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Thread: Blue Tit in flight - High Speed Flash

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    Default Blue Tit in flight - High Speed Flash

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    Hi all,

    It was dull and overcast all day today so I decided to dust off the flash guns and have another go at "freezing" the action. The temperature outside complemented this project perfectly !

    There is a lot of trial and even more error in this type of image as there are many variables. For every image I decide to keep there are hundreds that find there way into the recycle bin.

    If you would like to see the image as it landed then please click HERE

    Canon 1DMK4, 70-200 lens at 105mm, multiple flashes with the extra catchlights cloned away.

    Cheers

    Austin
    Last edited by Austin Thomas; 12-05-2010 at 03:34 PM.

  2. #2
    Johan Kruger
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    Wow this is a super shot. Very well done

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    The action frozen here is fantastic, Austin. I like everything about this image. I cannot imagine the number of attempts it would take me to achieve a shot like this. Very well done.
    Last edited by Sidharth Kodikal; 12-05-2010 at 04:23 PM.

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    Agree with the others, awesome shot! Well planned and great execution.

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    Wonderful suspended action and I like the rich color of the thistle...love the little outspread feet, too.

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    Spectacular pose. Techs and EXP right on.

    Can you tell us about your setup? How many flashes? How is the shutter tripped? What is the BKGR? Is there a flash on it?

    I'd go for a crop from the bottom to 3X2.
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

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    Wow this is a wonderful image
    Gen

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    Quote Originally Posted by Gen Benjamin View Post
    Wow this is a wonderful image.Gen
    Gen, Please let us know why you like an image. Thanks a stack.
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Arthur Morris View Post
    Gen, Please let us know why you like an image. Thanks a stack.
    Artie
    What's not to like
    Beautiful composition, great stop action, tack sharp, imapct, exposure is perfect, background is wonderful, pose is striking, I just think this is a wonderful image in all aspects.
    Gen

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    Thanks Gen. Much better. We do not want to become just another "Great Shot" forum :).

    BTW, I meant to ask, where does the Gen come from?

    (Sorry about the Gus thing--I am too tired.)
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Arthur Morris View Post
    Thanks Gen. Much better. We do not want to become just another "Great Shot" forum :).

    BTW, I meant to ask, where does the Gen come from?

    (Sorry about the Gus thing--I am too tired.)
    You bet, I'll be more specific in the future
    Gen is short for Genevieve

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    IOTY Winner 2008 Chris van Rooyen's Avatar
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    Love the sharpness and composition. Would love to know more about your setup

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    Quote Originally Posted by Gen Benjamin View Post
    You bet, I'll be more specific in the future. Gen is short for Genevieve
    Thanks a stack :) You had me fooled. I was thinking General something...
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

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    I like the way the dark background makes the birds pop out. Like it's been cut out and stuck onto it. The pose is awesome..... wings outstretched(and back), claws open and ready for impact and the eye focussed so intently on the landing zone.
    With all this happening at speed, it amazes me that the bird doesn't land on one of those spikes on the stem.

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    Austin, great job on anticipating and capturing this pose. It's really cool! I think the flash is just a bit strong on this image, not so much due to the quantity (the exposure looks right on) but the quality of the light. Placing the flashes at more of an angle for future shots, varying the distances of the flashes, and/or diffusing the flashes in some way can help on setups like this.

    Cheers,
    Greg Basco

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    BPN Member Patrick Sparkman's Avatar
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    Great image. Love the bird, sharpness, perch, and the almost "leathery" background. Please tell us more about your setup.
    Best

    Patrick Sparkman

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    Hi all,

    Thanks for your comments and feedback, much appreciated.

    The setup is actually in my back garden where I have positioned a feeding station about a metre from a downstairs window. I bolt the camera to the window frame, allowing me to be indoors and able to make adjustments from the relative comfort of my home. I have fed the birds here for over ten years so they are not concerned about seeing me thorough the window. We are used to each other and this bird was probably born in the roof space of my house !

    The flashes are arranged around the feeders, 3 were used in this image and another flash on the background. They are wirelessly triggered.

    I had already observed that some of the birds would land on the top of the teasel, some would land as this one did on the stem and the vast majority just flew past the perch to the nearby food.

    Then it is trail and error and I make small iterations all day. Moving the position of the flashes. Adjusting the angle of the perch if necessary, checking for sharpness etc. Hundreds of images are thrown away and occasionally I get one where I am happy. This one took me all day.

    Cheers

    Austin

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    Thanks for the info Austin. You missed one question, possibly the most important: are you pushing the shutter button or using a trigger?
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

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