Okay, so it wasn't perfect, as the head / eye was not quite as sharp, as the feet / claws (I don't think the wings, especially the farther one, hurt the shot at all, as they help to convey the feeling of motion)

But anyway, considering I never used a camera with the "AV / burst mode" in my life, before last week, I think I'm really starting to get the hang of this.... and having a blast with it too



Peace,
Fish

 

that's awesome!

 

Sweet!!! Great work!

 

All I have now is a sony mavica and a coolpix six. But when i was into photography I used a cannon T50 and an AE1
I have some great 35s, but they just don't scan worth looking at.
But you have some great work ther Fish!

 

Nice work Fish...looking good

 

That's now my new wallpaper...........

 

Right on. Thanks guys. I'm flattered !

Can't wait to go snap some more shots with the new camera..... But I'm really wanting to go stick a few more big Sturgies if possible too. Kind of torn.

I swear if I hit the lotto for $100 million, I still wouldn't have enough time in a day... a week... or a year, to play as much as I'd like too ! Then you have those people who say,"Well, I'd probably still keep a part time job, just so I wouldn't be board"...... Yea right ! Whatever ! They seriously need to get a life ! If only they could donate some of that "bored time" to somebody like myself, who knows how to use it !!!!

Peace,
Fish

PS, If I sound like I'm on meth or sometrhing lately, I've actually just been on a super health food diet kick..... Lost 40 lbs in the last 3 months, and feel like a new man ! In fact, I've got myself on a 8 pm to 3 or 4 am sleep schedule, just so I have maximum playtime on my days off {short Winter days you know}

 

nice pic, and congrats on the weight loss/ health kick. I'm on the opposite diet, all fried foods and beer for me. But then again I'm 5'11" and a buck 40 with a 6pk in me.

 

that picture means business, looks really awesome, great work.

 

Fantastic shot. The lighting turned out really well on him. It looks to be a gloomy day from the background. What shutter speed did you use?

 

Hello mblouir. Well, I don't really remember my shutter speed, as I've been using the AV mode, where I set the F-stop (I think this was F7.1) and the ISO (I think I was at ISO 200) and the camera adjusts the shutter automatically during burst mode, so that you can keep a consistent exposure, even during changing light, during a series of shots.

That said... maybe 1/800th ? Honestly though, Like I was kind of saying, the far wing blur doesn't bother me, as it kind of helps to convey motion.... but I wish I could have / would have been using a little narrower aperature.... say F8 or F9, so as I could have gotten a little more DOF, and sharper focus on the birds head {maybe ?}

But I'm definately still learning about all of this, for the in-flight bird shots.

Peace,
Fish

PS, It was actually starting to get pretty clear and sunny right where I was at. Their was patchy fog (tule fog) and haze between me and the hills in the background, which gave them that blue-gray look.

 

Looks like the camera focused on the nearer wing and the DOF was pretty small. What was your focal length?

Still, the bird is totally stopped in flight and he/she is gorgeous. One of these days, I'd like to get a picture of one of the red tailed hawks that fly over our property, or even the Harris hawks - they're pretty cool too.

Don't you wish you could fly like that?

- Jack

 

Hello Jack. I was shooting at the long end of my 55-250mm kit lens. So 250mm. Of course my camera has a 1.6 crop factor, so if you consider that, it works out to 400mm of a full frame camera. Not too bad, but I really want at least a 400mm, that works out to 640mm with crop factor Hopefully soon.

Peace,
Fish

 

I think my wifes coolpix gives a little control over fstop and shutter ap. Do you think it could be capable of getting something close, or in the ball park of a shot like that?

I haven't played with it.

 

It depends on how much optical zoom it has. You can take some very good pictures with a compact, but it will never compare to a DSLR in the hands of someone who knows how to use it. In my opinion, you won't get the clarity Fish did here. One of the biggest differences you'll notice between a compact and DSLR is the resolution. Even if a compact has 12MP it won't matter because all that is crammed onto a tiny sensor. When you zoom or crop on a similar pic taken with both an SLR and compact the SLR will always be clearer.

Not to say you can't, though, but it would take a lot of patience. I've seen some amazing pictures with compacts.

A lot of it is the photographer.