A Willow Tit giving a "High Five" as it lands - High Speed Flash

[Austin Thomas]

Another dull day in the UK yesterday, so once again I dusted down the flash lights and set about recording some action.

It is amazing the shapes and positions that small birds undergo whilst landing or taking off, but what I realised this weekend was that different bird species land in an almost identical manner.

HERE (http://www.austin-thomas.co.uk/blog/?p=972) is a Blue Tit landing on the same perch on the same day for comparison.


Canon 1DMK4, 70-200mm lens. Multiple flash guns and the extra catchlights cloned away.

Cheers

Austin

[Randy Stout]

Austin:

Great wing spread on the near wing.
Sharp and well exposed.

The shadow beneath the far wing speaks of the flash use, and I might try to smooth that a bit.

In a perfect world, I would prefer the back wing to not be blocked by the perch.

The perch itself is quite unique!

Cheers

Randy

[Dan Brown]

I agree with Randy on this one. Great frozen details! I don't understand the "drop shadow" look here though? If the BG is distant, how can there be a shadow near the bird? This makes the bird look pasted to the BG! This is not the best look IMO.

[Arthur Morris]

Question: is the BKGR real or artificial?

How far back from the perch is it?

Cool pose of course :)

[Austin Thomas]

Hi all,

Thanks for the feedback.

@Artie The BKGR is artificial and was about 4 metres behind the perch.


Thanks again for your help and guidance.

Cheers

Austin

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Austin. May I assume that you are lighting the BKGR with its own flash?

Is the shadow around the far wing ghosting or is it on the BKGR???

Shutter speed and aperture?

[Katie Rupp]

Interesting comparison of the two species landing and I really like the wing position in the Blue Tit image.

[Austin Thomas]

Hi Artie,

Yes the BKGR is lit by a flash so the shadow must be ghosting.

I used 1/300 ss f11.

Cheers

Austin

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Austin, What was your ISO? IAC, it has to be ghosting.... What was the ambient like?