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Archive 2017 · Backyard Woodpeckers...with Better Beamer

louie champan
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Backyard Woodpeckers...with Better Beamer

Spent a few hours in my backyard practicing getting my BB settings dialed in. My suet feeder has been alive with woodpeckers so far this summer, here's a few shots I took.

Jun 20, 2017 at 09:53 PM

Jess_Sullivan
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Backyard Woodpeckers...with Better Beamer

#1 is spectacular. That flicker is just popping out of its background! What was the ambient light/flash ratio looking like there? It seems like your "setting dialing" session payed off.

-Jess

Jun 20, 2017 at 10:02 PM

louie champan
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Backyard Woodpeckers...with Better Beamer

Thanks very much Jess.
I was shooting at:
f6.3
1/1000
-.3 EV
I was shooting Flash TTL FP, setting was -3

Jun 20, 2017 at 10:09 PM

kwilliam8
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Backyard Woodpeckers...with Better Beamer

Very nice images, Louie! The first image is stunning. The lighting looks great to me.
Keith W.

Jun 20, 2017 at 11:24 PM

surfnron
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Backyard Woodpeckers...with Better Beamer

Very well done Louie. It looks like you do have the flash dialed in. 1 and 3 stand out ~ Ron

Jun 21, 2017 at 07:16 AM

mogul
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Backyard Woodpeckers...with Better Beamer

Really nice Louie...I have question about the BB (have 1 but have never used it). The blacks seem seem to be blown out to almost brown, is it your PP to show feather detail or is the beamer giving too much light? Mike

Jun 21, 2017 at 08:58 AM

IndyFab
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Backyard Woodpeckers...with Better Beamer

Nice set Louie, how far out is the BB usable

Jun 21, 2017 at 11:34 AM

louie champan
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Backyard Woodpeckers...with Better Beamer

IndyFab wrote:
Nice set Louie, how far out is the BB usable

Thanks for commenting. As to the distance the BB is good for it really depends on the setting both on the camera and flash unit. In these shots I was approximately 20 yards away from the subjects. There is obviously a limit to the distance but I really don't know what that is, I've shot from 20-30 yards with no problem, and mind you I'm not trying to throw a lot of light on the subject just a bit of catch light to bring out the details.

Jun 21, 2017 at 11:56 AM

morris
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Backyard Woodpeckers...with Better Beamer

Very nice set Louie. You might want to back off your flash about 2/3 EV. You caught some great poses and moments

Morris

Jun 21, 2017 at 06:08 PM

Teak
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Backyard Woodpeckers...with Better Beamer

Very nice pictures. I noticed that the birds did not have the dreaded "red / white" eyes. Did you have the flash off camera or was it mounted high above?

Cheers,

Jun 21, 2017 at 06:37 PM

Fisherman
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Backyard Woodpeckers...with Better Beamer

Very nice

Jun 21, 2017 at 07:30 PM

Karl Witt
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Backyard Woodpeckers...with Better Beamer

These look excellent to me Louie and think your settings are fine, any tweaks can be handled in PP.
#1 does not appear at all that there was flash to me, actually the colors look a little bit muted to me possibly?

The rest are great! The last one does have the 'double' catchlight which tells me flash. Color balance on #2 is very warm to me.

Details are sweet. How close are you? My limited experience with BB is they tend to 'hot spot' centrally, is it possible in some of your shots to simply use bare flash?
Karl

Jun 21, 2017 at 07:33 PM

louie champan
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Backyard Woodpeckers...with Better Beamer

Teak wrote:
Very nice pictures. I noticed that the birds did not have the dreaded "red / white" eyes. Did you have the flash off camera or was it mounted high above?

Cheers,

Thanks very much for your comments and question. I had my flash equipped with BB about a foot above my lens.

Jun 21, 2017 at 07:33 PM

MedicineMan404
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Backyard Woodpeckers...with Better Beamer

Wonderful captures. You are blessed to have Flickers in your environ.

Jun 21, 2017 at 07:46 PM

birdied
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Backyard Woodpeckers...with Better Beamer

Very nicely done Louie !! Great set.

Birdie

Jun 21, 2017 at 08:30 PM

fredster
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Backyard Woodpeckers...with Better Beamer

That's some backyard you have. These are quite nice! Well done.

Jun 21, 2017 at 08:52 PM


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