comes down to equipment being used.
Example. If I where using my K20D with one of my telephoto primes, then ISO 500 would not work, I would need to shoot at ISO 100 or lower even, because Primes capture more light. Of course this setup also cost 3 times the money and is twice as heavy and at at the end of the day, I can't see much of a difference in images..


Here are the vitals.
# Exposure Time (1 / Shutter Speed) = 1/1250 second = 0.0008 second
# Lens F-Number/F-Stop = 56/10 = F5.6
# Exposure Program = action program (high-speed program, fast shutter speed) (6)
# ISO Speed Ratings = 500
# Exif Version = 0221
# Original Date/Time = 2008:03:28 15:35:43
# Digitization Date/Time = 2008:03:28 15:35:43
# Components Configuration = 0x01,0x02,0x03,0x00 / YCbCr
# Exposure Bias (EV) = 0/10 = 0
# Metering Mode = center weighted average (2)
# Flash = Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
# Focal Length = 7000/100 mm = 70 mm
# FlashPix Version = 0100
# Colour Space = sRGB (1)
# Image Width = 800 pixels
# Image Height = 417 pixels
# Image Sensing Method = one-chip color area sensor (2)
# Image Source = digital still camera (DSC)
# Scene Type = directly photographed image
# Custom Rendered = normal process (0)
# Exposure Mode = auto exposure (0)
# White Balance = auto (0)
# Focal Length in 35mm Film = 105
# Scene Capture Type = standard (0)
# Contrast = normal (0)
# Saturation = low (1)
# Sharpness = hard (2)
# Subject Distance Range = distant view (3)

I love that manderin duck head shot!!!

Thanks Paul. I appreciate the kind words.

I think this thread would have been better had it been broken into three seperate ones. You have some really nice images in there (the Mandarin and the Wood Duck in particular). The "harsh" light referenced above by MNShutterbug is the late morning through early afternoon direct sunlight. Contrary to popular belief, more light does not mean better pictures. The optimal photographic (natural) light is typically the first couple hours after sunrise, and the last couple hours before sunset. The light is low and warm then. Middday light is VERY harsh, and difficult to control.

I typically get to my locations before sunrise, and I'm done shooting by 10 AM. I then go back out at 4 PM, and shoot until about 7:30 (keep in mind, I'm in Florida). The midday light is a waste of time. Overcast days are the exception to the rule. I shoot all day when it's cloudy.

Hope that answers the "harsh light" questions.

Bob,
Thanks for the comments. I agree with you..My favorite time to shoot is early morning or late evening, and I love cloud cover...

I have made many references in that the noon day sun is not the photographers best friend but his enemy. lol...

Hey, I am overjoyed...Thanks for the feature. :) I would have never expected that.

I love the wood duck head shot (the one not the FP) although the bill is a tad bit hot. the only place ive seen those is at the aviary, and could only shoot straight down on it.

congrats javi!

Thanks Rod, Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn from time to time. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jgredline

... If you notice, I was shooting at ISO 500 in the middle of the day, Normally this would leave you with blown highlights, but I have found that it comes down to metering and anticipation....

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Well, not quite. Remember that ISO is only one of three components that make up an exposure (the other two being shutter speed and aperture). I've been shooting in a bright conservatory during the middle of the day using ISO 800 and flash and I can still underexpose when I need to.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jgredline

... Depending on what I am after, will depend on what metering I use. For example, had I used ''spot metering'', my birds would be sharper still, and show more color, but the water would look black, darker or that ugly green. The image would also have a tad more bokeh...By using center weighted metering it then becomes more of an average and then I meter between the duck and the water, this way, I get good color between the two and not overly contrasty...

---

Setting the proper exposure is actually a LOT easier than what you're going through in your head. Your scene is a bright sunny day near midday - so the light intensity will be near constant for several straight hours. Just set your exposure to the point where the whites just do not blow out. Then leave the settings alone and shoot away. No further thought is necessary.

Manual exposure is the way to go. Understand light and understand how to control it and then you can shoot anywhere in any condition. I can tell you by looking at your scene that I would have shot at ISO 400, f/11, 1/500s and would have nailed the exposure for the white ducks.