/ Register

Saw my old GBH friend today

Discussion in 'Birds' started by Flew, Jul 13, 2005.

Page 1 of 2
  1. Flew

    Flew

    994
    Jan 25, 2005
    Alabama
    I stopped by the pond today, after an absence of exactly a month, and the resident GBH was back. I saw him from about 300 yards, and immediately picked up the gear and headed his way. Just as I was about to get within shooting range, he took off. I had to set the tripod down, unlock the big Wimberley, and fire off my shots. They were pretty badly underexposed, and honestly, not all that steady. They are however, the first birdie flight shots I gotten in a while, so I'm posting them anyway. 8)

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I need to practice. :roll:
     
    Flew, Jul 13, 2005
    #1
  2. jfenton

    jfenton

    4,506
    Jan 26, 2005
    Haverhill, MA
    Frank

    I wish my bad ones were that good!!!!!!!
     
    jfenton, Jul 13, 2005
    #2
  3. Flew

    Flew

    994
    Jan 25, 2005
    Alabama
    Re: Frank

    Jim,

    It's amazing what you can cover up in post-processing. :lol:

    Thanks,
     
    Flew, Jul 13, 2005
    #3
  4. Nikam

    Nikam

    474
    Apr 30, 2005
    Mission BC, Canada
    Frank, they look very good to me!

    Thanks for sharing. :)
     
    Nikam, Jul 14, 2005
    #4
  5. james thiel

    james thiel

    8,350
    May 15, 2005
    Mill Creek, WA.
    Frank I agree with the others. I would take this any day. Nice job.
     
    james thiel, Jul 14, 2005
    #5
  6. bfjr

    bfjr Guest

    Ok what am I missing ???
    Did you forget to post the bad ones :)
     
    bfjr, Jul 14, 2005
    #6
  7. Gilles

    Gilles

    1,602
    May 20, 2005
    Québec, Canada
    They are all differents but very good.
     
    Gilles, Jul 14, 2005
    #7
  8. Steve S

    Steve S

    4,741
    Feb 1, 2005
    SE Florida
    Flight shots are like a great golf shot,

    rare & so hard to do, but oh, so satisfying. Whatever you did, they turned out very good. So, fess up about the post work, Frank. Positive EV Comp? DEE? N.I.? :wink:
     
    Steve S, Jul 14, 2005
    #8
  9. hillrg

    hillrg

    2,402
    Jan 31, 2005
    Nanaimo, BC, Canada
    And the funny part is you could have left your pod behind if I read your exif correctly. That'll teach you to leave your EV at -1.3!
     
    hillrg, Jul 14, 2005
    #9
  10. mike mac

    mike mac

    12,409
    Jan 25, 2005
    East Norriton, PA
    I echo Jims sentiments exactly would take these as my good shots any day of the week
     
    mike mac, Jul 14, 2005
    #10
  11. Anthony747

    Anthony747

    9,393
    May 20, 2005
    Hazlet Township, NJ USA
    Frank, Great shots...love the second one!

    Anthony
     
    Anthony747, Jul 14, 2005
    #11
  12. Flew

    Flew

    994
    Jan 25, 2005
    Alabama
    Thanks for the kind words everyone. I had been shooting some white ducks in direct afternoon sunlight when I spotted this guy. That's the reason the EV was at -1.3. I expected to adjust that when I got down to the GBH, but never got the chance. By the time I got to the end of the pond where he was, it was cloudy, so the shots were under-exposed by about 3/4 of a stop.

    Steve, all I did in PP was add back the 3/4 stop, give it mild gamma boost (1.08 I believe), and set the black point in NC. I then cropped and resized it in PS CS, added USM using the FM Intellisharpen II plug-in, and did one last curves tweak. Nothing really that severe except for the 3/4 stop EV boost.

    Regards,
     
    Flew, Jul 14, 2005
    #12
  13. Terri French

    Terri French

    16,054
    May 5, 2005
    Idaho
    wow--very nice.
     
    Terri French, Jul 14, 2005
    #13
  14. Gordon Large

    Gordon Large Guest

    Hey Frank -

    I was going to say "I wish my bad ones were this good" but everyone else stole my line. Were you using the 300/2.8? I assume so because you were using the Wimberley.

    The number of replies shows that you've got a great reputation here - well deserved. I posted a GBH shot and only one response. :cry: Oh, well, maybe when I start taking and posting better images. I thought it was a conspiracy against GBHs, but you've disproved that!

    Gordon
     
    Gordon Large, Jul 14, 2005
    #14
  15. PhotoByMark

    PhotoByMark

    3,181
    May 25, 2005
    Kendalia, TX
    I want you to teach me how to shoot such underexposed out of focus shots. Really, I must need new glasses or something because those shots look pretty darn good to me. Great work!
     
    PhotoByMark, Jul 14, 2005
    #15
  16. Flew

    Flew

    994
    Jan 25, 2005
    Alabama
    Gordon,

    I'm so sorry!! :? I looked at your post, and thought I responded. I thought that it was a pretty decent shot. I'll do better next time. :oops:

    I was using the 300 2.8 with the 1.4 TC for these shots. That's about my favorite combo for flying birdies. Thanks for the kind words. ;-)
     
    Flew, Jul 14, 2005
    #16
  17. Kevin Scott

    Kevin Scott

    5,985
    May 5, 2005
    Orlando, Florida
    Frank, your bad shots are even good! :x Maybe you should lay off the birdies and keep practising your macros so we other birders can catch up to you some (or at least try to close the gap some). :twisted:

    j/k -- your flight shots are what I strive to achieve! :D
     
    Kevin Scott, Jul 14, 2005
    #17
  18. Gordon Large

    Gordon Large Guest

    Frank -

    No need to be sorry! I was joking around with my comments. Except for the one about your well-deserved reputation. If you haven't, done this already, go back to my GBH and critique it. Only one way to learn! :idea:

    Gordon
     
    Gordon Large, Jul 14, 2005
    #18
  19. greyflash

    greyflash Subscribing Member

    30,885
    Jan 29, 2005
    St. George, Utah
    I would love to get any picture of a GBH in flight let alone one like yours and to think you are just out there practicing makes me a little ill. I can't even find a GBH and the one time I did he flew off before I even got into range with my 300mm.
     
    greyflash, Jul 14, 2005
    #19
  20. Flew

    Flew

    994
    Jan 25, 2005
    Alabama
    Gordon,

    I keep asking you to come visit us. The last time I was over at the Guntersville dam with Greg, we saw at least 25 GBHs, and they were cruising up and down the Tennessee river any where from several hundred to several feet from us. Greg has since found an island where the Cormorants nest, and we also have Eagles and Osprey. 8)

    Come on down any time. We'd absolutely love to have you. :wink:
     
    Flew, Jul 14, 2005
    #20
Page 1 of 2
Loading...
Similar Threads Forum Date
Condor I saw in the Portland Zoo last week. Birds Jun 1, 2016
saw these at old westbury gardens today Birds May 9, 2016
guess who I saw on my UK trip Birds Aug 7, 2014
Heron I saw Sunday Birds Jul 9, 2014
Northern Saw Whet Owl Birds Apr 21, 2014
  • mpb.com