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  Topic: Wildlife, What's in your back yard?< Next Oldest | Next Newest >  
Lou FCD



Posts: 5455
Joined: Jan. 2006

(Permalink) Posted: Mar. 14 2013,11:46   

Beats me. I was intending to experiment. That cloud shot was with my 50mm f/1.2 prime - I had it set at f/2.8, ISO 400, 1/50th of second, and intended to work from there.

You're going to be fighting two conflicting interests: 1) The need to keep the aperture open long enough for the dim light of the comet to register, and 2) the need to get the aperture closed quickly to avoid streaking caused by the rotation of the Earth.

A higher ISO will result in more light registering, helping you to minimize the time the aperture is open, but it will also introduce more noise into the shot.

My plan was to keep the aperture open pretty wide, then work from there on balancing the shutter speed against the ISO. But I can't really tell you how well (or not) that strategy would have worked out since, y'know, clouds made it moot.

In the best of all worlds, I'd have my camera mounted to a telescope that had a clock drive to compensate for the planet's rotation, and that would allow really long exposures. But that's out of my financial league at the moment.

--------------
“Why do creationists have such a hard time with commas?

Linky“. ~ Steve Story, Legend

   
OgreMkV



Posts: 3668
Joined: Oct. 2009

(Permalink) Posted: Mar. 14 2013,12:05   

Quote (Lou FCD @ Mar. 14 2013,11:46)
Beats me. I was intending to experiment. That cloud shot was with my 50mm f/1.2 prime - I had it set at f/2.8, ISO 400, 1/50th of second, and intended to work from there.

You're going to be fighting two conflicting interests: 1) The need to keep the aperture open long enough for the dim light of the comet to register, and 2) the need to get the aperture closed quickly to avoid streaking caused by the rotation of the Earth.

A higher ISO will result in more light registering, helping you to minimize the time the aperture is open, but it will also introduce more noise into the shot.

My plan was to keep the aperture open pretty wide, then work from there on balancing the shutter speed against the ISO. But I can't really tell you how well (or not) that strategy would have worked out since, y'know, clouds made it moot.

In the best of all worlds, I'd have my camera mounted to a telescope that had a clock drive to compensate for the planet's rotation, and that would allow really long exposures. But that's out of my financial league at the moment.

I've got the telescope, I just haven't put it together yet.  Looks like I've got a bare day or so to get it done.

Thanks!

--------------
Ignored by those who can't provide evidence for their claims.

http://skepticink.com/smilodo....retreat

   
OgreMkV



Posts: 3668
Joined: Oct. 2009

(Permalink) Posted: Mar. 14 2013,22:26   

No joy on the comet.  I got the scope assembled, and I chased jet contrails all over the sky for half an hour.

Never say the comet, even without the scope.

Now to figure out this motor thing...

--------------
Ignored by those who can't provide evidence for their claims.

http://skepticink.com/smilodo....retreat

   
Lou FCD



Posts: 5455
Joined: Jan. 2006

(Permalink) Posted: Mar. 15 2013,05:09   

Bummer. The moon is waxing now, and I understand it will quickly wash out the comet.

--------------
“Why do creationists have such a hard time with commas?

Linky“. ~ Steve Story, Legend

   
Lou FCD



Posts: 5455
Joined: Jan. 2006

(Permalink) Posted: Mar. 16 2013,16:09   

Got a few nice ones yesterday. It is full-on breeding plumage season.

Laughing Gull



Ring-billed Gull



Royal Tern



Yellow-rumped Warbler, who isn't quite in breeding plumage, but he's working on it.



My best shot so far of a Pine Warbler



Ditto the Eastern Bluebird



and also of a Hermit Thrush



Edited by Lou FCD on Mar. 16 2013,17:10

--------------
“Why do creationists have such a hard time with commas?

Linky“. ~ Steve Story, Legend

   
Henry J



Posts: 5786
Joined: Mar. 2005

(Permalink) Posted: Mar. 16 2013,17:09   

Quote
Ring-billed Gull

Ah, one of those infamous ring species!

(What do you mean that's just its name?)

  
dhogaza



Posts: 525
Joined: Feb. 2006

(Permalink) Posted: Mar. 21 2013,17:35   

Nice shots, Lou.  Springs coming here in Oregon, too, just a bit slower, perhaps.

