Canon 20D, 70-200 f/4, w/ 1.4X TC, @ 280mm, HH
ISO 400, f/6.3 @ 1/2500, Auto Exposure, Av, +1/3EV, 1/3/2009, 8:19am
-approximately an equal amount cropped off the left and added to the right, capture was dead center
As I'm sure you all can tell by now, I loved photographing these guys...
As comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.
You nailed another one, very well done. Between you and the others it looks like I may have to make a trip this year to the Bosque. At least I sure hope I can work it out.
Al, given that the equipment listed here was the best I had at the time, I decided to work the crane pool differently than everyone else. After a while I noticed that the cranes were taking off parallel to the road and flying for a few hundred yards, and then banking east toward the Farm Loop. So I walked north to where they were banking, parked myself underneath them and took about 200-250 images. I ended up with about a dozen keepers of single birds like this one. Not great statistically, but I was pleased.
Hi Ron. You've got even light, and plenty of it. I would consider using f/8 rather than f/6.3 in situations such as this; the added DOF can make a big difference when photographing larger birds.
awesome detail and sharpness! feels like i'm right there with it. smart move moving to the place where you could maximize your possibilities. it paid off!
Hi Doug, thanks for the tip, and it's a good point. I've been so concerned about getting the required sharpness for BIF that I've been shooting Aperture preferred close to wide open to get the maximum shutter speed. I will keep your suggestion in mind for these situations in the future.
Thanks to all for the comments and compliments!! I really appreciate the feedback.
One more crane in flight...
