UPDATED: shot #3 has been re-processed..I think now it looks even better (thx Dave )
Ok guys more shots from the trip. 1st off who said the XT can't do BIFs
Sure this was pretty easy w such large, slow bird but I got a mallard at full speed too!!! My rate w mallards was 95%... got ya Chad! that is 95% of the shots got trashed..keepers are 5 % Frustrating to say the least
With these big guys though the rate was about 30% which was a relief as I only saw a pair, and ended up w a few keepers!
I would be really mad turning back home without a spoonbill shot.
Another thing...exposing whites w the XT is PITA bigtime...started w -1 EC, then -2 EC and ended up later on full manual
All shots ISO 200 and 70-300 IS:
1. Common Spoonbill (Platalea Leucorodia)

I should add that using CS3 I processed the files to the point that there are no highlights clipping (red dots) but nontheless on my monitor I see some small hot spots

I think you done did real well with this bunch.



Wacky roger

Wow Nello, these are great. 4 is my favorite but 5 is the funniest, the flasher!! Great job my friend

Tim

Thx Roger! I think so too...i'm really happy w these,specially considering the gear
thehotel wrote:
I think you done did real well with this bunch.
Wacky roger

Great series Nello. # 4,5,6 are really cool. And the P.P. was very good also

excellent shots Nello

darn good Nello.....5 and 6 hilarious....super detail

small wee suggestion.....don't oversharpen the bg, sharpen the bird only.
#3 and #7 have a lot of halo/artifact in the bg

your manual exposure looks awesome

No need to appologize for any of these Nello... you did a great job on them... in camera and PP.

Number 1 and #3 are top flight...

Terry

Nello, these are great. Just goes to show you don't need to spend 5 grand on a camera that will be outdated in 6 months. I think the whites are looking really good and with great detail in all. Yeah I think I would hang on to the combo you used here even if you went for another. Your PP is also a big contribution to these photos. NIce job
Lou

Very nice set Nello. The spoonbills look great. I like # 3 and 5 best in this series.
Herb

Great job. Just depends on who is holding the camera. All of these are terrific but #3 is my favourite. I have never heard of these guys before. Thanks for posting.

Nello, in good hands any camera is good. Excellent job with the IF shots of these subjects not easy to expose. Detail are sharp and poses are cool. # 1, and 5 are my favorites. Looks like you had a well rewarded trip.
Socrate

Nice shots Nello,

I really like the spoonbills, probably because it's a bird I won't find around here.

I always find it interesting to see what happens in post. Especially when I convert from RAW to JPG.

I have no problems with the shots - - highlights seem within reason to me, but maybe I'm not fussy enough.

Lil

Very neat set. Lovely. Gouges too. BIFs with XTi is difficult but not impossible. This should be the spirit Nello. You should buy a 500mm f4 for sure and a Mk 3 bit later even. But never wait till you get the best gear. Just go out and shoot with what you have. There are no limitations for you to improve or to take best pictures with the gear you have. There are pictures I have taken with my Sigma 70-300+Xti where those moments will never occur for me even in my life time.

Jude
PS: Just a very small thing I noticed. #3 looks bit oversharpend.

Very good series. # 4 looks funny

Thx Tim I knew you'll like these too bad I didn't get any herons!
Tim Kuhn wrote:
Wow Nello, these are great. 4 is my favorite but 5 is the funniest, the flasher!! Great job my friend
Tim

Glad you liked them Lars. I was a hardcore Dpp fan, but finally gave up and started using Cs3
Lars Johnsson wrote:
Great series Nello. # 4,5,6 are really cool. And the P.P. was very good also

Yes the pelican were quite hilarious...the whole time they were giving me the rear end couldn't get them to turn around
my bad on the PP Dave I resized for web in Cs3 but then I added a bit of sharpening (Shift+S) for #3&7 with Irfanview (I use this software for canvases)..it's quick&simple but sometimes goes off the top I'll try to update it later when I get home! Thx for the tip
Dave In La wrote:
darn good Nello.....5 and 6 hilarious....super detail
small wee suggestion.....don't oversharpen the bg, sharpen the bird only.
#3 and #7 have a lot of halo/artifact in the bg
your manual exposure looks awesome

Terry #1 is my fav. too I was overjoyed w that 1 when I saw it on the lcd!
Terry D wrote:
No need to appologize for any of these Nello... you did a great job on them... in camera and PP.
Number 1 and #3 are top flight...
Terry

I've set my eyes on the 40D Lou but w no hurry at all 1st a big lens...then at the end of the 40D's life cycle I'm picking one! Thx for the compliments, it means a lot coming from you!
lbuscher wrote:
Nello, these are great. Just goes to show you don't need to spend 5 grand on a camera that will be outdated in 6 months. I think the whites are looking really good and with great detail in all. Yeah I think I would hang on to the combo you used here even if you went for another. Your PP is also a big contribution to these photos. NIce job
Lou

I know, spoonbills are awesome! 1st time i'm seeing one of these "live" Their wing-span is impressive!
Herb Houghton wrote:
Very nice set Nello. The spoonbills look great. I like # 3 and 5 best in this series.
Herb

Thx Rob If you hang around here more often you'll see species that you haven't heard before almost on daily basis
Rob Tillyer wrote:
Great job. Just depends on who is holding the camera. All of these are terrific but #3 is my favourite. I have never heard of these guys before. Thanks for posting.

Oh yeah it was definetly worth it As soon as i'm done processing all the keepers i'm going back you guys got me addicted on this birding stuff
Glad you like the series Socrate...I guess you're right about the camera, i'm still not convinced that my hands are the "good" ones
Shasoc wrote:
Nello, in good hands any camera is good. Excellent job with the IF shots of these subjects not easy to expose. Detail are sharp and poses are cool. # 1, and 5 are my favorites. Looks like you had a well rewarded trip.
Socrate

Yeah unfortunately they can been found only in Asia,Europe and north Africa. I've read that they have a crest only in breeding season, so I was right assuming they were in love
Lil Judd wrote:
Nice shots Nello,
I really like the spoonbills, probably because it's a bird I won't find around here.
I always find it interesting to see what happens in post. Especially when I convert from RAW to JPG.
I have no problems with the shots - - highlights seem within reason to me, but maybe I'm not fussy enough.
Lil

Jude I corrected the oversharpened #3. looks a whole lot better now
I couldn't agree more about the gear Jude. i'll keep enjoying my present combo...and if i'll get some IF keepers once in a while until I upgrade i'll be more than happy
Jude Perera wrote:
Very neat set. Lovely. Gouges too. BIFs with XTi is difficult but not impossible. This should be the spirit Nello. You should buy a 500mm f4 for sure and a Mk 3 bit later even. But never wait till you get the best gear. Just go out and shoot with what you have. There are no limitations for you to improve or to take best pictures with the gear you have. There are pictures I have taken with my Sigma 70-300+Xti where those moments will never occur for me even in my life time.
Jude
PS: Just a very small thing I noticed. #3 looks bit oversharpend.

These are great shots. I second the advice Jude gave. You are doing a great job with what you got. (Xti is a fine camera with slow fps)
Harsha

Howdie Nello !!

Great job > I've never seen a spoon bill to take it's picture, so I'm jealous
The pervert pelican really cracked me up. Great caption

Anthony

You have fixed #3 very well. Congrats.

Jude

Glad you enjoyed them Lasse
Lasse Eriksson wrote:
Very good series. # 4 looks funny

Thx for the complimment Harsha...actually I have a XT but not much difference in AF w the Xti for Bifs (I think)
Looking forward for your next post!
harshaj1 wrote:
These are great shots. I second the advice Jude gave. You are doing a great job with what you got. (Xti is a fine camera with slow fps)
Harsha

Heh, enjoyable commentary Nello. These are all pretty sharp to my eyes... work that XT for all it's worth.

My eyes are on a 40D too... you're waiting for that price drop though huh? Kind of like the huge drop the XT's and XTi's have seen in the past year... yikes, nobody wants my XTi so I'll just hang on to it I think.

-Josh