Shooting Birds with a Wide Angle

**Loupey** · 08-06-2006, 06:55 AM

Always experimenting, I was hoping a shot more like #2 below but they don't always cooperate do they

I bought a 10 meter extension cable for this type of shooting. My 17-40mm zoom was set at the 17mm setting and positioned near its closest focusing distance of around a foot. Don't have enough light back here for what I want to do next (in-flight of course!) - but I have another location in mind.

I keep you "posted"

Oh, sorry if these colors/contrast is off - I'm working out back outside and I am too lazy to go in to check my processing.

Jaedon · 08-06-2006, 08:00 AM

I love it. Makes me want to go out and buy the remote for my camera now lol

**paulnj** · 08-06-2006, 09:20 PM

While not the greatest images you've posted.... this is a great thread already!

jorgemonkey · 08-06-2006, 09:59 PM

I never even thought of trying that! Looks like I'll be tryin that next time I'm at my grandparents house- might be a good way to get those hummingbird pictures!

I'll have to use my D70 & the wireless remote since I don't have a remote for my D2h yet.

poker · 08-07-2006, 12:02 AM

I really need to get a bird feeder. You think I'm allowed to put a birdfeeder on a tree on the sidewalk in front of my house? Maybe not since it is a city tree, huh?

Great experiment, Loupey! I read about a similar experiment on the www.about.com. Hope they didn't peck on the lens when they saw their reflection. Hope you do it again.

**Loupey** · 08-07-2006, 11:34 AM

Thanks for the sticky, Paul. I do hope some of you will try it and post your results - especially those with crazy amounts of birds (Terryger and Bevb) or crazy amounts of birds and feeders.

This was a test shot for what I really hope to do - capture a hummingbird at a feeder shooting from about 1.5' directly beneath. Unfortunately, the only feeder I know that is frequented with any regularity is in the shade, on the other side of the city, and is a "friend of a friend". So my putting a tripod in the middle of their garden may be frowned upon. I may have to mount the camera on my monopod and slide it into position - I doubt that I will have enough reach.

If anyone else can do before I can, please post! Love to see it. My only recommendation is that the feeder be as isolated as possible. What a weird and fun angle that would be, eh? Sillouetted or with fill flash - depends on the sky.

As for this location (at the house) - my other thought was to set up two strobes fired from my IR transmitter so I can shoot in the shade and capture the in-flight birds with the burst.

**Loupey** · 08-08-2006, 06:49 AM

Preliminary flight shots with this setup.

All are outside my preset DOF. Still trying to fine-tune my timing. Difficult as I can't hear my shutter so most of the time I feel like my camera isn't even turned on.

I'm going for a more closeup "distorted" view just before they land on the feeder.

More to come

c.j. · 08-08-2006, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loupey

… So my putting a tripod in the middle of their garden may be frowned upon. …

I'd welcome you here to set up like that, as long as I'm allowed to take copius notes and video of what you are doing!!!!!!

You (and the other pros here) are really helping out 'the masses'. I get a lot out of what you do/post here.

Thanks

**Loupey** · 08-08-2006, 07:49 PM

Thanks for the kind words, CJ.

But I'm treading on new ground for me and it may not work out (at least how I'm envisioning).

Even though birds are new for me, after shooting for 20+ years now, I find doing something new/unusual gives me renewed enthusiasm. Besides, I have binders and binders full of slide pages of the "usual" stuff.

As for birds, until this spring, I had only one (1!) page of slides (less than 20) of birds

So I'm learning with ya all!

quetzal · 08-09-2006, 04:00 PM

Those are cool pics, I really like the one that made the feature photo. Neat idea.

julsoph · 08-11-2006, 11:00 AM

Those are pretty fun shots, Loupey.

I like the featured one as well.

Emily

**Loupey** · 08-12-2006, 06:47 AM

Thanks Quetzal and Emily!

I've set up 2 strobes triggered by an IR transmitter. I think I'll get what I'm looking for in the next day or two.

In the meantime, two more "test" images

Both shot at about a foot and a quarter from the film plane (a few inches in from the lens shade) at 17mm.

payn817 · 08-12-2006, 03:54 PM

I'm really diggin that featured photo Loupey. Great idea, and topic, you are a real inspiration and keep us on our toes.

You idea has inspired me. I want to make a trip to the coast soon and try this with crabs. Keep em coming!

**Loupey** · 08-13-2006, 09:11 PM

A few more from this morning.

I also had a few that were too close (going for the lens) - boy that would have been some great captures with the wide angle! Exactly the distortion type shots I'm envisioning. But mostly they like to hide out in the blind spot of the feeder.

**Loupey** · 08-19-2006, 09:14 PM

OK, a different location this afternoon.

The 17-40mm is obviously quite a different animal than my normal 300mm in that so much of the background is included. This fact would be of great advantage if I can find a vast field that I can shoot against.

Not a chance in my parts

BTW, I'm having great difficulty getting in-flight shots that I had in mind because the birds have to be practically crashing into my lens in order to get a large enough of an image. The goldfinch feeder in the first image is literally only about 6" in front of my lens shade and look how small that perched one is! The focus point was preset at 1.2' and is slightly behind the perched one (the DOF starts just in front of her feet and just behind her eyes).

Jaedon · 08-20-2006, 07:34 AM

the second one in that last set is AWESOME loupey. Reminiscent of angels. I love the clouds as a backdrop.

Coastal Flyer · 09-02-2006, 08:32 PM

Loupey,

What a great series of photos. Very imaginative, just fun to see the birds in flight, taking wing, landing, etc. Your colors are terrific by the way. Thanks for sharing these fun photos.

CF

Lava Lamp · 09-03-2006, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loupey

Always experimenting, I was hoping a shot more like #2 below but they don't always cooperate do they

I bought a 10 meter extension cable for this type of shooting. My 17-40mm zoom was set at the 17mm setting and positioned near its closest focusing distance of around a foot. Don't have enough light back here for what I want to do next (in-flight of course!) - but I have another location in mind.

I keep you "posted"

Oh, sorry if these colors/contrast is off - I'm working out back outside and I am too lazy to go in to check my processing.

Great idea an interesting pics. Thanks for sharing.

**Loupey** · 09-25-2006, 04:15 PM

Thanks, everyone for taking the time to look and comment.

Time to unstick this bad boy as I do not plan to shoot any more like this (of birds at least

) for the time being.

It was fun doing it - and frustrating at the same time if you know what I mean.

Lava Lamp's GT image has me thinking about mounting one on the back of an animal and getting their take on things

A wireless would be the way to go. But at least with my cable, I can reel them back in.

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