Herb, thanks for the reply. I really appreciate it. I like participating on N&W. I have had many of great tips as a result. I played with dialing down the exposure and uping the flash prior to these last images. Methinks I went to far on those. I will give your suggestion a try.

Ted

HerHerb Houghton wrote:
Nice work Ted and good to see you haven't abandond us here at N & W. I like the titmouse and the first nut best. I do use fill flash as well with my 300 too, on overcast days or under canopy shaded perches. I can tell you used fill flash, which is great for detail, but I prefer to reduce the exposure a tad to look more natural so as the use of the flash is questionable in the image. Just my 2 cents.
Herb

Ted,

Nice to see you back on the forum, and, of course, always glad to hear you trying new things. Your flash images still betray the flash - what's your set-up?

I've been playing around with flash quite a bit this year, and find it to be much more complicated than tossing the flash on top of the camera. I always go full manual for mode - I guess I still trust my experience more than the experience of the flash unit.

I've had good luck with bouncing the light, which reduces white glare dramatically. I'm using a Demb Flip-It, which lets me adjust the amount of light going to the subject by tilting the bounce head forward or back. This means I'm always on full power for flash, which actually speeds up recycling time and extends battery life.

I've also found that if I have to set my WB to FLASH, I'm using too much flash on the subject. I like the Rule of Two Thirds - you try to throw the light about 2/3 of the way to the subject.

Keep it up. I always enjoy looking at good shots (and I enjoyed the little friends who posed for you), but I really enjoy seeing someone expanding his skillset -

first cardinal
second chickadee
second nut hatch
And the Titter
Great job on all of them Ted but those are my pixz

I missed the yesterday thing......... hmmmm... What did I miss??


ANt

...... Thanks Zoomer.

Ted

Mr Zoom wrote:
I missed the kaka Ted so I'm sure glad I got a chance to see these - awesome work my friend

Ken

Ok I'll ask what is a KAKA I don't like useing the flash on little birds but when I have I just set the camera mode to P and let it figure it out. I tried the M mode and it was no better but that is most likely me as I never did get along with a flash even when they were those blue things in a socket I would always burn my finger
It looks like it was raining Ted or did you turn the hose on them Anyway they look pretty good to me. Nice series for a flashy guy
Lou

Lovely series Ted

Lil - - recovering from Sylmar wildfire storms.... so I'm not doing picks

The second and third shots you posted are wonderful, what a moment you captured, congratulations

Garen, Thanks!

Ted

GAREN wrote:
Great set Ted like it very much,

Garen


Thanks so much J.

Ted

jakita33 wrote:
Very nice series Ted!

J


jakita33 wrote:
Very nice series Ted!

J

David, thanks for the reply. You are always good for a volume. I believe I was using manual flash settings -1/3. I will be the first to say i hardly feel satisfied with my flash useage although I do feel a mite more comfortable. My first flash attempts with the little birds were either blown out or underexposed. I will continue to fiddle about when I am shooting the little birds. Thanks again David, I rely appreciate your reply.

Ted

davidearls wrote:
Ted,

Nice to see you back on the forum, and, of course, always glad to hear you trying new things. Your flash images still betray the flash - what's your set-up?

I've been playing around with flash quite a bit this year, and find it to be much more complicated than tossing the flash on top of the camera. I always go full manual for mode - I guess I still trust my experience more than the experience of the flash unit.

I've had good luck with bouncing the light, which reduces white glare dramatically. I'm using a Demb Flip-It, which lets me adjust the amount of light going to the subject by tilting the bounce head forward or back. This means I'm always on full power for flash, which actually speeds up recycling time and extends battery life.

I've also found that if I have to set my WB to FLASH, I'm using too much flash on the subject. I like the Rule of Two Thirds - you try to throw the light about 2/3 of the way to the subject.

Keep it up. I always enjoy looking at good shots (and I enjoyed the little friends who posed for you), but I really enjoy seeing someone expanding his skillset -

My kaka was oversharpening and less than optimal flash settings on a male cardinal. I appreciate your reply. Thanks Ant.

Ted

anthony whitmo wrote:
first cardinal
second chickadee
second nut hatch
And the Titter
Great job on all of them Ted but those are my pixz

I missed the yesterday thing......... hmmmm... What did I miss??


ANt

Lou kaka is doodoo, poopoo or a not so good series of images..... It was an extremely overcast day and I want to photograph so I had to try something new. Thanks for the reply and hope to see you with the eagles.

Ted

lbuscher wrote:
Ok I'll ask what is a KAKA I don't like useing the flash on little birds but when I have I just set the camera mode to P and let it figure it out. I tried the M mode and it was no better but that is most likely me as I never did get along with a flash even when they were those blue things in a socket I would always burn my finger
It looks like it was raining Ted or did you turn the hose on them Anyway they look pretty good to me. Nice series for a flashy guy
Lou


Thanks so much Lil.......Get better soon.
Ted
Lil Judd wrote:
Lovely series Ted

Lil - - recovering from Sylmar wildfire storms.... so I'm not doing picks


Thanks so much Pancho

Ted
PanchoPhoto wrote:
The second and third shots you posted are wonderful, what a moment you captured, congratulations

Ted, I am finding that the flash doesn't really detract from the images. It highlights the birds and indeed enhances the feather detail. To me at least. The feathering detail is excellant and the color wonderful. Great work!
Dan

Aways gotta try new stuff Ted thats how we get better! I really like the Chickadee shots. Nice detail in the black cap. Overall very nice series
greg

Thanks so much Dan. I was happy with this batch. I plan to shoot little birds again in the future using a flash.

Ted

mdbassman wrote:
Ted, I am finding that the flash doesn't really detract from the images. It highlights the birds and indeed enhances the feather detail. To me at least. The feathering detail is excellant and the color wonderful. Great work!
Dan

These are great, Ted. You are really good at capturing a bird's personality.

Greg I thank thee. I really appreciate your time.

Ted

Kitehog wrote:
Aways gotta try new stuff Ted thats how we get better! I really like the Chickadee shots. Nice detail in the black cap. Overall very nice series
greg

Maggie thanks so much and thanks for stopping by.

Ted

MaggieBee wrote:
These are great, Ted. You are really good at capturing a bird's personality.