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Clapper Rail

While taking photos of a Great Blue Heron out the car window at Brazoria NWR, I saw movement out of my left eye.  I try to keep both eyes open when shooting just for such an occasion.  A Clapper Rail had jumped up on a platform right in front of me.  I changed the lens to its minimum focusing distance, changed the aperture to F9 and cranked up the exposure compensation another notch to +1.  Ended up getting this full framed photo.  Had a hard time seeing him as the morning sun was coming up behind me and shining into the view finder with my glasses preventing a tight seal on the eye piece.  Was thrilled to get any shots in focus with 1/100 sec shutter speed.  Gotta love the IS on the new 500mm lens.  Would have been good to crank up the ISO but I couldn’t see the setting in the view finder.  He only stayed around for about 20 seconds but it was a fun 20 seconds.

Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II, 1.4x III teleconverter, hand-held out the car window

1/100 sec @ F9, ISO 400, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation, 700mm

Posted by  |  November 27, 2012 | Categories: Birds | Tags: , , | 5 Comments

Like Feathers Floating on Water

While the tide rolled in, the feathers on the sand bar around me floated away and helped to highlight this Willet.  I didn’t want to move with this Willet being so close so I got a little wet as well.  Stayed in place until the water got above my ground pod.  The biggest issue with laying in the salt water is that it streams off of your coat sleeves when you get up and can run all over your camera equipment.  My Lenscoat raincoat helps to keep the gear dry.

Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II, 1.4x III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head

1/500 sec @ F 7.1, ISO 500, evaluative metering, +2/3 exposure compensation

Posted by  |  November 25, 2012 | Categories: Birds | Tags: , , , , , | 2 Comments

RWBB Close-up

This Red Winged Blackbird got his close up taken with my 500mm + 1.4x attached.  He was too close for a fully body shot and I got this full framed shot instead.  Taken handheld out the car window at Brazoria NWR as I was going back and forth between openings in the weeds at one of the ponds while shooting duck/Avocet photos.  I’ve never had good luck with getting a decent RWBB shot so I’m pleased with this one.  My 500mm lens is sharper than my 100-400 and the IS works much better so I’m having a blast using it.

Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4x teleconverter.

1/200 sec @ F8, ISO 400, +1/3 exposure compensation

Posted by  |  November 22, 2012 | Categories: Birds | Tags: , , , , | 4 Comments

Avocet at Sunrise

The Avocets are finally back at Bolivar Flats.  It was great to see them again with low tide in the morning, which doesn’t happen until this time of the year.  I almost left without taking any photos based on what I was seeing when first showing up.  About 15 mph winds, waves and no exposed sand bars which is not conducive to decent bird activity at Bolivar.  Decided to stick it out and was glad I did when spotting a group of Avocets feeding near the shore line. Got down on the ground and got lots of full framed shots with the 1.4x teleconverter.

It was about 52 deg F, which is finally cold enough to break out my neoprene waders for laying the in the wet sand.  My bottom half stays relatively dry and warm but I get totally soaked with salt water on my top.  I need to get a water proof coat one of these days.

Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head

1/500 sec @ F7.1, ISO 400, spot metering, 700mm

1/400 sec @ F7.1, ISO 400, spot metering, 700mm

1/500 sec @ F8, ISO 400, spot metering, 700mm

Posted by  |  November 21, 2012 | Categories: Birds, Wildlife | Tags: , , , , | 3 Comments

Caracara Portrait

Spent Saturday morning at Bolivar Flats and found the best photo-op on the way out in my car.  This Caracara was on the beach and flew to a fence post when I drove along the beach.  Luckily had my camera in the seat next to me and was able to get a few shots before he was scared off by another car driving by.

Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II lens, 1.4X III teleconverter, hand-held out the car window.

1/1250 sec @ F7.1, ISO 400, evaluative metering, +2/3 exposure compensation, 700mm

Posted by  |  November 19, 2012 | Categories: Birds | Tags: , , , | 4 Comments

Jet Car

Got a front row seat along the fence for Wings Over Houston on Sat.  Got up close and personal with the Air National Guard jet car.  A little loud but an interesting photo op.

Taken with Canon 7D and 100-400 lens

Posted by  |  November 14, 2012 | Categories: Airshow | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

More from Wings Over Houston

A couple more batches of airshow photos and I’ll be back to birds, I promise.  These shots were taken from the south side of the airfield along hwy 3 on Sunday.  It’s always great to see the F22 Raptor.  Needless to say,  I took a few photos over the 3 days.

Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II

Posted by  |  November 12, 2012 | Categories: Airshow | Tags: , , , | 1 Comment

Where there is Fire, there is Smoke..

I always get excited when the gas bombs start going off during the Tora Tora Tora portion of the  Wings Over Houston airshow.  Where there is fire, there is smoke, which leads to some interesting photo op’s.  Tracked this Zero as he was heading through the smoke and was barely visible.  When adjusting the color using curves in Photoshop, tried setting the black point even though nothing was showing black.  It darkened the scene dramatically and led to this photo.

Taken with Canon 7D and 100-400 lens, hand-held

Shutter priority, 1/320 sec @ F18, ISO 200, evaluative metering, +1/3 exposure compensation

Posted by  |  November 5, 2012 | Categories: Airshow | Tags: , , | 2 Comments

Incoming Japanese Zero

Here is my favorite Zero shot from Wings Over Houston airshow on Friday.  Taken from along Hwy 3 near the end of the runway.  I like the straight-on perspective, the tilted wings and that you can see the pilot.  It was a cloudy day but it works for this shot.  This is the only authentic Zero at the show.  The rest are mock-up’s from the movie Tora Tora Tora.   The 500mm lens makes a great airshow lens when you aren’t too close to the action.

Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II, hand-held

Shutter priority, 1/320 @ F16, ISO 400, +1 exposure compensation

1/1000 sec @ F5.6, ISO 400,

Posted by  |  October 31, 2012 | Categories: Airshow | Tags: , , , , | 2 Comments

Blue Angels Turn and Burn at Wings Over Houston

The Blue Angles put on another great show at the Wings Over Houston airshow this year.  Spent the afternoon on Friday along Hwy 3 near the end of the runway.  Hand held my 500mm lens for about 3 hours, which was a good work out.  The biggest challenge was keeping it steady with the high winds.  I like the different angles that you can get from this location.  Spent Saturday along the flight line near show center but just got the typical airshow shots.  Here are some of my favorite Blue Angels shots from Friday.  Most of these are full frame with very little cropping.   It was time to turn and burn…

Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II lens, handheld

Shutter priority, 1/320 sec @ F14, ISO 400, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation

Aperture priority, 1/2000 sec @ F4.5, ISO 400, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation

Aperture priority, 1/1250 sec @ F5.6, ISO 400, evaluative metering

Aperture priority, 1/1250 sec @ F5.6, ISO 400, evaluative metering

Posted by  |  October 28, 2012 | Categories: Airshow | Tags: , , , , , | 2 Comments