Testing the Better Beamer on some KFishers

[Louis Champan]

When it stops raining around here for just a few minuties everyone heads off to their favorite spot. So this morning Sunday, although it's wasn't quite sunny at least it wasn't raining, so I decided to do some testing with the BB on all of my shots today.
I shot with my D2X, 500mm & TC1.4 and the BB. Went to one of the favorites spots for seeing some Kingfishers and sure enough they were there and surprisingly not too spooky. Met up with Jim Theil, Bill Dewey and his wife Nancy later in the afternoon for some shooting at another location but not much going on there. So anyway, here are a few of what I came away with today. Not exactly sure I had the BB dialled in, but I think most of the shots probably came out better than if I had not used it.

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Louie

 

[dmwphoto]

Your results are fantastic! The BB did its job and brought out the details in the feathers and shadows. Good work Louie!

 

[mike mac]

WOW excellent tack sharp and you cant even tell they are flashed I think the beamer and flash has a great place for wildlife photography if not to help stop the action but to eliminate some shadows

 

[Lou Buscher]

Louie you did a great job on them. I have used the BB on a pileated at about 100 feet and it worked good on cloudy days. I found they recomend you set the focal length at 50mm when useing the BB no matter what lens you use. I was shooting a pileated this morning with it and I used the P mode on my Canon 1DM2N and the 500/4IS + a 1.4 and it worked great. I would say what ever you did for these photos keep doing it as they are beautiful.
Lou

 

[hangin tree]

WOW, That really brings out the detail in some rather difficult areas

 

[TOLady]

WOWWW, those are fantastic. That Beamer works well! Those are incredible shots of the Devil Bird :biggrin:. A wonderful series, Louis, thanks so much for sharing!

 

[Baxter]

That first kingfisher is off the charts. Wow!

 

[hardwork]

OK whats a BB

 

[Gale]

Wow thoes are marvelous images...

Devil Bird....hummmmmmm grrrrrrrrr

 

[davidwcramer]

Nice shots Louie. And good use of the beamer. I'm still learing with it. How'd you get the KF to stay still so long????

 

[davidwcramer]

OK whats a BB

Better Beamer flash extender.

 

[cajun angel]

Are you giving lessons? I have a BB just arrived! Beautiful photos BTW

 

[Louis Champan]

Are you giving lessons? I have a BB just arrived! Beautiful photos BTW

Thanks Dianne, I wish I were some sort of expert but unfortunately not, but thanks away. I think Mike Mac is the guy that knows the BB. I was just dertermined that I was going to shoot with it today and try to get better at it. I think there are some general rules but it's just practice in all sorts of situations.

Louie

 

[andreasb]

EXCELLENT! THEY LOOK GREAT YOU CAN'T TELL THEY ARE FLASHED AT ALL!!!

(caps lock is now off )

 

[InitialD]

Thanks Dianne, I wish I were some sort of expert but unfortunately not, but thanks away. I think Mike Mac is the guy that knows the BB. I was just dertermined that I was going to shoot with it today and try to get better at it. I think there are some general rules but it's just practice in all sorts of situations.

Louie

Excellent captures Louis. Can you tell us in detail what the flash settings used on the SB800? Rear sync etc?

BTW, I noticed that you're shooting with the HSC mode which would be like shooting from a 931mm lens !

 

[flygirl1]

Louie what can I say but, well, :910: VERY jealous with your devil bird, the KF. Well done!

Nancy

 

[hardwork]

Better Beamer flash extender.

Thanks David thats just what I need here in gray WA State

 

[Flew]

Well, all I can say is WOW!! These are sweet Louie. :smile:

 

[sclamb]

Great KF shots with the BB. The fact that they don't look flashed shows how good they are. Did you have the BB dialled down 1.5-1.7EV? If you could share your settings (camera/flash) it would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[phillip 200]

Cool very nice.

Phillip.