Got myself a EF 100-400 f4.5-5.6 L a couple of weeks ago.  Didn't really need it but it will be great for shooting whales and mammals (vs taking my 70-200, 300/4 + 1.4x and two bodies).

From the rental department of our local pro photo shop.

$250 :)  Worn barrel but perfect glass and everything works.  New runs about $1500.  Score!

  
Lou FCD



Posts: 5455
Joined: Jan. 2006

(Permalink) Posted: Mar. 21 2013,21:03   

Quote (dhogaza @ Mar. 21 2013,18:35)
Nice shots, Lou.  Springs coming here in Oregon, too, just a bit slower, perhaps.

Got myself a EF 100-400 f4.5-5.6 L a couple of weeks ago.  Didn't really need it but it will be great for shooting whales and mammals (vs taking my 70-200, 300/4 + 1.4x and two bodies).

From the rental department of our local pro photo shop.

$250 :)  Worn barrel but perfect glass and everything works.  New runs about $1500.  Score!

No doubt, congratulations! Mine was full price (OUCH!), and that's the lens pretty much all of these shots were shot with, fully extended to 400mm, and hand held.

You will not regret your choice (especially at that price! Holy fuck!)

--------------
“Why do creationists have such a hard time with commas?

Linky“. ~ Steve Story, Legend

   
Lou FCD



Posts: 5455
Joined: Jan. 2006

(Permalink) Posted: Mar. 21 2013,21:07   

Quote (Henry J @ Mar. 16 2013,18:09)
Quote
Ring-billed Gull

Ah, one of those infamous ring species!

(What do you mean that's just its name?)

lol, that cracked me up.

--------------
“Why do creationists have such a hard time with commas?

Linky“. ~ Steve Story, Legend

   
dhogaza



Posts: 525
Joined: Feb. 2006

(Permalink) Posted: Mar. 22 2013,13:00   

Quote
You will not regret your choice (especially at that price! Holy fuck!)


Your photos are certainly sharp enough for any reasonable critic.  Mine seems sharp, too.

Yeah, well, they know me, not that I've done much business there, I buy all my spendy stuff from B&H.

But it was out in the used case for $350, I asked what was wrong, apparently the zoom tensioner is a bit "hinky", but it seemed to work fine for me.  Since I don't know what a non-hinky one feels right, I'm happy.  If I cared, for a couple hundred bucks I could get my local lens mechanic to lubricate it and replace any heavily worn bushings or the like, and still have a friggin' bargain, but it works fine as is so I won't bother unless it starts acting up.

So I played with it, hesitantly, and said I couldn't really justify it as I have that range covered with [slightly] sharper and faster lenses.

So he said "well, since I know you, you can have it for $250".

I ran, not walked, to the cash register waving my credit card before he changed his mind ...

  
Lou FCD



Posts: 5455
Joined: Jan. 2006

(Permalink) Posted: Mar. 22 2013,18:41   

Quote (dhogaza @ Mar. 22 2013,14:00)
So he said "well, since I know you, you can have it for $250".

I ran, not walked, to the cash register waving my credit card before he changed his mind ...

Good. Move.

--------------
“Why do creationists have such a hard time with commas?

Linky“. ~ Steve Story, Legend

   
Lou FCD



Posts: 5455
Joined: Jan. 2006

(Permalink) Posted: Mar. 28 2013,13:52   

More birds since the last birds....

First, one that Alby tells me (and I learned from experience) can be a stumper for the beginning birder.



A Red-throated Loon, in non-breeding plumage (new for the life-lists)



American Coot



Blue-gray Gnatcatcher



My best shot yet of some Buffleheads



Little Blue Heron (juvenile)



Black-crowned Night-Heron





and a juvenile, who was pretty annoyed with my presence



And some Blue-winged Teals



"Why do they call them that?", you might ask.

Well, here's why.



--------------
“Why do creationists have such a hard time with commas?

Linky“. ~ Steve Story, Legend

   
Robin



Posts: 1431
Joined: Sep. 2009

(Permalink) Posted: Mar. 28 2013,14:07   

[quote=Lou FCD,Mar. 28 2013,13:52][/quote]
Quote
More birds since the last birds....

First, one that Alby tells me (and I learned from experience) can be a stumper for the beginning birder.



Well, I'm not a beginning birder, so maybe I shouldn't comment lest I look like an idiot when I get it wrong. ;) However, they look like they might be Mardi Gras natives, if you know what I mean. :)


Quote
Black-crowned Night-Heron



Love this pic! Thanks Lou!

--------------
we IDists rule in design for the flagellum and cilium largely because they do look designed.  Bilbo

The only reason you reject Thor is because, like a cushion, you bear the imprint of the biggest arse that sat on you. Louis

  
Lou FCD



Posts: 5455
Joined: Jan. 2006

(Permalink) Posted: Mar. 28 2013,14:17   

Quote (Robin @ Mar. 28 2013,15:07)
Well, I'm not a beginning birder, so maybe I shouldn't comment lest I look like an idiot when I get it wrong. ;) However, they look like they might be Mardi Gras natives, if you know what I mean. :)

Great Tits? Nope.


First hint:
These are adult birds.

--------------
“Why do creationists have such a hard time with commas?

Linky“. ~ Steve Story, Legend

   
dhogaza



Posts: 525
Joined: Feb. 2006

(Permalink) Posted: Mar. 28 2013,20:04   

Flight shot of the night heron rocks.

I'll try to get some shots up over the weekend, though on Sunday I'm off to shoot grey whales from a zodiac, using my new 100-400.  I've done some more test shooting with it, and it's really sharp on my 7D crop camera.  I know it's not supposedly all that sharp on the edges of a 35mm frame, but I don't have no 35mm edges and it's just great :)

  
The whole truth



Posts: 1554
Joined: Jan. 2012

(Permalink) Posted: Mar. 29 2013,00:03   

Quote (Lou FCD @ Mar. 28 2013,12:17)
Quote (Robin @ Mar. 28 2013,15:07)
Well, I'm not a beginning birder, so maybe I shouldn't comment lest I look like an idiot when I get it wrong. ;) However, they look like they might be Mardi Gras natives, if you know what I mean. :)

Great Tits? Nope.


First hint:
These are adult birds.

Female red winged blackbirds?

--------------
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. - Jesus in Matthew 10:34

But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me. -Jesus in Luke 19:27

   
Robin



Posts: 1431
Joined: Sep. 2009

(Permalink) Posted: Mar. 29 2013,07:25   

Quote (Lou FCD @ Mar. 28 2013,14:17)
Quote (Robin @ Mar. 28 2013,15:07)
Well, I'm not a beginning birder, so maybe I shouldn't comment lest I look like an idiot when I get it wrong. ;) However, they look like they might be Mardi Gras natives, if you know what I mean. :)

Great Tits? Nope.


First hint:
These are adult birds.

Great tits...ha ha! Not what I was thinking, but certainly more appropriate given my hint.

I was thinking Louisiana Waterthrushes, but the beaks don't look quite right. I'm going with female Red-winged Blackbird as my final answer.

--------------
we IDists rule in design for the flagellum and cilium largely because they do look designed.  Bilbo

The only reason you reject Thor is because, like a cushion, you bear the imprint of the biggest arse that sat on you. Louis

  
dhogaza



Posts: 525
Joined: Feb. 2006

(Permalink) Posted: Mar. 29 2013,12:09   

Yes, they're female red-winged blackbirds.  They confuse beginners because they look so different than the males, and their streaky plumage makes them look a bit like giant sparrows (if you ignore bill shape, which beginners typically do).

  
Robin



Posts: 1431
Joined: Sep. 2009

(Permalink) Posted: Mar. 29 2013,12:37   

Quote (dhogaza @ Mar. 29 2013,12:09)
Yes, they're female red-winged blackbirds.  They confuse beginners because they look so different than the males, and their streaky plumage makes them look a bit like giant sparrows (if you ignore bill shape, which beginners typically do).

Yeah. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have a similar dissimilarity (heh!). Had a female show up at our feeder a few months back and it took me awhile to figure out what she was.

--------------
we IDists rule in design for the flagellum and cilium largely because they do look designed.  Bilbo

The only reason you reject Thor is because, like a cushion, you bear the imprint of the biggest arse that sat on you. Louis

  
Lou FCD



Posts: 5455
Joined: Jan. 2006

(Permalink) Posted: Mar. 29 2013,18:45   

Quote (dhogaza @ Mar. 28 2013,21:04)
Flight shot of the night heron rocks.


Thanks!

