Dinner Time (One for Paul)

[Old Timer]

While it is no where near what Paul and the real bird guys get I was fairly pleased that I was able to catch the moments. Quality not what I Like to have, but I'm new to this type thing and I hope I learned a little something last night while taking these. What do you think?

[ken1953]

OT...I've not seen much of the "bird guys" stuff...but I for one think these shots are awesome. You definitely have a gift and should keep up taking these types of pictures and I firmly believe you will achieve a level you desire.
Ken

[Old Timer]

OT...I've not seen much of the "bird guys" stuff...but I for one think these shots are awesome. You definitely have a gift and should keep up taking these types of pictures and I firmly believe you will achieve a level you desire.
Ken

Thanks Ken. This was a learning experience for sure. I stayed at it for sometime trying several different combinations. I shot with the 80-200 fully extended and could have used a longer lens. In the long run a guess I was just glad to have been able to get an image of the event.

[paulnj]

Larry,

While the quality isn't up to YOUR par, neither have mine been lately ;)

THESE ARE GREAT! You captured an intimate moment in nature that most people do even see, let alone photograph

Thanks for sharing!

[Peter_AUS]

I think they are quite good, a little too much light in them, and maybe (hard to tell) over sharpened maybe. But these a very good and as has been said, show an intimate moment between mother and child. The choice of food leaves a lot to be desired though, but then we aren't birds are we.

[Lionheart]

While it is no where near what Paul and the real bird guys get I was fairly pleased that I was able to catch the moments. Quality not what I Like to have, but I'm new to this type thing and I hope I learned a little something last night while taking these. What do you think?

So what's wrong with these? I'd be proud to own these

[Old Timer]

Larry,

While the quality isn't up to YOUR par, neither have mine been lately ;)

THESE ARE GREAT! You captured an intimate moment in nature that most people do even see, let alone photograph

Thanks for sharing!

Thanks Paul. You're right the quality was not up to my standards, however I posted more for the moment than anything else. I had some problems focusing and went to manuel but still wasn't able with my old eyes to get what I needed. And yes Peter your right I did over sharpen a little trying to salvage. And Leon you were very kind, but I do dream of getting this same setting and having exposure and focus dead on in the future.

[Speed]

While it is no where near what Paul and the real bird guys get I was fairly pleased that I was able to catch the moments. Quality not what I Like to have, but I'm new to this type thing and I hope I learned a little something last night while taking these. What do you think?

Sorry Larry, but I've got to do this. It's for you own good. You do realize that, don't you?

These are terrible. What a waste of time. Give it up. Just pack up that D70, that 80-200mm f2.8, and your flash, and ship them to Speed, at............

Hehehe. ;-)

I'm kidding buddy!

The only MINOR critique I can see with these is the flash is a little too bright. Otherwise these are great shots! Better than anything I've ever gotten. Beats my best bird shot by a light year buddy! I'm amazed you got close enough with the 80-200mm to get these. I'm also amazed the mother let you take these shots. (I would have thought the flash going off would have frightened her off.) Amazing shots, and like others have commented, they show an event that many have never seen before.

Keep at it my friend. We need some Nikon Bird Nerds around here! :-D


BTW, what flash did you use?

[Old Timer]

Sorry Larry, but I've got to do this. It's for you own good. You do realize that, don't you?

These are terrible. What a waste of time. Give it up. Just pack up that D70, that 80-200mm f2.8, and your flash, and ship them to Speed, at............

Hehehe. ;-)

I'm kidding buddy!

The only MINOR critique I can see with these is the flash is a little too bright. Otherwise these are great shots! Better than anything I've ever gotten. Beats my best bird shot by a light year buddy! I'm amazed you got close enough with the 80-200mm to get these. I'm also amazed the mother let you take these shots. (I would have thought the flash going off would have frightened her off.) Amazing shots, and like others have commented, they show an event that many have never seen before.

Keep at it my friend. We need some Nikon Bird Nerds around here! :-D


BTW, what flash did you use?

Well the truth of the mattter is your post to Paul about compensations was what got me inspired to try this shot. After reading your post I said to my self that maybe I could do that. I had been watching a Robin for the last couple of weeks on a nest in the back yard. Ater work that day I went in and pulled a picknic table over close enough to get most of the frame filled with the 80-200. I stood on the the table which was not wide enough to fully extend the tripod legs by the way and a little cramped with me and all of the equipment and attempted to do what others seem to do with eaze. I spent an hour up there and this is what I have to show for it. I will try again if I get the opportunity, but who knows when that will be. I was using the SB800 flash by the way and the compensation setting you meantioned, but I was a little hot with the flash it appears. At any rate thanks for the inspiration Speed.

