Karl Witt wrote:
Mark, I give you all the credit in the world for shooting these guys in flight #10 makes me feel proud nice BG I think that formation on #9 is really cool, also liking #8, 6, and #1 ...........many great ones, nice job!
Karl
Thanks for the compliment Karl,
It's fun to try and capture these guys. Failure rate is high, but I still have fun. I'm into things that fly and swallows are some of the best flyers around. It's amazing when they chase each other at 60mph matching tight turns with one another in split seconds. They have to experience some terrific G forces.
Shasoc wrote:
Excellent captures, Mark. You got some great IF shots of these guys. Hard to pick a favorite, but I'll go with 2, 8, 9.
Socrate
Thanks Socrate,
I got most of these on one of those special days when the birds were very active and the light was good. They are all very playful right now just before they lay their eggs. I hope to catch some babies this year. Never saw any last year though.
May 08, 2008 at 08:23 AM
anthony whitmo Offline • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
Number 6 is perfect. Man you've picked a tough subject to capture in flight and you've done a pretty darn good job !! Again 6 is perfect and 8 isn't far behind.
How many Out of Focus or missed shots did you have on this outing I'm guessing a few!! They're pretty darn fast flyers and change directions so darn often.............
Great job Mark
PetKal wrote:
Very impressive. Many have tried that kinda photography, few have succeeded so well.
Thanks,
I appreciate the compliment but I'm not sure if it's skill or just persistence. Jody Melanson posted the first really good small BIF shots a couple of years ago and that has always been an inspiration to me.
Michael Probyn wrote:
Wow! These little critters must be unbelievably difficult to catch.
Do you mind me asking what FL you were shooting at, I should think that to get close enough it is a nightmare to find them.
Mike
Hi Mike,
These were shot with a mk2n and 400 5.6 lens. Finding the right spot is half the battle. They nest under a concrete barrier right next to the pond so you can catch them as they come and go.
billk55 wrote:
These have got to be one of the hardest flying critters to nab. I watch some every day, and I wouldn't even waste a shutter click on them - I know what my results would be.
So with that said, great job! Of course, you could imagine technically superior photos, but given what you had to work with, congrats!
And can anyone get one of those bald eagles in flight with a flag blurred in the background
Thank you,
Thanks for looking and that would be very cool to have a Bald Eagle in front of a flag like that.
Mark, I remember, about two years ago, I think, your posted one of the best swallow images I'd seen. You're at it again. These are great, especially that first one.
Matt Philbin wrote:
Mark, I have been trying these myself for the last week or so. I'm shooting with a 20D & 400 5.6, and have all the admiration in the world for your shots. You've done very well with these, even if they're 10 out of 500! I can't imagine a harder subject to shoot. They're outrageously quick, and you can't be too far away since they're so small. If you're having a hard time with a 1D2N, I feel even better about the ones that I've decided were keepers! Nice job!
Hi Matt,
Thanks for the nice compliment. You know what it's like to try to capture these little missles. I hope you keep going with them. I have been shooting them for around 3 years now and it's just as difficult today as when I first started. Love trying though. I hope you get some good ones and will post em here.
lbuscher wrote:
Way to go Mark these are great Now I proberly have ask you befor and I keep forgetting to look back but what combo are you useing for this action?
Lou
Hi Lou,
Thank you and I was using a mk2n w/400 5.6. Hope your Swans are doing ok today.
MaggieBee wrote:
Mark, I remember, about two years ago, I think, your posted one of the best swallow images I'd seen. You're at it again. These are great, especially that first one.
Thanks Maggie,
I'm glad you liked these and yes, that shot 2 years ago is very special to me. That Swallow was in the middle of a high-banked turn and by pure luck, I caught him right at the apex. Here it is again.
Matt, that shot is awesome! I try to catch that same moment all the time. Your Swallow had just plucked a bug from the water. One day I hope to get a good shot like that with the beak in the water. They dip down so fast the timing is nearly impossible. Great job on this shot.
#10 makes me feel proud nice BG 
