photoartflightColorful Sunrise Flyout
Posted on March 24, 2020
I am going through files looking for images I had not posted before. These are from a local wildlife area where we used to live. Early in the morning hundreds of blackbirds would fly out at sunrise. With the colorful sky and clouds it was an interesting sight to see, plus the sound was interesting also. 
BIF – White Ibis
Posted on February 22, 2014
One more Bird In Flight for this series. Here are some White Ibises flying in to our location. Here I was using a 300-800mm Sigma DG APO Zoom on a heavy duty Gitzo tripod and Wimberly Gimbal head. This gives me the option of zooming to 300mm to help find my subject then zoom in for my shots. This is a tremendous help in getting the shot. Going to 300mm you have a much wider view to find, frame and zoom in to your subject. If you ever tried to find a fast moving bird flying at 800mm you know what I am saying. The Sigma 300-800mm zoom is about 13 lbs, with the camera, gimbal head and heavy Carbon Fiber Gitzo tripod I am over 25 lbs, so you tend to get set up in a location and wait and see what comes to you or what crosses your path. It is also handy when your subjects get close you can zoom down to continue to photograph them. It seems like there is this unwritten law that whatever lens you have, you need something longer or shorter, so this is my best alternative so far. I usually also have my 400mm with me for faster moving subjects or if I wander away from my tripod setup.
White Ibis Coming In – Wings Down
Canon EOS 1D MkIV, Sigma 300-800 DG APO f/5.6 zoom, f/8, 1/1000 sec, -0.33 exposure compensation, ISO 640
White Ibis Coming In – Wings Up
Canon EOS 1D MkIV, Sigma 300-800 DG APO f/5.6 zoom, f/8, 1/1000 sec, -0.33 exposure compensation, ISO 640
White Ibis Coming In – Being Followed
Canon EOS 1D MkIV, Sigma 300-800 DG APO f/5.6 zoom, f/8, 1/1000 sec, -0.33 exposure compensation, ISO 640
White Ibis Coming In – Front of the Flock
Canon EOS 1D MkIV, Sigma 300-800 DG APO f/5.6 zoom, f/8, 1/1000 sec, -0.33 exposure compensation, ISO 640
White Ibis Coming In – Pulling Ahead
Canon EOS 1D MkIV, Sigma 300-800 DG APO f/5.6 zoom, f/8, 1/1000 sec, -0.33 exposure compensation, ISO 640
White Ibis Coming In – Wings Up
Canon EOS 1D MkIV, Sigma 300-800 DG APO f/5.6 zoom, f/8, 1/1000 sec, -0.33 exposure compensation, ISO 640
BIF – Snowy Egret
Posted on February 18, 2014
One of my favorite photos to capture are birds in flight (BIF). It is a challenge and rewarding at the same time. Sometimes you can track them coming in towards you so you can get ready for them and compose your shots. Other times they just come upon you and you have little time to react and get a few shots, like this series. My favorite combination for this is the Canon MkIV and the Canon 400mm DO IS f/4 lens, sometimes with a Canon Series III 1.4X teleconverter. The 400mm DO f/4 is a lightweight , shorter in length the a normal 400mm, easy to handle and track on a subject lens, perfect for fast moving subjects such as flying birds. Some do not like the DO series of lenses, but if you learn how to use them and learn how to adjust your files it is a real winner. It is also only 4.3 lbs, so it is relatively lightweight to carry for long periods of time. This Snowy Egret just came out over the trees and was close in so there was little time to react and compose my shots.
Snowy Egret Getting Closer
Canon EOS 1D MkIV, Canon 400mm DO IS f/4, Canon Series III 1.4X Teleconverter, f/11, 1/1250 sec, ISO 400
Closer
Canon EOS 1D MkIV, Canon 400mm DO IS f/4, Canon Series III 1.4X Teleconverter, f/11, 1/1000 sec, ISO 400
Snowy Egret Almost Overhead
Canon EOS 1D MkIV, Canon 400mm DO IS f/4, Canon Series III 1.4X Teleconverter, f/11, 1/1250 sec, ISO 400
Snowy Egret Overhead
Canon EOS 1D MkIV, Canon 400mm DO IS f/4, Canon Series III 1.4X Teleconverter, f/11, 1/1600 sec, ISO 400
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