[paulnj]

First off let me tell Rob that when he has 3000+ rolls of slides(let alone C41 films) go through his NIKON ... I will pass the title to HIM with the hotmail account name of NIKONBIRDER@HOTMAIL.COM ;)

Rob's comments of negative in camera and over exposure with flash? I thought he was joking, because that is opposite how EVERYONE I KNOW shoots ;)
.
For that scene I would go F8-F11 in A mode, -.3EV in camera to not blow the whites and -1ev on the flash to give just enough light to the robins. From there I would adjust the exposure and flash to your liking. All scenes vary with flash and exposure comp, so those are just my suggested settings from viewing the images posted.

[Old Timer]

First off let me tell Rob that when he has 3000+ rolls of slides(let alone C41 films) go through his NIKON ... I will pass the title to HIM with the hotmail account name of NIKONBIRDER@HOTMAIL.COM ;)

Rob's comments of negative in camera and over exposure with flash? I thought he was joking, because that is opposite how EVERYONE I KNOW shoots ;)
.
For that scene I would go F8-F11 in A mode, -.3EV in camera to not blow the whites and -1ev on the flash to give just enough light to the robins. From there I would adjust the exposure and flash to your liking. All scenes vary with flash and exposure comp, so those are just my suggested settings from viewing the images posted.

Well I did everything backwards, so I guess I'm lucky I got anything. I would like to get a little longer glass and really try to do some of this bird stuff. But for now I guess I should stick to the macro and my flowers. Thanks for the advice and the comments Paul, I always look forward to your post.

[paulnj]

Well I did everything backwards, so I guess I'm lucky I got anything. I would like to get a little longer glass and really try to do some of this bird stuff. But for now I guess I should stick to the macro and my flowers. Thanks for the advice and the comments Paul, I always look forward to your post.

I never said it wasn't going to work ;) Basicly Rob was suggesting you use FLASH AS MAIN, which in most cases end up just like your files....

I find flash as main light to be far less flattering than flash as FILL ;)

OK... I will find, convert and post for YOU a few files ;)

[Speed]

Well the truth of the mattter is your post to Paul about compensations was what got me inspired to try this shot. After reading your post I said to my self that maybe I could do that. I had been watching a Robin for the last couple of weeks on a nest in the back yard. Ater work that day I went in and pulled a picknic table over close enough to get most of the frame filled with the 80-200. I stood on the the table which was not wide enough to fully extend the tripod legs by the way and a little cramped with me and all of the equipment and attempted to do what others seem to do with eaze. I spent an hour up there and this is what I have to show for it. I will try again if I get the opportunity, but who knows when that will be. I was using the SB800 flash by the way and the compensation setting you meantioned, but I was a little hot with the flash it appears. At any rate thanks for the inspiration Speed.

Sweet! I want one of those SOOOOO bad. And I shoot film cameras. What can I say, I'm a sucker for that big guide number.

Sorry if I steered you wrong there buddy. That "advice" I gave to Paul (who doesn't need ANY advice on shooting wildlife) was a recommendation from B. Moose Peterson for shooting in bright and sunny/harsh shadow light. High noon stuff. The worst time of day to be shooting. Basically, when the contrast range is too high from dark to light, then use the flash as the main light, and the idea is the negative compensation on the camera body will darken the background. Shooting Robins in a nest doesn't qualify for that type of shooting arrangement. I am so sorry I didn't qualify my statement.

Actually, for day to day shooting, (in the woods type stuff) Moose recommends adding just a touch of fill light (usually -1.0 flash compensation) to provide a catchlight and help the colors pop. I've found that in shadowy conditions, such as portraits under the oak tree, this works great. And Paul is definitely THE source for which compensations to add or subtract for shooting wildlife. He's shot so many, I'm sure it's automatic to him by now.

So, follow Pauls compensation advice, and climb back up on that table. ;-)

[Speed]

First off let me tell Rob that when he has 3000+ rolls of slides(let alone C41 films) go through his NIKON ... I will pass the title to HIM with the hotmail account name of NIKONBIRDER@HOTMAIL.COM ;)

Rob's comments of negative in camera and over exposure with flash? I thought he was joking, because that is opposite how EVERYONE I KNOW shoots ;)
.
For that scene I would go F8-F11 in A mode, -.3EV in camera to not blow the whites and -1ev on the flash to give just enough light to the robins. From there I would adjust the exposure and flash to your liking. All scenes vary with flash and exposure comp, so those are just my suggested settings from viewing the images posted.

Oh man! I had no idea anyone else would bother reading the banter you and I were writing. :-O

People actually read this stuff? Better watch what I write...;-)

"Rob's comments of negative in camera and over exposure with flash? I thought he was joking..."

I knew YOU would know I was just getting in a dig at you. And you would also know that the "advice" I gave (a paraphrase from Moose) applied to shooting in bright light at high noon.

I have no designs on NIKONBIRDER@HOTMAIL.COM. It is safe and secure from any meager attempt I would make anyway, as you well know. And I'm going to remember the advice you gave to Old Timer for when I get another shot at a bird or some other critter.

:-)