Swan to tower: permission to takeoff?

[maxf]

Tower to swan: permission granted

http://maxf.smugmug.com/gallery/407631/1/16569343

I was out earlydoors on Saturday and caught 2 fecking great B52-esq swans taking off. It was an 'auto' job as I saw it happening out of the corner of my eye - shame I didnt have my polariser on.

Taken with my new 70-300mm ED lens.

[beano500]

Oh good stuff.

I have a swan runway right outside the front door - I expect it's the first thing I aim at when I get my DSLR! Mind you, I'll need a super-wide-angle-swan-eye lens to fit all the little beggars in.

Two tricks with swans - one to get close enough, without doing anything to get your shutter release finger in the firing line from a nasty suck. And two - they can be quite a challenge for a good light meter!

Don't suppose you can get down lower and have a darker background, out of focus, for the birds and the water splashes to stand out from can you?

[pug406]

Was this at Nene Park?

Dave

[CVP]

Lovely images. They make the most amazing sound don't they as they thunder along for take off and then the hum/wooshing noise they make as their wings beat the air. A terriffic sight.

I managed to get one coming towards me awhile ago


Unfortuately meetering is an absolute bu**er and the highlights are blown out. (D100 and 80-400 VR).

The other one I've been trying to photograph unsuccesfully so far are male eider ducks. At this time of year they have a lovely peachy blush on their chest and they are also displaying to attract a mate, which can make for really great behavioural type images. Only problem is they are a combination of peachy chest, light green patch on the head, rest of head pure white and then the rest of the duck is pure black. I can't seem to get a decent exposure that doens't completely blow the white highlights. Anyone managed to solve this problem??

Our weekend ws much more mundane than swans at V2. We did manage to get a quick walk in on Sunday and came across this little chap singing his heart out


Grabbed Mrs CVP's D70 and cheap 70-300 AF lens for this one. Shot in jpeg fine I was really pleased with the detail in the delicate feathers.

Chris

[beano500]

That's so sharp - I can almost hear him!

[Bee_Jay]

I have been playing with this bird thing too, here are a couple of shots taken in Marlow park - granted they are of "rats with wings though"...

Both 20D with 70-300 DO IS.

[maxf]

Yes this was at Nene Park (or Ferry Meadows as us common types call it )

Some great pictures coming out - still cant belive I'm taking pictures of this type of 'bird'!

[V6GTO]

Love this type of photograph! This is a Black Kite.



Martin.

[CVP]

Martin

You get some great stuff, eagles, black hawks, interesting insects - you lucky man.

Hopefully this weekend instead of wildlife for me it'll be CSL and Ghibli & or Ghibli Cup.

Chris

[bilko2]

I must admit that after my recent foray into Tits, i am starting to get into ornithology. I found an excellent site that lists the a-z of british birds and gives you audio and video of most so you know whats flitting above your head.
That Robin pic is fantastic and i have been waiting to catch one on one of my feeders.
www.pbase.com/bilko1971/image/40162933/medium
www.rspb.org.uk/birds/
Not for everyone but i do find it usefull to hear what a particular bird sounds like if i am waiting or searching for it.
I need a 100-400
As a side thought isn't it funny how some things just go hand in hand with photography.

Motorsports
Ornithology
pornography