Village Creek Drying Beds Swallows

[dianne earley]

I really prefer getting birds in a more natural habitat, but sometimes it just doesn't work that way!

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4126/5061313798_8ea72cc2ae_z.jpg

[Randy Stout]

Diane:

I like the diagonal lines created by the wire and the mostly matching bird positions. Agree with self critique about the perch.
The exposure looks good. The left most bird is quite out of focus because of the DOF. Generally a lower shooting angle yields a more pleasing image.

It really helps the critique if you include the camera/lens info, settings and any post work done.

Thanks for sharing, look forward to more. BPN is a great place to learn.

[Arthur Morris]

Ditto Randy and in addition, the steep angle to the birds is less than ideal. Welcome. When was the image made? And do let us know what gear you used to make the image.

[dianne earley]

Thanks Arther and Randy! the photo was taken on Thursday with my Nikon D200 and 300mm f4 lens with 1.4 TC attached.
Aperture was F8
Focal length 420mm
ISO 320
WB Sunny
SS 1/640 sec
Mode AP
RAW

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks for the info. With the gear that you had, you did well. A longer lens would allow for a shallower angle to the birds.

[dianne earley]

Thanks Arthur! Someday I hope to have a longer lens, just don't know when it will be affordable.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Dianne, I shoot at VCDB quite often. Nothing really to add to the excellent critique by Randy. Big welcome to BPN.

[Arthur Morris]

YAW. They are never affordable; it's an addiciton :)

[dianne earley]

Thank you Kaustubh! I just took a look at your website and WOW! Very beautiful work! My favorite place to go is Hagerman Wildlife Refuge, but just likemost places, my little 300mm isn't long enough. Who knows, perhaps we'll meet up some day! Oh, thanks for the warm welcome! :)

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Dianne, thx for the kind comment on my portfolio. I agree that 300mm is short but with 1.4x, on today's cameras, its not as short as it seems. One has to choose subjects, locations and situations wisely. And improve technique of getting close to birds. Its a good focal length for large birds, flight shots, bird-in-environment, groups of birds, silhouettes etc. I use 400mm lens for all my bird photography. On this forum, there are folks like Aidan Briggs, Stuart Bowie, Daniel Cadieux who do some terrific inspiring work with 100-400. So don't lose heart... :-) And dont feel bad about not getting frame-filling warbler shots :-)

[dianne earley]

thanks again Kaustubh! I've been working on getting closer. I use a blind in my back yard and have managed a few full-frame shots. I usually do like getting the bigger birds, but sometimes the driving distance is discouraging! I'm hoping as migration kicks in, I'll have a good crowd of Gold Finches to practice on! I also shoot other wild critters and MX.