NikonGear'23
Images => Nature, Flora, Fauna & Landscapes => Topic started by: Mongo on July 09, 2018, 13:25:04
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A quiet beach nearby to Mongo's on the clear warm day (25 degrees C) we had a few days ago in Sydney. This was a great place to spend it.
D810, 200-500 @ mostly f8, ISO 320, mostly 1/1250, manual exposure mode
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All looks great, but the second one is miraculous!
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All very nice. I think your fifth shot is extaordinarily clear. What autofocus settings were you using? Next Saturday I’m going out to shoot black skimmers, a bird with similar shoreline habits and it would be nice to know.
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The second image and the 3 of them synchronised is my favorite.
The ratio body/beak is striking.
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I'm impressed by the sharpness of this lens. Taken handheld?
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Mongo:
#5 for me as well. Combination of sharpness, isolation, dof, etc. makes it work for me.
Cheers
Randy
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than you all for your comments - much appreciated. Now, to try and answer some of your questions in this one post:-
Akira - “ miraculous” - LOL. Mongo is not expecting any Papal notification any time soon but glad you think so - thank you.
Arthur - for many years Mongo has used 9 point AF-C generally and sometimes 21 AF-C for birds in flight. Very recently, as with most of these images, Mongo has started to use single point AF-C if they are very slow moving subjects (again, like these) and even single point AF-S if they are virtually stationary. Have found the recent change to shooting method to have produced better results but only if all the variables and circumstances are right
Jakov - others here and on other forums have said the same about #3. Mongo likes because it demonstrates the group nature of these birds, the reflections in the water and the effect of DOF. Mongo has a few more images of this nature. The beak is a very extraordinary and exaggerated feature in proportion to the body for sure. The only other bird Mongo has photographed with disproportionate features is a tree creeper. Its feet together with claws are approximately 1/3 to 1/2 its body size !! Thats nature for you and all its wise adaptations.
Atpaula - This lens and camera combination make it non-viable to use handheld for any real length of time except for a few shots here and there. Therefore, as a rule, a good monopod with a great head is used regularly. In relation to sharpness, Mongo has noticed that the sharpness of the Tiff files on home monitor is measurable better than files which have been reduced for posting on the net. That is to be expected to some degree. Mongo uses Photoshop to reduce and convert files for posting. Maybe there is a better way ??
Randy - thanks for your comments about why #5 works better. Sharpness is a sometimes strange thing. See my comments above to Atpaula.
Just 2 more images with the communal look.
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Very nice photos. I also think #5 is my favourite (I like the sand ripples and the way the shadow runs across them), but all are very fine. Birds with bills that long must take care when landing!
I recently rented the 200 - 500 mm and enjoyed the VR. I didn't mind its weight. Nonetheless I have not been tempted to trade in my 300 mm f/4 and TC 1.4. I must get around to posting some pictures and thoughts in the 200 - 500 mm thread.
Cheers, John
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Thanks for looking in and for your comments John. Would be very interested to to read your thoughts on the 200-500.
BTW - Mongo also feels very strongly about the abilities and qualities of his AFS 300mm f4. Really excellent lens. Have had amazingly good results with it and with it wearing a x1.4 converter. Even more surprisingly, are the results from it with a X1.7 converter. Have managed more than reasonable results with X2 converter as well. Mongo stresses that this may be due to his copy of the lens AND without doubt, AF fine tuning each combination to Mongo's camera bodies. Have briefly used a borrowed 300mm f4 PE lens which seemed just as good but had no opportunity to try it in all circumstances including with converters.
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Wonderful series, I have tried to get close to this birds on multiple times and they just walk or fly keeping a decent distance from me, so any shots that I have are just ok
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Wonderful series, I have tried to get close to this birds on multiple times and they just walk or fly keeping a decent distance from me, so any shots that I have are just ok
thank you Armando. Can tell you from Mongo's observations that they feed just on the edge of the small waves as they roll up onto the sand usually on a rising tide. They will methodically walk in one direction along the water line and then back again. If you position yourself within say, 6 to 7 metres from the water line ahead of the bird, you can just wait as they come past you to get the shot. One very important thing is to stay LOW - even lay flat on the sand in wait for them and shoot from that position. They are less skittish if you do not look like a large unfamiliar creature to them. Hope this helps