Kingfishers were feeding

Pijuns are back
Handheld 1DX + 600 II wide open.

PetKal wrote:
Pijuns are back
Handheld 1DX + 600 II wide open.

dramatic shot!
just goes to show that even a common near pest bird is not a subject to ever ignore
it can even be better in some ways

skibum5 wrote:
PetKal wrote:
Pijuns are back
Handheld 1DX + 600 II wide open.

dramatic shot!
just goes to show that even a common near pest bird is not a subject to ever ignore
it can even be better in some ways


Thank you, Skibum. There is an aesthetic side to this shot type, I have had a vision of what I would like it to look like, and I've been trying it on and off, casually, for a couple of years now.....and the progress has been very slow, but I'll get there.

There is also a technical side to it which is a bit of a challenge. The bird emerges from darkness, and flies full tilt in my direction, and pijuns fly very fast, in fact they routinely outfly raptors such as Merlin and Cooper's hawk almost daily that I can see. If it wasn't for the raptor's stealth, i.e., the surprise factor as well as gravity aided acceleration, they would go hungry. Fortunately for them, there are always weaker individuals in a pijun flock.

Technically, 1DX has helped with its AF, compared to 1DMkIIN. In addition, 600 II seems to be well suited for this shot type as well. The 800 is one of the least suitable ones, while 500 II is fine, just a wee bit short.

A most excellent image Peter
Skibum5's "dramatic shot" is spot on, really wonderful capture!

skibum5 wrote:
Doctorbird wrote:
A few more:


nice shots especially that last one of the looks like Rufous Hummingbird male in the purple flowers.

Thanks Skibum5,

A BIE, Bird in Environment - euphemism for not getting close enough, not enough focal length, or not sharp enough for closer cropping.

Db.

PetKal wrote:
Pijuns are back
Handheld 1DX + 600 II wide open.

Technically, 1DX has helped with its AF, compared to 1DMkIIN. In addition, 600 II seems to be well suited for this shot type as well. The 800 is one of the least suitable ones, while 500 II is fine, just a wee bit short.


Peter,

I won't succumb. Acquiring the 600 II will have to be delayed, at least until I get a suitable case for the 500 II.

Db

That is truly a spectacular shot Peter

Thank you, Jerry, Db and Shreeni.

Db, I think the writing is on the wall already, your next lens will be 600II.

From the standpoint of shooting dynamics, here is a complementary type where the focusing distance doesn't change much/quickly like in head-on shots, but the problem is in the AF acquisition while doing a fast swing with a long heavy and thus very "inertial" lens. This type of shot becomes much easier quickly as the distance to bird increases and the required angular speed of the lens drops.

Handheld 1DX + 600 II wide open.

That's some stellar IQ Peter. Great shots!

Some really nice Autumn Avian Art lately; Doctorbird's mandarin and wood ducks in the same frame (!), Skibum's kingfishers, and of course, Peter's "Pijun on Approach Vector"...

Well, I'm sticking to things that are low and slow...
...like frozen leaves...

All four shot with a tripod-mounted 100L Macro...
Jerry

Tenn.Jer wrote:
Some really nice Autumn Avian Art lately; Doctorbird's mandarin and wood ducks in the same frame (!), Skibum's kingfishers, and of course, Peter's "Pijun on Approach Vector"...

Well, I'm sticking to things that are low and slow...
...like frozen leaves...

All four shot with a tripod-mounted 100L Macro...
Jerry

Jerry,

You're just showing off your artistic versatility.

Db

Not the way I wanted to visit Arlington... Rest in peace, my dear friend.

Peter, that stunt pijun you sent me is all ruffled up...

...says her shipping lounge was too cramped, food wasn't hot, champagne dispenser was stuck and some cat in the next lounge was trying to snag her the whole trip...

I promised her croissant from Pierre's, chocolate from Tschirren, but she won't come down from that ledge 'til she speaks with her Union rep...

What should I do?

... call her union rep, John ...

John_T wrote:
Peter, that stunt pijun you sent me is all ruffled up...

...says her shipping lounge was too cramped, food wasn't hot, champagne dispenser was stuck and some cat in the next lounge was trying to snag her the whole trip...

I promised her croissant from Pierre's, chocolate from Tschirren, but she won't come down from that ledge 'til she speaks with her Union rep...

What should I do?





John, sometimes that happens. I can ship to you one of her Union stewards, but that will be $1,730, shipping included.

Not the way I wanted to visit Arlington... Rest in peace, my dear friend.

Respect! And always the photographer, thanks for sharing this Stan. All best from eosfun.

PetKal wrote:
John_T wrote:
Peter, that stunt pijun you sent me is all ruffled up...

...says her shipping lounge was too cramped, food wasn't hot, champagne dispenser was stuck and some cat in the next lounge was trying to snag her the whole trip...

I promised her croissant from Pierre's, chocolate from Tschirren, but she won't come down from that ledge 'til she speaks with her Union rep...

What should I do?





John, sometimes that happens. I can ship to you one of her Union stewards, but that will be $1,730, shipping included.

...unh-hunh, told her I'd spring for a manicure, beak polish and feather treatment at Orsini's Bird Spa and Health Farm, but otherwise she could take a flike.

Doctorbird wrote:


Jerry,

You're just showing off your artistic versatility.

Db

Doc, you're too kind...

Jerry