 
Quote (dhogaza @ Mar. 28 2013,21:04)
I'll try to get some shots up over the weekend, though on Sunday I'm off to shoot grey whales from a zodiac, using my new 100-400.  I've done some more test shooting with it, and it's really sharp on my 7D crop camera.  I know it's not supposedly all that sharp on the edges of a 35mm frame, but I don't have no 35mm edges and it's just great :)


Schweet. I can't speak to performance on a crop-frame, but I lurve mine with the 5DMkII. The focus can be a little slow and PITA, but short of a genie granting me $7k for the 400 f/2.8 prime, I wouldn't do without it.

 
Quote (The whole truth @ Mar. 29 2013,01:03)
   
Quote (Lou FCD @ Mar. 28 2013,12:17)
   
Quote (Robin @ Mar. 28 2013,15:07)
Well, I'm not a beginning birder, so maybe I shouldn't comment lest I look like an idiot when I get it wrong. ;) However, they look like they might be Mardi Gras natives, if you know what I mean. :)

Great Tits? Nope.


First hint:
These are adult birds.

Female red winged blackbirds?


Yes, they are female Red-winged Blackbirds.

--------------
“Why do creationists have such a hard time with commas?

Linky“. ~ Steve Story, Legend

   
Lou FCD



Posts: 5455
Joined: Jan. 2006

(Permalink) Posted: Mar. 29 2013,18:50   

Quote (Robin @ Mar. 29 2013,08:25)
Quote (Lou FCD @ Mar. 28 2013,14:17)
Quote (Robin @ Mar. 28 2013,15:07)
Well, I'm not a beginning birder, so maybe I shouldn't comment lest I look like an idiot when I get it wrong. ;) However, they look like they might be Mardi Gras natives, if you know what I mean. :)

Great Tits? Nope.


First hint:
These are adult birds.

Great tits...ha ha! Not what I was thinking, but certainly more appropriate given my hint.

I was thinking Louisiana Waterthrushes, but the beaks don't look quite right. I'm going with female Red-winged Blackbird as my final answer.

I was awonderin' where you would have come up with that, but I suppose we all know what I think of Mardis Gras now... hahaha

--------------
“Why do creationists have such a hard time with commas?

Linky“. ~ Steve Story, Legend

   
Lou FCD



Posts: 5455
Joined: Jan. 2006

(Permalink) Posted: Mar. 29 2013,18:53   

Quote (dhogaza @ Mar. 29 2013,13:09)
Yes, they're female red-winged blackbirds.  They confuse beginners because they look so different than the males, and their streaky plumage makes them look a bit like giant sparrows (if you ignore bill shape, which beginners typically do).

Yeah, that was killing me when I first saw one a few weeks ago. I was like, "Sparrowdude, you hang out next to the nukes much?"

I chalked the humungous size up to perception error due to the lighting and weird swampy ground I was shooting across. Took me hours sorting through field guides to figure it out.

--------------
“Why do creationists have such a hard time with commas?

Linky“. ~ Steve Story, Legend

   
dhogaza



Posts: 525
Joined: Feb. 2006

(Permalink) Posted: Mar. 29 2013,22:48   

Join the club, dude, though in my case it was 30+ years ago :)

We all have our crosses to bear, no?

  
Lou FCD



Posts: 5455
Joined: Jan. 2006

(Permalink) Posted: Mar. 30 2013,11:23   

Quote (dhogaza @ Mar. 29 2013,23:48)
Join the club, dude, though in my case it was 30+ years ago :)

We all have our crosses to bear, no?

Yeah, It's a rough life. :)

So yesterday was another pretty day for birding. I spent some time in the morning down at Federal Point at Fort Fisher.


Royal Terns by Lou FCD, on Flickr

Look at this cutie pie!


Forster's Tern by Lou FCD, on Flickr


Bonaparte's Gull (juvenile) by Lou FCD, on Flickr, new for the life-lists.

Later in the day, I was driving past the local Moose Lodge and saw a pair of Black Vultures circling. I pulled in, left the door and the trunk open, and raced around the lot on foot trying desperately to get a few good shots. I'd had one fuzzy, crappy shot of a BV from a rainy day last fall when our Ornithology class went up to Kiptopeke State Park in Virginia, but nothing at all since.

