Help on sandhill cranes wanted

[Ben Egbert]

I have been to Othello WA the last three years for the March migration rest. Last year was the first time I found more than an isolated few birds. Even with lots of birds it is difficult to isolate the cranes from the corn stubble or other birds. You need to remain in the vehicle or they will move away.

So I am posting this shot even though it has many faults, mostly to show the problem. So in addition to any comments on acquisition of the image or post processing, I am looking for field craft tips.

This was mid morning, but overcast. I did have the sun at my back even though it was faint.
50D, 500f4+1.4X, f5.6, ISO200 1/400 sec. From a beanbag.

This is a heavy crop, (1841x1435) so plenty of room to work with, but there is a big corn stalk I wanted to remove just in front of the beak.

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Held up really well for a big crop Ben. Beautiful colour palette. Not the best to ask for advice on this one, maybe some more experienced birders will help you with this one.

[Dave Phillips]

Ben, one tip(IMO) is that bright overcast light behind you is optimal.
It is enough light for definition and reduces any cross coloration that
happens with very bright direct light reflecting off surfaces all over.

what I am saying is that overcast/bright is best.....as you have here

[Ben Egbert]

Thank's Dave and Jackie. Hey are you Dave in LA?

I think you are right about light overcast light. I used to fight for light in the 10D/20D days, but with more pixles and decent HIGH ISO and the ability to shot wide open (micro adjust made it possible) its not such a problem.

Now if I can find a corn stalk filter.

[Gail Spitler]

Hi Ben
These thoughts are probably pretty obvious, and are offered by way of encouragement. As you said there are problems with the image but there is also lots of potential showing.
I have a similar problem up here with Bald Eagles along the Lardeau River in the fall - can't get out of the car, they are too far away, difficult light .... If I wanted an easier opportunity I go to the coast in Jan. Otherwise I think the solution is trying lots and being patient, learning more and more about where and when the best opportunities are, and being patient.

Cheers
Gail

[Ben Egbert]

Hi Ben
These thoughts are probably pretty obvious, and are offered by way of encouragement. As you said there are problems with the image but there is also lots of potential showing.
I have a similar problem up here with Bald Eagles along the Lardeau River in the fall - can't get out of the car, they are too far away, difficult light .... If I wanted an easier opportunity I go to the coast in Jan. Otherwise I think the solution is trying lots and being patient, learning more and more about where and when the best opportunities are, and being patient.

Cheers
Gail

Thanks Gail. Funny thing, our bald eagles at lake Coeur d'Alene are used to people and pretty tolerant when fishing, (not when nesting however). Our GBH however are very skittish, I can't get close even from a vehicle but when I go to other places they seem tame.

This population of cranes do not fly away so much as simply move away out of range. If you stay in the vehicle, you can get fairly close and they will fly in and land while you are there (birds just moving from place to place). But the attraction for the birds at this place is the unharvested corn fields left for the birds, so they do tend to be in unattractive settings.

I will keep trying, there is a 2-3 week window each Mar. Othello is far enough for me that it requires a motel stay. Weather can spoil it in March however.

I have several other crane images to post, some flying, I need to get some ideas on what a good crane image looks like. A BIF can be pretty static even with decent background and technicals.

By the way, I would like to hear the problems with the image. I know it does not work, but having trouble putting my finger on exact reasons. I now know I have it cropped too tight on the left, the background is too busy, but what else? What to do with the OOF back birds?

[Chris Hansen]

Ben,

You have the typical problem that occurs when shooting any most any flocking bird. That is isolating it from the other birds. The bird you have chosen is directly in front of another bird making it more difficult to single out and focus the viewer of your image on. This is always a difficult situation. Try and choose a lead bird feeding ahead of the others or one further out from the group. also if you are not adverse to the idea you can soften the other birds and the background later in PP.

