Black grouse lekking

[Jonathan Ashton]

Canon 1DX Canon 500mm f4 L IS II + 2x TC III ISO 5000 1/2000sec f8
ACR + PSCC

Images captured in North Wales, taken from my car using beanbag. I actually had some good light this morning... but it was of course once they had flown off!

[Jim Wetherall]

Good one Jonathan. Almost like a land based version of scrapping Coots!
Nice job in getting both heads in focus and getting a good exposure on such a contrasting subject. I do think this would be more effective if you cropped out 2/3 of the gravel in the foreground though.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Jim I could move the frame down some, but the image is already a sizable crop, ISO 5000 and at 1000mm, I was concerned about further quality loss.

[Mike Poole]

Nice action Jon, is this off the road near Minera? I was hoping to get up there later this week. Details look good

Mike

[Jonathan Ashton]

Not sure about Minera but it was at Worlds End if that helps. NB need long lens and Tc they are about 25 to 40m distant, lucky if they come closer. Ensure you are early very limited parking!!

[Mike Poole]

Cheers Jon, the place I'm thinking of is right on the bend where there is some hard standing and space for about 4 cars. I guess its just pot luck if they come in close or not

Mike

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Jon, great action here, and good choice of aperture to get both in the same DOF. You have done well with the exposure on the blacks seeing that you had poor light.

Seems like where ever you travel, the light is not on your side. I moan when its overcast here for a day. :w3

[Jonathan Ashton]

Cheers Jon, the place I'm thinking of is right on the bend where there is some hard standing and space for about 4 cars. I guess its just pot luck if they come in close or not

Mike
Exactly the place but I would say 3 cars max - get there before dawn, its a real bummer to get there and find someone 20 yards in front of you as you go along the road. (I found Auto ISO fine) for action min 1/1600 ideally 1/2000 , however I did get sharp images at 1/100 sec for static birds

[Jonathan Ashton]

Hi Jon, great action here, and good choice of aperture to get both in the same DOF. You have done well with the exposure on the blacks seeing that you had poor light.

Seems like where ever you travel, the light is not on your side. I moan when its overcast here for a day. :w3
I have more dull images for your delectation Stu... wait and see!

[William Dickson]

Very nice Jon. I love the scene here with the bird jumping into the air. Nice control on the blacks and whites. I think the grasses behind the birds, set them off nicely. I would have a look at cropping some from the top and bottom, a more pano look. I can never get close enough to them. Well done.

Will

[Isaac Grant]

Super cool action here from birds I would love to see. Hard to top that flying kung fu kick from the left bird! To me the shot seems a little thin and flat. I think you really have to push these files to get some depth in them.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Super cool action here from birds I would love to see. Hard to top that flying kung fu kick from the left bird! To me the shot seems a little thin and flat. I think you really have to push these files to get some depth in them.
This may be due to a different process I am trying. I now set camera and ACR to neutral and try to build the picture as opposed to starting with a ready made standard.

[Isaac Grant]

Do tell Jonathan. Always looking to learn new techniques and processing methods.

[Steve Kaluski]

Nice behavioural POV Jon, well timed. Still a bit to go on the PP, but definitely moving in the right direction and controlling things. :S3:

TFS
Steve

[Krishna Prasad kotti]

Beautiful Image. I really like that both the birds are in focus and the Action is amazing.

I do agree that cropping a little bit more at the bottom with definitely help.

Thanks for sharing.