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LG~GBH~Purple Martins

Discussion in 'Birds' started by jfenton, Jul 16, 2005.

  1. jfenton

    jfenton

    4,506
    Jan 26, 2005
    Haverhill, MA
    I hate summer haze...is it fall yet?

    Foggy early and this GBH came out of the fog right in front of me and swung to the left, just catching the sun coming up from behind the sand dunes....

    original.
    NIKON D2X    ---    500mm    f/8.0    1/750s    ISO 500


    Next I captured a bird that is extremely rare in my neck of the woods...a laughing gull...

    original.
    NIKON D2X    ---    500mm    f/8.0    1/1250s    ISO 500


    After that, things quieted down at the coast, so I went inland a bit and tried the purple marting thing again....I got lucky and shot another one that was banded last year just after hatching. The martins were tougher than usual today as there was no breeze to direct their glides and they were coming from every witch way. These were all shot at ISO 500 with no NR and I still couldn't get the shutter speed up as high as I would have likes (you can see it in the wing tips). Even though these were shot at f8 with no TC, at close range (35" or so), there still isn't enough DOF with the X to get the entire creature in focus.

    original.
    NIKON D2X    ---    500mm    f/8.0    1/640s    ISO 400

    original.
    NIKON D2X    ---    500mm    f/8.0    1/750s    ISO 500

    original.
    NIKON D2X    ---    500mm    f/8.0    1/1000s    ISO 500

    original.
    NIKON D2X    ---    500mm    f/8.0    1/640s    ISO 400

    original.
    NIKON D2X    ---    500mm    f/8.0    1/800s    ISO 500

    original.
    NIKON D2X    ---    500mm    f/8.0    1/640s    ISO 400
     
    jfenton, Jul 16, 2005
    #1
  2. drueter

    drueter

    963
    Apr 24, 2005
    Southeast Texas
    WOW, Jim! Awesome shots! I still can't comprehend how you manage to get those Martin shots. The ones I've tried never get within about 20-30 feet of me and are darting low over the water with rapid direction changes constantly. I guess I'm just getting too old and slow with my tracking.
     
    drueter, Jul 16, 2005
    #2
  3. jfenton

    jfenton

    4,506
    Jan 26, 2005
    Haverhill, MA
    Don

    The trick is...shoot them when they are nowhere near the water :) 

    These guys are feeding over a salt hay field.
     
    jfenton, Jul 16, 2005
    #3
  4. drueter

    drueter

    963
    Apr 24, 2005
    Southeast Texas
    So that's the trick!! Well, guess I'll just have to figure our another angle or give up then -- too much water around here in ponds, marshes, etc. The only places I ever see them are over or around water -- flying low and darting around. Or, I can just keep enjoying your shots!
     
    drueter, Jul 16, 2005
    #4
  5. eng45ine

    eng45ine

    17,633
    May 11, 2005
    Chicago, IL
    Jim...I'd love to see the look on your face when you chimp after taking some of your images. I would imagine that there is a smile from ear to ear. Great images, Jim....as always!!!
     
    eng45ine, Jul 16, 2005
    #5
  6. jfenton

    jfenton

    4,506
    Jan 26, 2005
    Haverhill, MA
    Engine...

    When I'm shooting these guys, there's no time to chimp....

    I have to wait till I get home to see how I made out :) 
     
    jfenton, Jul 16, 2005
    #6
  7. eng45ine

    eng45ine

    17,633
    May 11, 2005
    Chicago, IL
    That being said...I can imagine how many times you have yelled out while looking at your monitor, "Hurry, come here and take a look at this one". :D 

    You are excellant with your birds.....
     
    eng45ine, Jul 16, 2005
    #7
  8. DiverX

    DiverX

    1,041
    Feb 12, 2005
    Murrells Inlet, SC
    Yahoo! Jim, those purple martin shots are sweet! Never see them around here.

    Just excelllent stuff!!! :shock: :shock: :shock:
     
    DiverX, Jul 16, 2005
    #8
  9. jfenton

    jfenton

    4,506
    Jan 26, 2005
    Haverhill, MA
    George...

    You guys must have purple martins down there somewhere?

    I think that this laughing Gull was misplaced from your neck of the woods?
     
    jfenton, Jul 16, 2005
    #9
  10. Kevin Scott

    Kevin Scott

    5,985
    May 5, 2005
    Orlando, Florida
    Nice shots of the purple martins, Jim! Like the GBH too. The light is very nice.
     
    Kevin Scott, Jul 16, 2005
    #10
  11. PhotoDawg

    PhotoDawg

    2,495
    Jan 25, 2005
    Huntsville, Alabama
    I really enjoyed these!! Nice goin' Jim!! :D  :D  :D 
     
    PhotoDawg, Jul 16, 2005
    #11
  12. DiverX

    DiverX

    1,041
    Feb 12, 2005
    Murrells Inlet, SC
    Re: George...

    Yeah we have them but I can never find any! One day I will, I think! :roll:

    That gull is around here in decent numbers. I've seen them on the beaches along the south shore of LI.
     
    DiverX, Jul 16, 2005
    #12
  13. Flew

    Flew

    994
    Jan 25, 2005
    Alabama
    Excellent shots Jim. I like every one of them, but am most impressed by the purple martins. I know how hard these things are to catch.

    Well done. :wink:
     
    Flew, Jul 17, 2005
    #13
  14. CraigH.

    CraigH.

    354
    Feb 1, 2005
    Northen NJ
    spectacular shots, Jim!
     
    CraigH., Jul 19, 2005
    #14
  15. Nikam

    Nikam

    474
    Apr 30, 2005
    Mission BC, Canada
    Nice crisp shots, Jim.

    I really like the lighting on the GBH. shot. Those purple martin shots are really neat. I especially like the feeding shot.
     
    Nikam, Jul 20, 2005
    #15
  16. Retief

    Retief Subscribing Member

    15,248
    Jan 26, 2005
    Marysville, WA
    So, Jim, this is the reason for me NOT to get a D2X :?: :?: :?: :?:

    These are grand, I am really trying to get better at the "little birdies" in flight, it is a whole 'nother ball game from birds as big as the raptors and herons. So far my technique has yielded me wing-tips and feet :oops: , oh, yeah, and the "backgrouund only" shot, can't forget those now can we.....

    Thanks, I think my fav of this bunch is "The Moutfull"....
     
    Retief, Jul 20, 2005
    #16
  17. nburwell

    nburwell

    204
    Jul 14, 2005
    Philadelphia, PA
    Simply beautiful pictures. Amazing!
     
    nburwell, Jul 20, 2005
    #17
  18. Pa

    Pa Subscribing Member

    18,471
    May 5, 2005
    SW Virginia
    They are all wonderful.

    Did you really mean to say 35 inches (35") as the distance to the Martins?
     
    Pa, Jul 20, 2005
    #18
  19. jfenton

    jfenton

    4,506
    Jan 26, 2005
    Haverhill, MA
    Hi Pa

    Ooops...should have been 35' :) 
     
    jfenton, Jul 21, 2005
    #19
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