Sometimes the opportunity doesn't present itself. Sometimes it does, and you're ready. Sometimes you simply don't have the right equipment with you. Sometimes you do. And on some occasions this happens.
I was out at lunchtime and had the long lens (70-300mm) attached to the camera. Nothing unusual about that, and I caught a decent shot of a juvenile goldfinch.
As I walked a little further, the view opened out across a valley, and for once I had my wide lens (the Canon EF 24-105 F4L IS USM) with me. So I switched lenses, and took various views of the Downs, including this next one of cattle moving across the middle of the valley as clouds cast racing shadows over the grass.
While I photographing landscapes, I glanced up. I do that a lot. You never know what will be flying past, and to my absolute delight I saw a buzzard swooping low (well relatively low) over the field. It was in clear view and at a reasonable height. I've only ever previously managed absurdly long range shots of this bird, so I turned, aimed and fired off some shots. With the wide lens which has barely any reach at all! That's the downside of DSLRs. You need to pick the right lens for the job.By the time I'd swapped lenses again, the bird – as the saying goes – had flown.
I'm really pleased with the shot as it happens. The light was perfect, the sky clear. But these opportunities are so rare that this has to go down as a miss.
SittingFox
16 Aug 2007Aaack. That reminds me of my "aaagh" moment with the red kite last spring, when all I had with me was the EF-S 18-55mm! But, still a nice shot of the buzzard in the sky and the clouds and goldfinch are great :up:
Flying Red Fox Blog
16 Aug 2007Lovelly pic of the Goldfinch 😀
Words
16 Aug 2007I was pleased with the goldfinch. I hadn't seen them lurking in the thicket but they flew up and re-settled when I went passed, and the young one paused for a moment to give a clear shot.
As for the wrong lens problem, the real solution is to carry two bodies, but then you might need a third and you could end up like this. But Brendan, you're absolutely right about the joy when it all comes together.
chthoniid
16 Aug 2007😆 loved the photographer picture. I presume he's wearing a girdle to stand up straight.
chthoniid
16 Aug 2007Oh yes, getting caught with the wrong lens can happen a lot. It makes it tricky to decide whether to have one general purpose telephoto, or a range of specialised lenses for different work.
I didn't get any good shots of flying cranes in China, because I got 'ambushed'. They came overhead while I had the 500mm reflex lens on. At an f8 aperture, it was just too slow, while I didn't have time to switch down to a faster lens.
But surely, it is these frustrations that make you appreciate all the more, when everything does come together for a good shot 🙂