Results 1 to 15 of 15

Thread: Black grouse lekking

  1. #1
    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Cheshire UK
    Posts
    17,287
    Threads
    2,653
    Thank You Posts

    Default Black grouse lekking

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    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!

  2. #2
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Posts
    33
    Threads
    4
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    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.

  3. #3
    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Cheshire UK
    Posts
    17,287
    Threads
    2,653
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    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.

  4. #4
    Lifetime Member Mike Poole's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Manchester, England
    Posts
    3,251
    Threads
    314
    Thank You Posts

    Default

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

    Mike

  5. #5
    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Cheshire UK
    Posts
    17,287
    Threads
    2,653
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    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!!

  6. Thanks Mike Poole thanked for this post
  7. #6
    Lifetime Member Mike Poole's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Manchester, England
    Posts
    3,251
    Threads
    314
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    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

  8. #7
    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Centurion, South Africa
    Posts
    21,362
    Threads
    1,435
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    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.

  9. #8
    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Cheshire UK
    Posts
    17,287
    Threads
    2,653
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Mike Poole View Post
    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

  10. #9
    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Cheshire UK
    Posts
    17,287
    Threads
    2,653
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Stu Bowie View Post
    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.
    I have more dull images for your delectation Stu... wait and see!

  11. #10
    BPN Member William Dickson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Fife, Scotland
    Posts
    7,883
    Threads
    1,115
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    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

  12. #11
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Location
    Staten Island, New York
    Posts
    3,124
    Threads
    260
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    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.

  13. #12
    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Cheshire UK
    Posts
    17,287
    Threads
    2,653
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Isaac Grant View Post
    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.

  14. #13
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Location
    Staten Island, New York
    Posts
    3,124
    Threads
    260
    Thank You Posts

    Default

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

  15. #14
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Somewhere in the world
    Posts
    20,688
    Threads
    1,296
    Thank You Posts

    Default

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

    TFS
    Steve

  16. #15
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Location
    Eagle Mountain, Utah
    Posts
    2,709
    Threads
    475
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    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.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics