PetKal wrote:
Db, that's a very good start , particularly with an 800mm combo which, BTW, I would use, as well as 800L, for BIF only if I am truly desperate.
(As a side note, the longest combo I'd use for planned BIF would be 700mm (i.e. 500 f/4 + 1.4xTC MkIII). Naturally, 600 II (bare) and 400 II + 1.4xTC are also very good BIF tools.)
Appreciate your comments Peter. Please elaborate however - why is 800mm taboo for BIF?
I had the 2X rigged because the birds I initially intended to photograph were perched a good 200 - 300 ft away and to get physically closer would require a disallowed floating craft of some sort. There were however an unexpected but welcomed amount of fly-bys, many a bit closer than the perchers. So they got photographed with the 2X combo.
I though the AF system worked quite well, at least as good as my previous 7D/400 f/5.6 setup (although not a fair judge considering the disparity in cost and weight!). That is, both with regards to AF speed and accuracy.
Here are a few more from that day.
Db
Tracking and isolation from background was good. 200 ft away so major crop.
Big slow birds in a flock. This was easy!
About 250-300 ft away. I waited to no avail for a fish catch.
You are tempting me to want to go back to NJ. Just moved away late last year. But I will try my very best to resist the temptation. Nice colors. I am always puzzled why folks in NJ feel the need to go further north to see beautiful fall colors.
You are tempting me to want to go back to NJ. Just moved away late last year. But I will try my very best to resist the temptation. Nice colors. I am always puzzled why folks in NJ feel the need to go further north to see beautiful fall colors.
I thought last year was worst ever though for NJ. Essentially no fall colors at all in my area, unprecedented, and even a bit farther out, like say in Bear Mtn/Harriman were duller than normal. Sadly this year looks like it might be second weakest colors I've ever seen in NJ (although much better than last year I expect, all the same).
the northern part of VT was just popping like mad this year
and they have lots of amazing mtns and terrain, colors really were madness up there
You are tempting me to want to go back to NJ. Just moved away late last year. But I will try my very best to resist the temptation. Nice colors. I am always puzzled why folks in NJ feel the need to go further north to see beautiful fall colors.
Db
I may end up in LA myself for a few years. I'll have to try to my absolute best, if so, to schedule a well timed week back in NJ for fall each year if I can. There really is nothing more glorious than a fall day in the Northeast.
SoCal lifer in complete envy, your east coast colors are insanely beautiful and intense; despite the haze
Amazing captures, compositions, well done all
Those fire red/magenta maples are fantastic!
skibum5 wrote:
The one just above was actually VT. hahaha
NJ can be awesome though, 2010 we had an amazing fall, one of the best I've ever seen in Morris County, and they are almost always at least very good. Here are a few quick NJ snaps from 2009, website is in chaos at he moment but:
first shot here is my backyard (see a tree DOES grow in NJ and it's not all turnpike and oil refineries!):
Well, you fooled me with the colors.
But they call NJ the "Garden State" for a reason. I was residing more towards Central NJ rather than Northern. Colors were probably better in the north.
StillFingerz wrote:
SoCal lifer in complete envy, your east coast colors are insanely beautiful and intense; despite the haze
Amazing captures, compositions, well done all
Those fire red/magenta maples are fantastic!
And these ones were taken in August, just wait until you see the ones taken in fall and without haze!
And now for something completely different, at least for me. A friend with a band asked me to take some promotional stills and after some initial hesitation, I agreed. He's handling all of the post processing, preparing several shots in a variety of sizes and styles.
I typically don't hang around the People forum and these were shot on a lovely fall day so I thought it might be okay to share here. Besides, I think these actually qualify as BIF... (wait for it) band in focus.
I am really having a problem with 1DX.......too much "reach" even with a 500mm lens.
I might as well sell anything over 400mm FL if I continue to use 1DX.
, particularly with an 800mm combo which, BTW, I would use, as well as 800L, for BIF only if I am truly desperate. 
