My search for blue tits continues. Small, (mainly) woodland birds are always tricky so it will take me a while before I get any images I’m genuinely pleased with. Today was pretty good though. I went back to the same site I was at yesterday and managed a few so-so shots. It was as I was heading away from there that I found another nest box. This time it was on a path, and though the tree was still throwing a heavy shade the light was significantly better than under the dense cover of the wood.
I have lots of photos like that, with the head just peeping out, and a few like this before the bird entered the nest.
And a couple as it flew away in search of grubs.
I need to work on my technique for the flight shots. It’s all a question of timing. If I wait for the bird to take to the wing it is out of frame before I can fire the shutter.
The final blue tit photo for today is a more natural view of the bird, high in the tree looking for food (caterpillars, moth eggs and so on). Click on the image to enlarge it.
That was today. The foxes (yes two of them) are from last night. First up is the vixen. She paused only briefly before scurrying away behind the pergola and out of the garden.
The real star was Nicked Ear. He’s getting bolder and stayed around for around 10 minutes. He was clearly aware of me and tolerated the torch and flash.
I saw him again tonight, but let him be after just a couple of frames. At night the foxes rule the garden and we’re the intruders.
Camera note: all blue photos taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens. All fox photos taken with the EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM lens.
Darko
17 May 2014” If I wait for the bird to take to the wing it is out of frame before I can fire the shutter.”
Annoying, isn’t it? Few days ago I tried that with a humming bird. But I was too far away and if you know hummingbirds….. Zoooom, and they are too fast to even follow with the eye :doh:
Words
18 May 2014Darko, I’ve never seen a hummingbird, but I always assumed they hovered and kept quite still. Obviously not, from what you say. The old fashioned way to photograph them is probably best: work out where they will land. Aim and focus the camera just before that point (on manual) and try to trigger the camera as it comes into land. Easier to say than to do, and a lot preparatory work as well. It’s not something I’ve tried.
Darko
19 May 2014I have a colleague who uses some of the very expensive Nikon camera and lenses (I think his biggest lens was about 20.000 CAD worth) and he made a photograph of hummingbird like I have never seen before, except in National Geography magazine maybe. But he sometimes spends hours in one spot, patiently waiting for a bird to appear. I rarely have that much time.
Words
19 May 2014Darko, that sounds like the 800mm lens which is a very long way beyond anything I can even dream about. He sounds like a very serious photographer, but he obviously gets amazing pictures.
derwandersmann
23 May 2014A good way to go crazy. Just take the picture! If it comes out, fine.