Backlit and Lovin’ It
I’m a major fan of backlit bird photos, especially from High Island’s rookery. Sunrise is a very special time at the rookery. The sun comes up in your face and provides some great backlit photo op’s. This Great Egret was showing off it’s breeding plumage and backlit wings.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II lens mounted on tripod with Wimberly II head
1/1600 sec @ F8, ISO 400, manaul exposure
1/1600 sec @ F8, ISO 400, manaul exposure
High Island Nest Building – Part II
Apparently only one stick is not enough to build a nest with, go figure. Therefore, here are a few more sticks in transit. The first photo is the same bird from the previous post as he was coming in for a landing. All taken in manual mode to control the exposure on the white birds. Stick transfer shots are next.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II mounted on tripod with Wimberley II head
1/800 sec @ F8, ISO 400, manual exposure
1/1000 sec @ F9, ISO 400, manual exposure
1/1250 sec @ F9, ISO 400, manual exposure
Willets Part II
Here are a couple more Willet shots from my cloudy outing at Bolivar. The same subject as my previous post but in some different poses. The last one is a full framed shot at 700mm with no cropping.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II lens with 1.4x III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II head
1/640 sec @ F8, ISO 400, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation, 700mm
1/800 sec @ F8, ISO 400, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation, 700mm
Willet Portrait
I typically stay home when it’s cloudy but may have to rethink that strategy. Got up last Sat., looked at the radar and saw clouds with some showers in the area. Would have stayed home but was going to meet up Daniel Lim, who introduced me to Bolivar Flats and shooting from the prone position back in 2006. I must have been a slow learner though as I didn’t start shooting this way until 2009.
Couldn’t get close to the Avocets so had to concentrate on the good o’l stand by, the Willet. This is one of my favorite shots. I’ll share a few more later. And yes, I’m still in love with my 500mm lens.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4x III mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head.
1/800 sec @ F8, ISO 400, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation, 700mm
Incoming Harrier
While focusing on shorebird shots at Bolivar Flats, the small birds would frequently spook and fly away. Didn’t pay much attention to why until the photo op’s died down. Then I noticed that they were scattering due to raptors flying overhead. I was laying on a sand bar within about 30 ft of the shore line and the Northern Harriers were doing flybys over the grassy area on shore. Spotting this one flying towards me. My 7D did a great job with maintaining focus as he flew behind the weeds and then landed on a log nearby. Caught him landing with his talons out which was cool. He stayed around for only a couple of minutes and took off with outstretched wings.
Taken with a Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II and 1.4x III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with a Wimberley II gimbal head.
Aperture priority, 1/640 sec @ F7.1, ISO 400, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation, 700mm
Aperture priority, 1/640 sec @ F7.1, ISO 400, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation, 700mm
Aperture priority, 1/640 sec @ F7.1, ISO 400, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation, 700mm
Aperture priority, 1/640 sec @ F7.1, ISO 400, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation, 700mm
Fish Flipping
It’s fun to watch shorebirds feed. Egrets like to flip their food in the air before they eat it. Got lucky as this White Morph Reddish Egret was pointed in my direction as he was flipping his breakfast.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4x teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/1000 sec @ F9, manual exposure, ISO 400, 700mm
Snowy Egret Pose
This Snowy Egret was hanging out during my last trip to Bolivar Flats. Another example of early morning light on a white bird. His plumage gets me in the mood for the upcoming activity at High Island’s rookery. Can’t wait.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4x III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/1000 sec @ F9, manual exposure, ISO 400, 700mm
The Stand Out
How do you make a white bird stand out? White bird + golden light + dark background + down low + eye contact + water+ reflection = Stand Out.
Got several action shots of this White Morph Reddish Egret along with this pose against a grassy background. I’m pleased with how this one came out. Took a few shots with spot metering and checked the histogram to confirm the exposure was good and then switched to manual exposure mode using the settings that I came up with.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4x III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II head
1/800 sec @ F9, manual exposure, ISO 400
Snowy Egret on the Move
Spent some quality time yesterday morning at Bolivar Flats. The tide and sun were cooperating for once. Found a decent spot where birds were feeding and laid down on a sand bar for about 1.5 hrs to get some shorebird action shots. There was a White Morph Reddish Egret feeding along with this Snowy Egret. They would tolerate each other to a point but the White Morph finally had enough and tried to chase the Snowy away. Caught this shot when the Snowy was running from the White Morph. Luckily he didn’t leave and I ended up with over 3200 photos to sort through. Used manual mode for shooting these white birds to maintain the proper exposure as they were on the move.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4x III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberlly II head
1/1000 sec @ F9 on manual mode
Sanderling Feeding
Sometimes it takes some effort to get to your veggies. This Sanderling is in full stretch mode to get his breakfast out of the sand.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II lens with 1.4x III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod and Wimberley II head.
1/1250 sec @ F5.6, ISO 400, evaluative metering, +1/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
The Year of the Falcon
2012 started and ended with Peregrine Falcons at Bolivar Flats in Texas. Got some take-off shots of a Falcon back in January and had the opportunity again in late Dec. After spending some quality time shooting shore birds, headed back to my car when I spotted something out of the ordinary further down on the beach. Looked like a small post sticking up from my vantage point. Raised my camera and saw that it was my old buddy, the Peregrine Falcon. He was perched on top of a plastic bin that was sticking out of the sand.
Made my way towards him and ended up laying down to get a few photos. Wasn’t satisfied with my first position so I got up and moved to my right to get a better angle if he took off. They don’t shift their perched position much and tend to take off in the direction that they are facing. They also like to stretch out their wings right before they take off which can give you a good opportunity for a wings-up position. This one stretched, but did it with his wings down by his side. Shortly afterwards, he took off and flew towards me. Got several shots that I liked with the best of them shown below.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II lens with 1.4x teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/1600 sec @ F7.1, ISO 400, evaluative metering, + 1/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
1/1600 sec @ F7.1, ISO 400, evaluative metering, + 1/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
1/1600 sec @ F7.1, ISO 400, evaluative metering, + 1/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
1/1600 sec @ F7.1, ISO 400, evaluative metering, + 1/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
Drip…drip…drip…
Caught this Willet with water dripping out of his beak as he was pulling his head out of the water. I always start to shoot when their beak starts going into the water to help capture what they may come up with when coming out of the water.
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
1/500 sec @ F9, ISO 400, evaluative metering, 700 mm
Willet Feeding
If all else fails, I’ll take photos of Willets at Bolivar Flats. They are the old stand-by that are always around and cooperative. This one was busy feeding on some local vegetation. Made for some cool splashing activity while down at its level with ye old ground pod. Went back to Bolivar yesterday and hit the jackpot. More to come…
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.
1/2000 sec @ F7.1, ISO 400, spot metering, + 2/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
1/2000 sec @ F7.1, ISO 400, spot metering, + 2/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
1/1000 sec @ F7.1, ISO 400, spot metering, + 2/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
1/1250 sec @ F7.1, ISO 400, spot metering, + 2/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
1/800 sec @ F7.1, ISO 400, spot metering, + 2/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
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
Tim Timmis Photography 