Blurred Wing Lift Off
Caught this Marbled Godwit talking off while laying down with my ground pod. He was a couple of feet off of the ground at this point. Was using aperture priority but the shutter speed was low enough to blur the wings. Glad to see that his head was relatively sharper than his wings which is always the challenge with these type of shots.
Taken with Canon 7D and 100-400 lens on Skimmer ground pod.
1/320 sec @ F7.1, ISO 200, spot metering + 2/3 exposure compensation, no flash
On the Run at Brazos Bend
Made a trip out to Brazos Bend State park a couple of weeks ago. It was a little chilly at 39 deg and very windy which attributed to my frozen head/face. Had a hat in the car but being the intelligent person that I am, didn’t put it on. Was going to walk back to the car to get it but the sun was about to come out and I didn’t want to miss the good light. Caught several Coots running around, as usual, and had a fly over from a bald eagle, which was a first for me at Brazos Bend. Of course the Coot shots came out better so I’ll post these. Got some decent light on this one. The challenge with these guys is to catch them in mid stride and to keep their heads in relative focus while their wings are blurred to give a sense of motion.
Taken with Canon 7D and 100-400 lens, hand held, no flash
1/400 sec @ F5.6, ISO 400, spot metering, +2/3 exposure compensation
1/320 sec @ F5.6, ISO 400, spot metering, +2/3 exposure compensation
Galveston’s FeatherFest Photo Contest
Below is the press release for Galveston’s FeatherFest photo contest. It’s a four week contest and lots of fun. I’d highly encourage everyone with good photos from the local area to enter.
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Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council P. O. Box 1468 Galveston, TX 77553 |
Feb. 8, 2012 Contact: Sue Reed 281-686-8514
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Photography Plays Big Part in FeatherFest
Nature Photo Contest Runs through March 25
GALVESTON ISLAND, Texas (Feb. 8, 2012) – Photographers and birders alike flock to Galveston Island to participate in field trips and workshops led by professional photography instructors during FeatherFest, April 12 – 15.
FeatherFest is one of the largest birding festivals in Texas, and the only one with a dedicated nature photography track. Due to high demand, the 2012 festival offers twice as many photography programs as it has in the past.
Leading up to the festival, the FeatherFest Photo Contest draws hundreds of spectacular bird images from photographers around the state. Individuals are invited to submit images of birds taken in Galveston, Brazoria, Harris, Fort Bend, Jefferson or Chambers counties. Entries for Week 1 of the contest are due Sunday, March 4. The contest runs through March 24. Details are at http://galvestonfeatherfest.com/photo_contest.php.
Kathy Adams Clark, Larry Ditto, Debbie Ferrell and Sean Fitgerald, who are among the state’s most recognized photographers, are returning for a third year to lead festival photography activities. Scott Buckel and Tim Timmis are new members of the photography leadership team. They all target a specific skill level in their events, from beginner to intermediate to advanced.
Houston Camera Exchange, official sponsor of the 2012 FeatherFest photography track, will have its latest cameras, lens and accessories at Birders’ Bazaar, the free public trade show open throughout the festival. Representatives from Canon, Nikon, Sony and other manufacturers will be on hand to demonstrate their products. The trade show will be in Old Galveston Square, 2212 The Strand in downtown Galveston.
“Photography has become an important part of FeatherFest. Birding is magnificent in Galveston during spring migration, so the timing is perfect for nature photographers,” said Barbara Rabek, co-leader with Scott Buckel of both the competition and photography track.
FeatherFest is a project of the Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council, which supports eco-tourism and education, and promotes the value of area natural habitats. Visit www.GalvestonFeatherFest.com or call 832-459-5533 for more information.
Avocet Silhouette
Here is another Avocet silhouette from Bolivar Flats. This one has some water droplets coming off its beak which helps to make the shot more interesting. Very close to a full frame shot.
Taken with Canon 100-400 lens on Skimmer ground pod.
1/640 sec @ F 5.6, evaluative metering, ISO 200, + 2/3 exposure compensation
Tim Timmis Photography 