Osprey, Pelicans and a snake ... for C&C

[IzzieK]

So on last trip to Florida, I took the three birdies...If these are any good, I hope to be able to repeat shooting these again when I go back to Cedar Key in two month's time. If they are no good, then it was an experience I will just put to memory... I am no expert in this, but was inspired to edit my shots because of you birdographers out there. You know who you are :hail: and I will always be in awe of you.

Well, the snake is another topic altogether -- I am really scared of them but this one is behind a glass. I will try to learn reflections next time so it doesn't show...

1. Bird in Flight -- my very first one. I was showing off and took a series of shots panning and this is the only I like amongst them. Part of the head is overexposed. 'Didn't know what I was doing then...


2. Lining up for inspection


3. Pelican -- I know...I know...take that post off the upper RHS!!!


4. Snake --- Eeeeeeekkkkkkkkkkkk.....it can stay there where it is/was at the moment....


How did I do??? All bad? No good? So-so??? 'Would be nice to hear from you...

Thanks.
Izzie

 

[Civchic]

That's a pretty good BIF, my osprey shots are no better (they fly high, buggers). Heavy crop? A little faster on the shutter and you'll have less blur in the wing feathers.

I like pelican (#3), even with the upper right post. But then, I'm not much of a stuff-remover. It's a little hot as well, losing some detail on the left wing. But otherwise very crisp and nice eye contact.

For reflections, I use a rubber lens hood and get as close to the glass as possible. Others say CPL, but I find plexiglass does wierd things with light that the CPL can't fix.

 

[sm4him]

The pelican is really pretty nice; shame about the big poles right behind it, but sometimes you just take what you can get. One bit of advice on that: Always try to take some notice of your surroundings before you even start shooting, so that you know where the best, uncluttered backgrounds are going to be and can at least try to position yourself for that. In the pelican shot above, I would probably have taken this same shot, but then, if the pelican didn't fly off, I'd start shifting to the left (or right), just a step or two at a time, and then take another picture--until, hopefully, you get to a position where you can get the pelican into the gap between poles for a shot.

On the Osprey shot: You certainly had the right idea here, getting it coming straight on at you--that's nicely done. It's either OOF or so heavily cropped that it's become a bit blurry, but for a first effort, not so bad. What was your shutter speed, ISO, aperture setting?
Birds in flight, I'd use an absolute minimum of 1/1000 second.

The second one isn't that interesting. First--straighten that horizon! When I'm shooting birds, I *often* ignore my horizon as I shoot, but always make sure you straighten it in post.
Second, getting this many birds in the frame would only make it interesting if they were DOING something interesting, and they're aren't. If they were all lined up the same way, except maybe one of them, or something like that, then it would be interesting. As it is, you can't even see their heads, on most of them.
If possible, I would have tried to focus in closer on a smaller group of them and either wait for them to do something interesting, or at least get a close-as-possible shot of one with its head and eye in clear focus.

The snake: Well, that's a snake. That's what I know about THAT.

 

[IzzieK]

Thanks Mel and Sharon for the tips. We were at a Clambake Festival at the time. There were many people in the same spot. I was lucky to any be able to shoot where I was with that pelicans. It was sort of elbow to elbow and I am one of those people who grew up in a large-ish farm who is not really used to crowded environment and needed a lot space between me and people...With the osprey, we were at a restaurant where I was meaning to buy some empty Cuban cigar boxes which I love very much to have at the time. Waiting for the crowd to disperse was almost impossible to nil because my companions at the time were men.

Next time I know I will have access to a car (rental) and can go out on my own as it will be just a private reception for the wedding we are going to attend. They are getting married this month but reception for everyone will be in two months because of work.

I think my osprey is a little bit overprocessed too...unfortunately. I didn't know what I was doing at the time and had no time to do some research like I do nowadays when I know I will go somewhere and will have an opportunity or two to escape from my companions.

Again, thank you so very much for the good tips. I do really appreciate it very much coming from both of you...
Cheers.........