Bosque blur

[Kerry Perkins]

Tried my hand at doing some blurs at Bosque, and I liked this one with half the birds moving and the other half thinking about it... Shot at mid-day, metered off of the dry foliage in the background.

50D, EF28-135mm@28mm=45mm 8x ND filter
Manual mode, ISO 100, f/16@1/15th WB 5100K

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Kerry glad you got the filter to allow for the slow shutter speed !!!

I like the clean top/bottom of frame and the selected shutter speed. Would have liked for the birds to be looking the other way ... talk about head angle :) In this situation its ideal when you catch them taking off and have some lifting while other sit !!! As presented would crop some from the top and clean up birds on the margin. .. this around the marsh loop just after the corer? Neat !!!

[Kerry Perkins]

Hi Al, this one is from "The Blind". Got some good blast-offs there!!

[Jeff Cashdollar]

Kerry,
I need an education here (never used this filter). Is it to reduce speed or avoid blowing-out whites,. or both. Love the shot just seems like speed is too slow unless you wanted a blur.

I have thought about purchasing one, knowing that CS4 has it inherent in the application as well. I have read it allows a 3/4 stop drop. Really never thought thru it, is it to diffuse harsh light, slow shutter, check highlights - or all,. I am getting a headache!

I will read-up on it, but would like your perspective and the reason your used it in the image - well done by the way.

[Kerry Perkins]

Jeff, the 8x ND filter allows three full stops (eight times LESS light) of light reduction in order to allow blurs, like this one which was intentional. You see this used often in landscape shots of moving water, like streams and waterfalls, to give that blurred look to the water. This allows the photographer to use a small aperture for deep focus but still have the slow shutter speed. I used it here to get the blurry motion effect of the birds in flight, contrasting the birds that are sitting still.

[Jeff Cashdollar]

Thanks, you nailed it my friend - well done.