Eventually, they settled into some trees at the edge of the lot. After securing the car, I mosied over to see if I could get a few more shots in. There were half a dozen Turkey Vultures and four Black Vultures all roosting in the trees there.


Black Vulture by Lou FCD, on Flickr


Black Vulture by Lou FCD, on Flickr


Turkey Vulture by Lou FCD, on Flickr

I found it kind of humorous that a bunch of vultures were just hanging outside the Moose Lodge, as if they were waiting for one of the old farts to kick it in the parking lot on the way to the car.

Edited by Lou FCD on Mar. 30 2013,12:29

--------------
“Why do creationists have such a hard time with commas?

Linky“. ~ Steve Story, Legend

   
dhogaza



Posts: 525
Joined: Feb. 2006

(Permalink) Posted: Mar. 30 2013,15:44   

A couple of shots from my recent trip to the Klamath Basin.



eye isn't sharp in this one - bite me.




speckled-bellies (greater white-fronted goose)



snow geese arranging themselves in something vaguely resembling a composition ...



tundra swan commenting on my new car ...



since I saved so much on my EF 100-400 L I decided to splurge on an outback ...


  
dhogaza



Posts: 525
Joined: Feb. 2006

(Permalink) Posted: Mar. 30 2013,15:47   

Here's a sample image from my $250 EF 100-400 L, looks sharp enough to me!



Another ...



Goose foot detail (figured it was a good target to judge sharpness)


  
Lou FCD



Posts: 5455
Joined: Jan. 2006

(Permalink) Posted: Mar. 31 2013,05:58   

Quote (dhogaza @ Mar. 30 2013,16:47)
Here's a sample image from my $250 EF 100-400 L, looks sharp enough to me!

Seems to have been $250 very very well spent!

--------------
“Why do creationists have such a hard time with commas?

Linky“. ~ Steve Story, Legend

   
Lou FCD



Posts: 5455
Joined: Jan. 2006

(Permalink) Posted: Mar. 31 2013,06:03   

Quote (dhogaza @ Mar. 30 2013,16:44)
snow geese arranging themselves in something vaguely resembling a composition ...



I really like this one. Nice lines.


 
Quote (dhogaza @ Mar. 30 2013,16:44)
since I saved so much on my EF 100-400 L I decided to splurge on an outback ...



Now if you save a buncha money on car insurance by switching to Geico, you can probably buy a new house!

--------------
“Why do creationists have such a hard time with commas?

Linky“. ~ Steve Story, Legend

   
Freddie



Posts: 371
Joined: Oct. 2009

(Permalink) Posted: Mar. 31 2013,12:59   

So many great shots here the last few weeks - the snow geese formation especially!  The weather in the UK has been so grey recently but hoping to get out and take some more photos soon if things improve.  It was almost sunny for a few hours this morning and I snapped this one of a juvenile long-tailed tit.  This is with my Canon 100-300 EF IS and is highly cropped due to the distance (and noisy due to high, auto ISO as I shot at F8 1/500 for sharpness).

I may (repeat 'may') be able to afford a low-end L range lens sometime this summer.  I'm looking at either the 400mm prime (f/5.6) or the 100-400mm (f/4.5-5.6 IS) going on a cropped 550D/Rebel T2i body.  

Judging by the shots above the 100-400mm seems to do the job w.r.t sharpness vs. the prime (plus the prime has no IS) - I think the 7D has the same sensor as the 550D.  At least, the specs look the same!  

Then, maybe later, I can add a 1.4 extender for the three days in the year that it will be bright enough to use it :-(



--------------
Joe: Most criticisims of ID stem from ignorance and jealousy.
Joe: As for the authors of the books in the Bible, well the OT was authored by Moses and the NT was authored by various people.
Byers: The eskimo would not need hairy hair growth as hair, I say, is for keeping people dry. Not warm.

  
Robin



Posts: 1431
Joined: Sep. 2009

(Permalink) Posted: April 01 2013,13:41   

Quote (dhogaza @ Mar. 30 2013,15:47)
Here's a sample image from my $250 EF 100-400 L, looks sharp enough to me!


Cool shot! Nice work all around, but I really like this one. Thanks!

--------------
we IDists rule in design for the flagellum and cilium largely because they do look designed.  Bilbo

The only reason you reject Thor is because, like a cushion, you bear the imprint of the biggest arse that sat on you. Louis

  
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