Long-Billed Dowitcher

[Ian Cassell]

Thanks to BPN, I discovered a new place for bird photography nearby -- Gilbert Water Ranch in Gilbert, AZ (a little East of Phoenix). I spent a couple of hours there this morning after dropping my kids at school just to check it out.

Canon 7D + 1.4XTC @ 420mm
Av f/11 @ 1/500sec (I probably should have opened the aperture a bit to drop the DOF some more. It also would have given me some more SS to stop that motion of the bird's bill)
ISO 400.

I just wish the guy in the foreground hadn't wiggled his bill :)

[Lance Peters]

Hi Ian - difficult one - with both birds - more separation between the birds might have yielded better results.
Less DOF would have yielded more shutter speed - but were to place the point of focus?? Agree with you on the bill on the front bird.
IMHO - Reflection is not that strong and hence probably not worth including.
The removal of the diagonal line of sand in the BG would also help.

Keep em coming :)

[Ian Cassell]

Thanks, Lance. I have a few with more separation, but sort of liked the 2 up close. I liked the position of the birds, but that motion hurts. I see what you mean about the DOF dilemma.

Here's another without the motion, but I liked the position of the birds better on the first.

I agree about getting rid of the sandbar. It might have worked with a shallower DOF, but it is too strong here.

[arash_hazeghi]

Making a good shot with two birds is sure tougher than one, need the right pose for 2 instead of 1!!!
A lower angle would help here, try to put the sun behind you, also need more shutter speed to get a sharp shot.

[Ian Cassell]

Thanks, Arash. Yeah, it's tough to get more than one bird to cooperate. In fact, for me, it is tough to get one bird to cooperate :) . I guess I should learn to walk before I try running. Thanks for commenting.

[Dave Mills]

Hi Ian, The DOF can be very tricky with 2 subjects one behind the other especially when your looking for speed. It is certainly not an absolute about not merging 2 subjects but in the first post(remember only one per day) you have one bird facing away and the other with the bill blurred and the membrane over the eye (or closed). Also the important areas of the birds(heads especially) are shaded.
Might want to try and get them more at an even plane if your shooting 2 subjects and are worried about DOF...

[Ian Cassell]

Thanks for the tips, Dave. I have another with 2 birds that I'll put up tonight that I think worked a bit better, but I'll be interested in comments on that one.