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Fur-Like Feathers

The feathers on a Reddish Egret’s head can sometimes look more like fur than feathers.  The textures make this bird one of my favorites to photograph.  They can be very territorial and ruffle up their feathers when another Reddish Egret comes around as shown in the first photo below.  On a previous post, Lyle commented about the “mane” on these egrets, which is a good description, especially in the last photo.

Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4X teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head

1/1250 sec @ F10, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation

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1/1000 sec @ F10, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation

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1/1250 sec @ F10, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation

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1/1000 sec @ F10, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation

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Posted by  |  February 22, 2015 | Categories: Birds | Tags: , , , , , , | 4 Comments

New Canon 100-400 II Lens

Since the new Canon 100-400 II lens came out, I’ve been reading the positive reviews and finally decided to take the plunge and replace my old 100-400.  Unfortunately, my usual source for camera gear, B&H, along with most of the other reliable on-line retailers have been out of stock for several weeks.  Ended up getting it at a local Best Buy.

Purchased my old 100-400 back in 2005 and used it for wildlife photography until I got my 500mm lens a couple of years ago.  It’s been a great lens but needs some repairs.  The rotating collar is worn out, for the second time, one of screw holes for the collar alignment pins has stripped out, and it needs to be torn apart and cleaned internally with some dust on the inner lens.  Decided to invest in the new lens with its improved image stabilization instead of spending a few hundred dollars to repair the old one.

First impressions out of the box compared to the original model is that it’s a little heavier, the hood design is much improved, the rotating collar appears to be a better design and obviously the push-pull zoom design has been replaced with a twist zoom design.  It will take some getting used to the new zoom mechanism as I loved the push-pull.

Will be taking the new lens along on some upcoming photography trips.  I’m anxious to get it out into the field to try it out.  I’ve ordered a RRS replacement foot to keep from having to add a plate like on my old lens and I’m not thrilled with the twist lock on the foot that comes with the new lens.  This will be my go-to airshow lens and lens when shorter focal lengths are in order.

Here is a photo of the old and new 100-400.  I’ll post some photos taken with the new lens when I’ve had a chance to try it out.  Of course, it’s supposed to rain all weekend in SE Texas.

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Posted by  |  February 21, 2015 | Categories: Equipment | Tags: | 7 Comments

Busy Flight Line

This Black Skimmer had to dodge some of the local ground traffic as he was buzzing the tower. ” Talk to me Goose”….

Another photo from my most excellent Skimmer adventure with Matt and Susan.  Focused on this one from a distance as he was flying with two other Skimmers.  When the 1DX locks on focus it doesn’t let go.  This was photo #32 out of 37 shots of him, all of which were in focus.  Some minor cropping to the wide format.

Taken with Canon IDX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4X III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod

1/1600 sec @ F5.6, ISO 4000, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation

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Posted by  |  February 18, 2015 | Categories: Birds | Tags: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Reddish Egret Up Close

This Reddish Egret landed near by and ended up walked around me.  Makes lying around  in the wet sand worth it.  These are close to full frame shots cropped to vertical.

Had to crank up the ISO to 5000 to get up to 1/500 sec shutter speed.  Helps to justify the price tag (to me but not my wife) on the 1DX as I wouldn’t have gotten this shot with my 7D as the noise would have been too bad at these settings.

Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4X III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head

1/500 sec @ F8, ISO 5000, evaluative metering, +1/3 exposure compensation

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1/500 sec @ F8, ISO 5000, evaluative metering, +1/3 exposure compensation

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Posted by  |  February 15, 2015 | Categories: Birds | Tags: , , , , | 6 Comments

A Tri-Colored First at Bolivar

Another successful trip to Bolivar Flats yesterday left me some photos that I’ve never taken there before, a Tricolored Heron.  I’ve never seen one on the flats before and was very surprised when this one showed up.  First spotted him when he literally tried to land on top of me.  Was lying on a sandbar when he had to make a quick aborted landing when he finally spotted me.  I was disappointed that he didn’t stick around.  As luck would have it, he returned later and landed right in front of me.  Must have picked a good spot.

Had to shift from +1 exposure compensation to +1/3 to keep from blowing out the whites on his chest.  Very minor cropping on this shot to get a vertical photo.

Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4X III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head

1/1000 sec @ F10, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1/3 exposure compensation

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Posted by  |  February 8, 2015 | Categories: Birds | Tags: , , , , , , | 9 Comments

B&W Splash

While walking back to my car, saw this Redding Egret fishing near the shoreline.  Almost kept walking as I was worn out from an active early morning shoot but decided to lay down one more time.  Glad that I did as he cooperated with some good feeding shots.

One way to get action shots with shorebirds is to start shooting a burst of shots when their head starts moving down towards the water.  Was able to capture a nice see-through splash as his head dove into the water.  The high shutter speed froze the action when the splash was at its peak.

With the light being harsh around 9:00 a.m., the colors were very muted so decided to use B&W on this one.

Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4X III teleconverter on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head

1/2000 sec @ F11, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation

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Posted by  |  February 1, 2015 | Categories: Birds | Tags: , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Long Billed Silhouettes

Another quick trip to the Gulf coast yesterday found several Long Billed Curlews at sunrise that were prime time for some silhouette shots.  Was hoping for some more Skimmers but didn’t see any on this trip.  The randomness keeps me going back as you never know what you are going to see.

Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500 F4 IS II with 1.4X III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head

1/1000 Sec @ F8, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation

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1/2500 Sec @ F11, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation

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Posted by  |  January 25, 2015 | Categories: Birds | Tags: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

In the Skimmer Lane

Calm winds and low tide equaled some good low-level photo op’s at Bolivar Flats yesterday.  Met up with a couple of other photographers, Matt & Susan, and hit the sand bars.  Started out getting some Avocet silhouette shots and then moved west.  Picked a good spot and ended up directly in the flight path of more Black Skimmers than I’ve seen for a long time.  They kept coming flying right towards us in waves.  My camera did a good job of keeping the birds in focus for the head-on shots.

Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4X III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head

1/500 sec @ F8, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation

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1/500 sec @ F8, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation

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1/400 sec @ F5.6, ISO 4000, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation

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Posted by  |  January 18, 2015 | Categories: Birds | Tags: , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

Blurred Blast-Off

Blast off’s by a large flock of Geese are always fun to hear and photograph.  It’s a challenge to get sharp photos before the sun comes up so I typically go for blurred shots using shutter priority.  First photo is of Geese and the second is a flock of Black Birds.  Taken on a chilly morning at Anahuac NWR in SE Texas last weekend.

Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4X III teleconverter, handheld

Shutter priority, 1/8 sec @ F9, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation

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Shutter priority, 1/8 sec @ F18, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation

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Posted by  |  January 11, 2015 | Categories: Birds | Tags: , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Reflecting on the Start of 2015

It’s tough to express any true reflections on a year that just started, so instead, here is my first reflection shot from 2015.  Looks like it could be a good year.

It’s easy to ignore Coots in SE Texas as they are very abundant and can be somewhat boring but in the right light with a good background, they can stand out with the best of them.  Had to expose for the white beak so no positive exposure compensation on this one.  Taken at Anahuac NWR in Texas.

Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4X III teleconverter, handheld out the car window

1/800 sec @ F7.1, ISO 1600, evaluative metering

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Posted by  |  January 5, 2015 | Categories: Birds | Tags: , , , , | 2 Comments