Up Close Sandhill

[Don Lacy]

You have to love Florida I do not know how these guys are in other parts of the country but down here they just basically ignore you. I had driven pass a pair of sandhill's at Viera to get into position to shoot a Bald Eagle when the Eagle flew off I turned around and they were both about ten feet behind me just going about their business so I took the opportunity to do some head shots.

1D MK3, 500 f/4 +1.4 TC, 1/500 at f/8, Aperture priority, Evaluative Metered, Raw, Tripod, Almost full frame very slight crop

[Julie Brown]

Hi Don. Excellent detail and color on the head and bill. I really like the background color as well.
I have only seen Sandhill Cranes once-at Goose Pond FWA in southwest Indiana last February, but I can tell you that they did not tolerate a close approach.

[Sidharth Kodikal]

Awesome light, bg and comp. Excellent portrait with superb IQ. Love it!

[Roger Clark]

Hi Don,

Very sharp image and well exposed with a nice smooth background. But for me the image is flat and done at such a low phase angle that it lacks the micro shadows that give texture. See for example this recent image by Stuart:
http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...read.php/91373
which was done at a higher phase angle. Note the tiny shadows in the feathers and in the beak, which adds beautiful texture. And the shading on the left side adds form. Did you photograph any of the cranes at a higher phase angle (e.g. even another 10 degrees)?

Roger

[Don Lacy]

Hi Don,

Very sharp image and well exposed with a nice smooth background. But for me the image is flat and done at such a low phase angle that it lacks the micro shadows that give texture. See for example this recent image by Stuart:
http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...read.php/91373
which was done at a higher phase angle. Note the tiny shadows in the feathers and in the beak, which adds beautiful texture. And the shading on the left side adds form. Did you photograph any of the cranes at a higher phase angle (e.g. even another 10 degrees)?

Roger

Hi Roger, I was aware of the phase angle but in order to get the BG and HA I wanted I had to change my position relative to where I would have wanted it for optimum phase angle. I kept waiting for one of them to cooperate but apparently they do not understand english and did not respond to my directions to turn there heads and line up with the BG So in the end I moved. I am still happy with the image I chose the tradeoffs I wanted to make and while it would have been nice to have the phase angle too that image wasn't there at the time.

[Sid Garige]

Perfect Techs and brilliant background Don. Very well done.

[yogesh_puranik]

wow..this is very sharp and nice details and clean BG

[Stu Bowie]

Incredible IQ Don, with just enough room all round for that perfect comp. I do like the overall colours, and this is really sharp. An opportunity well used.

[Roger Clark]

Hi Roger, I was aware of the phase angle but in order to get the BG and HA I wanted I had to change my position relative to where I would have wanted it for optimum phase angle. I kept waiting for one of them to cooperate but apparently they do not understand english and did not respond to my directions to turn there heads and line up with the BG So in the end I moved. I am still happy with the image I chose the tradeoffs I wanted to make and while it would have been nice to have the phase angle too that image wasn't there at the time.

Hi Don,

I understand and I would have made the same decisions. It is still a fine image.

Roger

[Ofer Levy]

Excellent portrait Don!
Comparing a head shot of a wild bird to one of a domesticated goose is a bit bizarre IMHO. I don't assume the crane will come to you in order to be fed the way a domesticated goose does.
As I have said in the past (and will probably say a few more times in the future) "phase angle" is pretty much irrelevant and meaningless when it comes to bird photography. We are dealing with WILD BIRDS (at least most of us). They don't stay in one place waiting for us to move around in order to get the "perfect phase angle" whatever that means.
It is of course a different story when you photograph animals at the zoo etc - but most of us are not interested in this kind of photography anyhow....

[Roger Clark]

Excellent portrait Don!
Comparing a head shot of a wild bird to one of a domesticated goose is a bit bizarre IMHO. I don't assume the crane will come to you in order to be fed the way a domesticated goose does.
As I have said in the past (and will probably say a few more times in the future) "phase angle" is pretty much irrelevant and meaningless when it comes to bird photography. We are dealing with WILD BIRDS (at least most of us). They don't stay in one place waiting for us to move around in order to get the "perfect phase angle" whatever that means.
It is of course a different story when you photograph animals at the zoo etc - but most of us are not interested in this kind of photography anyhow....

Ofer,

Perhaps this is not the thread where such issues should be discussed, but like I said in another thread, one can choose where to stand when photographing any wild subject. Where one stands has many factors including foreground, background, angle to the sun, angle to the body, and head angle. ALL are important for the top images. When I'm out photographing, I consider all of the above. From Don's description, he thought about phase angle but couldn't move into a better position. And I believe the goose in Stuart's image was wild.

Roger

[Randy Stout]

Don:

Speaking from the Michigan perspective, where we have a lot of sandhills, I normally can't get within 100 yards from them.

I like the eye, fuzzy crown and BG.

Ofer - being aware of the properties of the light we are dealing with is obviously very important to creating good images. It is true that we can't always control how the bird moves and poses, but invariably the better images result from images made with better light quality, angle, etc. So, we always try to maximize our odds, and being constantly aware of the light is essential in my opinion.

