In the flight...

[kijal]

Hi!
I think this is my 1st posting in "Nature & Wildlife" category. We have sizable number of birders (photogs) here with mostly lovely shots. Thot of sharing some birdie pictures that I took recently.

1. Floating thru the air
ISO400, 1/200s @ f/4.5 on Partial metering. 200mm focal length


2. Aerodynamic
ISO400, 1/320s @ f/2.8 on Partial metering. EV -0.3, 180mm focal length


3. Zoom... Zoom... Zoom...
ISO400, 1/200s @ f/2.8 on Partial metering. 165mm focal length


4. Looking for food
ISO400, 1/200s @ f/2.8 on Partial metering, 170mm focal length



All the above were taken @ Ras al Hamra, Oman. I was standing near the edge of a cliff, thus i cant get any closer to the subject. I had to remind myself not to step forward... Earlier in the year some one died (at another location) when he accidentally fell over the cliff trying to take group picture.

Major cropping done during post process to enhance the composition. Appreciate your thoughts on how to improve when taking pictures of birds in flight.

.

[Kelvin K]

first, get yourself a longer lens, says 400mm minimum. Use Al servo, activate all AF sensors (if AF hunts, switch to center AF point). Hand held is best for bird in flight. If lens is too heavy for handheld, then Wimberly head or Sidekick is your best bet.

Watch your step.

[nelsonkhor]

It not the easy job to get the good shots of little tern..

[tsechien]

Strong attempt! Getting flight shots is hard and especially so with Terns.

chien

[nivekd200]

Another birder in the making

[kijal]

Kelvin,
Thanks for the input. I realize 200mm is pretty "short" and difficult to take fotos of the birds. I use AI servo but did not activate all AF points. I prefer to use the center AF. All my shots were handheld as i dont have a tripod *yet*

Saw some awesome work of birders here. Oh! I'll watch my step...

first, get yourself a longer lens, says 400mm minimum. Use Al servo, activate all AF sensors (if AF hunts, switch to center AF point). Hand held is best for bird in flight. If lens is too heavy for handheld, then Wimberly head or Sidekick is your best bet.

Watch your step.

[kijal]

Tell me about it! So small (it looks small on my 200mm) and swift too. I missed a couple of shots the seagulls (tern?) dive into the sea for fish. Btw, saw your post in FM's Best of 2006 thread. Nice.

It not the easy job to get the good shots of little tern..

[kijal]

Thank you Chien. If i have time I can try to feed `em so they'll do some dive contest huh! Oh! I saw 2 sea eagle (white colored) the day before while driving back from work. Huge predator. Besides watching my steps, I need to watch the road too!

Strong attempt! Getting flight shots is hard and especially so with Terns.

chien

Oh no!!..... These shots were only done when I've no idea what else to take wor. So many seagulls here as I'm staying near beach area. There's a spot that I like but its fenced up and out of bounce! darn...

Another birder in the making

[kijal]

One of my sharpest picture of this birdie... Amazingly it was taken while I'm on a dhow cruise a couple of days ago. Lucky shot for a newbie.

5. Flying high
ISO100, 1/250s @ f/10, Evaluative metering, 125mm focal length


Bonus shots...
6. Heading home


7. Moon & birds


These last two shots were some lucky grab. I looked up and saw the flock of birds about to fly pass the glowing moon. In panic state i manage to shoot 4 frames and 3 were good to be posted on my Flickr site.

.

[ikelah]

cantik with what you have. my max is also 200mm. i'll go for more if i can afford. one can always maximize and try their best for the moment with what is available. remember, its the guy behind the lens.