I love the birds position and the lighting. The head angle is pretty good though possibly might be improved with just a slight turn more toward the camera. Check in with the HA police here and they will let you know. I would say you are doing pretty well here. i haven't even managed to get that close to the ones here in Northern California.

God bless,

chris

[Lance Peters]

Hi Ben - lots of options here, IMHO I dont know that you want to get rid of the corn storks - tells a important part of the story, in regards to isolating a single bird - Patience or a 800MM lens to compress the background a little more or Look at the bigger picture and try to compose a image thats shows the number of Birds here.
I'd try a multi shot panorama - think outside the box when faced with a difficult situation.

As presented - feels a little tight at the bottom - keep looking to see if the legs are cut off (Thats the feeling it gives) and more room up front for him - normally want more room in front of your subject than behind, and have not checked but feels like it needs a tad of CW rotation.
Looking forward to seeing more :)

[Ben Egbert]

Ben,

You have the typical problem that occurs when shooting any most any flocking bird. That is isolating it from the other birds. The bird you have chosen is directly in front of another bird making it more difficult to single out and focus the viewer of your image on. This is always a difficult situation. Try and choose a lead bird feeding ahead of the others or one further out from the group. also if you are not adverse to the idea you can soften the other birds and the background later in PP.

I love the birds position and the lighting. The head angle is pretty good though possibly might be improved with just a slight turn more toward the camera. Check in with the HA police here and they will let you know. I would say you are doing pretty well here. i haven't even managed to get that close to the ones here in Northern California.

God bless,

chris

Thanks for some great tips, just what I was looking for. This image is probably not worth lots of PP, I will look for other shots with a better starting place.

[Ben Egbert]

Hi Ben - lots of options here, IMHO I dont know that you want to get rid of the corn storks - tells a important part of the story, in regards to isolating a single bird - Patience or a 800MM lens to compress the background a little more or Look at the bigger picture and try to compose a image thats shows the number of Birds here.
I'd try a multi shot panorama - think outside the box when faced with a difficult situation.

As presented - feels a little tight at the bottom - keep looking to see if the legs are cut off (Thats the feeling it gives) and more room up front for him - normally want more room in front of your subject than behind, and have not checked but feels like it needs a tad of CW rotation.
Looking forward to seeing more :)

Great tips here Lance. I will look though my shots from that day and see if anything pops out that may be better. I could crop this one of course, it has plenty or space all around, maybe I will play with it.

700 is probably the end of the line for this retired guy, SS does not have hobby upgrade adjustments:D.

Ok, edited to add a redo with rotation, more room at the left and blured the background a bit.

[Dave Phillips]

Thank's Dave and Jackie. Hey are you Dave in LA?
...............................

guilty Ben....this is me!!

[Alfred Forns]

Ben when you get this many birds try for a group shot? Difficult isolating so go with the flow, just try to avoid merges and cut birds on the edges !!!

[WIlliam Maroldo]

I would try a vertical camera orientation to narrow the field of view and thus reduce clutter. You don't have to have the entire bird in the frame. Clipping a bird, which looks haphazard and like a mistake, can be avoided by purposefully cropping in camera on specific areas, like wing joints, etc, as Alfred was referring to. regards~Bill

[Ben Egbert]

I would try a vertical camera orientation to narrow the field of view and thus reduce clutter. You don't have to have the entire bird in the frame. Clipping a bird, which looks haphazard and like a mistake, can be avoided by purposefully cropping in camera on specific areas, like wing joints, etc, as Alfred was referring to. regards~Bill

At this distance, it hardly matters which way the camera is oriented because most of the frame will be cropped anyway.

[Ben Egbert]

Ben when you get this many birds try for a group shot? Difficult isolating so go with the flow, just try to avoid merges and cut birds on the edges !!!

Ok, but in that case do I need to stop down for enough dof to get all of them in focus? I have plenty of birds in these shots, and around 200 shots to choose from, but none with more than the subject bird in focus.