Cheers

Randy

[Ofer Levy]

Ofer,

Perhaps this is not the thread where such issues should be discussed, but like I said in another thread, one can choose where to stand when photographing any wild subject. Where one stands has many factors including foreground, background, angle to the sun, angle to the body, and head angle. ALL are important for the top images. When I'm out photographing, I consider all of the above. From Don's description, he thought about phase angle but couldn't move into a better position. And I believe the goose in Stuart's image was wild.

Roger

Hi Roger,
When we photograph wild birds we usually site in a hide or at least try to move around as little as possible not to scare our subject. Another thing to keep in mind is that our subject tends to move all the time (unless it is dead) - these two factors alone make even considering "phase angle" impossible/irrelevant.
I got a strong feeling that the goose in Stuart's post is a domesticated one as photographing a head shot of a wild bird with a 260mm is usually completely impossible unless you use a hide.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Guys, my goose, and other geese, although not 'domesticated' live in a secluded area in the grounds of the University of Pretoria. They are free to come and go as they like. I believe this issue is not about the goose being tame or wild, but about capturing detail due to the angle of light.

Furthermore, I believe Roger, as a scientist, is trying to educate us with regards to the properties of light.

Cheers,

Stuart.

[Jim Crosswell]

Great portrait Don! I like the IQ, eye and BG!

[Roger Clark]

[QUOTE=Ofer Levy;740242]Hi Roger,
When we photograph wild birds we usually site in a hide or at least try to move around as little as possible not to scare our subject. ./QUOTE]

Ofer, I've rarely seen bird photographers "site in a hide." If one visit Bosque and many other popular birding locations, one rarely if ever sees a blind. Whether birds are skittish or not depends a lot on environment. For example, at Bosque, one can photograph cranes at close range and they ignore you. But those very same birds when the move north into Colorado are skittish and one can rarely get close to them. I've never phitigraphed from a hide, alghout you could call a safari vehice a hide. But then I move the vehicle for the best light, balancing all factors.

Another thing to keep in mind is that our subject tends to move all the time (unless it is dead) - these two factors alone make even considering "phase angle" impossible/irrelevant.
I got a strong feeling that the goose in Stuart's post is a domesticated one as photographing a head shot of a wild bird with a 260mm is usually completely impossible unless you use a hide.

Animals, including birds, have patterns. I usually find I can position myself for the best light. I have photographed birds at close range in Sydney without a blind. It seems that if you throw in the towel on the angle of light saying the birds are wild, then one must throw in the towel on head angle, body angle, background too, as all are equally important and uncontrollable or as an optimist, controllable.

Roger

[Randy Stout]

Roger:

I do think we are spoiled in this country being able to stand in the open in most areas and take our pictures, vs. other countries where this is not allowed, and many spots can only be worked from a fixed hide(blind) With the restrictions of the blind, moving around to improve the sun angle obviously isn't an option. I do think however that when you get to the post processing stage, and are choosing which images you like and work on, the light angle then becomes a huge factor on which images work and which don't.

So, I think those of us who have the freedom to move about when photographing, take it for granted and don't appreciate some of the challenges shooting only out of a hide presents.

Cheers

Randy

[Don Lacy]

Wow another phase angle debate just what we needed I have been aware of and try to incorporate phase angles into my photography for the last couple of years and while I am aware of it is not a deal breaker for me when shooting in the field. Nor will it get an automatic delete when I cull my images yes it is important and yes it can make a good image even better but the lack of optimum phase angle does not make an otherwise good image worse IMHO. What I do find amusing is the augment over it it is taught and used by top tier photographers in all fields including wildlife.

[Ofer Levy]

[QUOTE=Roger Clark;740278]

Hi Roger,
When we photograph wild birds we usually site in a hide or at least try to move around as little as possible not to scare our subject. ./QUOTE]

Ofer, I've rarely seen bird photographers "site in a hide." If one visit Bosque and many other popular birding locations, one rarely if ever sees a blind. Whether birds are skittish or not depends a lot on environment. For example, at Bosque, one can photograph cranes at close range and they ignore you. But those very same birds when the move north into Colorado are skittish and one can rarely get close to them. I've never phitigraphed from a hide, alghout you could call a safari vehice a hide. But then I move the vehicle for the best light, balancing all factors.
Animals, including birds, have patterns. I usually find I can position myself for the best light. I have photographed birds at close range in Sydney without a blind. It seems that if you throw in the towel on the angle of light saying the birds are wild, then one must throw in the towel on head angle, body angle, background too, as all are equally important and uncontrollable or as an optimist, controllable.

Roger

Hi Roger, I guess we will have to agree to disagree on the 'phase angle' issue. However, I hope that young bird photographers who read this thread will not get the impression that using a hide is not important. In most parts of the world, including Sydney, using a hide is crucial in many instances. I use a hide very often - most of the images on my website were obtained using a hide.
It is one thing to discuss 'scientific' issues but please let's not give young photographers wrong ideas about the proper way to photograph birds.
Cheers,
Ofer

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Don, I like head shots...very nice. I like the light and the distinct different textures in this image....and the BG of course.

Yes...Florida is different...I had an Ibis steal french fries from my plate once :-)

[Josh Clark]

Sweet portrait shot you got here Don. I do love portrait shots. Great detail, kinda has a surprised facial expression, I like it. Looks like you had some great early/late light as well. Nice job on this portrait Don.

[Robert Holguin]

Excellent head shot. Superb detail. lovely background, and great light.
Well done.

[Troy Lim]

I love the shot as it. Amazing exposure and BG.