This Willet appears to be proud of himself with scaring 2 fish out of the water as he is contemplating which one to catch. Had a little golden light action going on at sunrise. More good times from Bolivar Flats in Texas.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/1000 sec @ F5.6, ISO 400, evaluative metering, +1/3 exposure compensation
Sometimes you get the shots where you can. This Pelican photo was while sitting in my car on the Bolivar Ferry. I was too tired and covered with sand from my trip to Bolivar to get out of the car. Treated this shot like a bird in flight shot by using positive exposure compensation due to the bright sky causing the camera to darken the scene.
Can’t tell if he is laughing at me or ready to eat me…
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm IS II lens with 1.4x III teleconverter, hand-held
aperture priority, 1/1250 sec @ F8, ISO 400, evaluative metering, +2/3 exposure compensation.
Here are some more Wood Stork Photos from Brazoria NWR. These are full frame shots without any cropping. Having 700mm to work with instead of my old 100-400 has been very sweet. These very large birds go through a lot of trouble for such a little meal, as seen in the last photo.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II lens, with 1.4x III teleconverter hand-held out the car window.
Aperture priority, 1/1600 sec @ F7.1, ISO 250, spot metering
Aperture priority, 1/1600 sec @ F7.1, ISO 250, spot metering
Aperture priority, 1/1600 sec @ F7.1, ISO 250, spot metering
Aperture priority, 1/2500 sec @ F8, ISO 250, spot metering
This Marbled Godwit had just stuck his beak into the sand and started walking away when I got this shot. He was spitting out the sand and it formed small droplets off of his beak. Close to a full frame shot taken while laying down with my ground pod on a sand bar.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II, 1.4x III teleconverter, skimmer ground pod, Wimberley II gimbal head
1/800 sec @ F7.1, ISO 400, evaluative metering, +1/3 exposure compensation
This little shorebird got all puffed up when she realized that there was paparazzi nearby. Show-off. Had a great time at Bolivar Flats on Friday. No one was around and there were a few exposed sandbars to lay on with the tide going out. Felt right at home and in the groove with the new lens, which isn’t so new at this point. After 2 months, it’s got several thousand pictures under its belt. Just getting it broken in by now.
I’m loving the Lenscoat Raincoat, which works great at the beach for keeping sand and salt water off of the lens. http://www.lenscoat.com/lenscoat®-raincoat-p-1506.html
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II lens with 1.4X III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/500 sec @ F7.1, ISO 400, evaluative metering, +1/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
My latest article in Texas Explorer Magazine is about Wings Over Houston airshow, which is coming up the last weekend in October. The article will give you some tips on the logistics of going to the airshow and taking photos of the planes. They are just like big birds that are easier to track than a red winged blackbird. If you use birds in flight photography techniques, you will get some great shots. Below is the link to the article.
The Wood Storks were out in force on this trip to Brazoria NWR. There were about 15 of them hanging out when I got there and another 10 showed up later. Some stayed in the back of the pond and others would walk around feeding and got very close. It was fun to watch and shoot. Got some full frame shots at 700mm with my 1.4x that I’ll post later. I’ve seen Wood Storks at a distance before but never this close up. Was a very good time. Went back again for the next two weekends and never saw them in numbers like this or as close up.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II lens with 1.4x III teleconverter out the car window.
1/2500 sec @ F7.1, ISO 400, spot metering
1/2000 sec @ F5.6, ISO 400, spot metering
1/2500 sec @ F7.1, ISO 400, spot metering
Had the privilege of visiting Gettysburg for a leadership seminar. It was led by Colonel Cole C. Kingseed, US Army, retired, former Chief of Military History at the US Military Academy at West Point. They did a great job of preserving the battlefields and had the opportunity to walk from Seminary Ridge to Cemetery Ridge, across the battlefield where Picket’s Charge took place. It was a very surreal experience.
I went a day early to get a chance to take some pictures, of course. Spent the first afternoon going to the visitor center and scouting out the area in preparation for shooting at sunrise the next day. Got to Cemetery Ridge just before sunrise. It was interesting to be there at sunrise with no one else around. Took several photos as the sun was coming up and then walked out on the battlefield where Picket’s Charge took place. It was a very interesting but humbling experience to say the least. I can’t imaging the courage that it took to cross that battlefield on July 3, 1863. Being there puts the history books into a little more perspective. A very moving experience.
Got my best photos in the early morning golden light, as always. Did get one bird photo that I’ll post later. Just wish that I would have had more time and a few more mornings to shoot. Good excuse to go back again someday.
You can see more of my photos from Gettysburg on my web site under the “History” gallery: http://www.timtimmis.com/History/Gettysburg/25484802_z3Qrcp#!i=2099796373&k=M8CcbMC
These photos were taken with my Canon 7D and Canon 100-400 lens, handheld. The wide-angle shots on my website were taken with my Canon 17-40mm lens.
Statue of General Webb with the sun rising behind it.
1/8000 sec @ F5.6, ISO 400, evaluative metering, -2 exposure compensation
Horse drawn carriage used for canon supplies that was glowing in the morning light
1/400 sec @ F5.6, ISO 400, evaluative metering, -1 exposure compensation
Taken from the battlefield just in front of the union line at Cemetery Ridge. The tall grass was glowing at sunrise. Had to crank back the exposure compensation to -2.
1/6400 sec @ F5.6, ISO 400, evaluative metering, -2 exposure compensation
There was a hint of fog in the air and the morning dew was everywhere. Made for a cool look on the canons. Zoomed in tight on this canon wheel and you can see the depth of field at F5.6.
1/320 sec @ F5.6, ISO 400, evaluative metering, -2/3 exposure compensation
View approaching the union lines on Cemetery Ridge. A little lens flare for added effect. I was going to try to clone it out but kind of like the look so left it in.
1/8000 sec @ F5.6, ISO 400, evaluative metering, -1 exposure compensation
Mother nature was a little cruel to Wood Storks. Their face would make a great Halloween mask. Their feet are a little gnarly as well. This photo was taken about a month ago from Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge in Texas. Got some full frame shots as well. More to come…
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4S III teleconverter, handheld out the car window
1/1600 sec @ F7.1, ISO 250, spot metering, 700mm
This Reddish Egret was trying to catch a fish but didn’t notice that he had scared another one out of the water right beside him. Let the fish racing begin! Taken at Bolivar Flats while laying down with my ground pod.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II lens and 1.4x III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/640 sec @ F7.1, ISO 500, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation, 700mm
Tim Timmis Photography 