Flashing Chickadees ;)

[PixelRabbit]

Today I was bored so I flashed some chickadees

These are my favourite shots but I've come to the conclusion that I need to set up some nice staging perches for them.

C&C always welcome and appreciated

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This one probably won't twirl everyone's beanie but I really like the motion and texture in it.

 

[pgriz]

Hi Judi! Good to see you're reviving yourself - hope that means that the symptoms are abating?

Looking at the images, I'm wondering if you have a radio remote trigger? If you did, you might consider setting up the flash (with manual settings, natch) aimed at the target area (the perch that you will set up for them), and the camera located in such a position that the flash light the birds but not the foreground. I'm thinking that if you had the camera on a tripod prefocused and properly positioned, you could trigger it remotely (another radio remote!) when you see a suitable subject alighting on the perch. But if you don't have the radio remotes, it can be a little bit more difficult to catch the right moment...

Anyways, happy to see you back at the snapping game!

 

[PixelRabbit]

Hey Pgriz, thanks, they are abating a bit! I'm starting to go stir crazy so I'm taking that as a good sign
I sat on the deck and took these hand held. Unfortunately I only have on camera flash right now but tried it anyway, you are right, the foreground is pretty brutal in these. I like the flash head on the bird but the foreground is blah and distracting. I may try half your suggestion and set up the tripod and remote shutter release to try to isolate them earlier with no foreground.