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More BIFs
Lens: DA 55-300 Camera: K-5 
Posted By: slowpez, 08-09-2012, 07:01 AM

Here are a few more birds in flight. These are Forster's Terns. Fast fliers and skilled fishermen. I spent a huge portion of my life (which I will never get back) trying to photograph these guys. Hope you enjoy them. I have no idea what the guy in the fourth pic was doing but it looks painful.

Last edited by slowpez; 08-26-2012 at 10:35 AM.
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08-09-2012, 07:30 AM   #2
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Wow! Four great shots. I guess it's true that one good tern deserves another! These critters ARE hard to shoot. I've tried often enough. I think the fourth image is simply the bird shaking water out of its eye
08-09-2012, 07:35 AM   #3
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These are wonderful Susan. That is a very cool looking bird. I love the wings in the second ... a wonderful capture. They look like very fast fliers, so kudos on such great shots.
08-09-2012, 08:24 AM   #4
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all good shots but like #2 the best, great capture!
cheers

08-09-2012, 09:47 AM   #5
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Another good set Susan love the last one.
08-09-2012, 10:04 AM   #6
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Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by gifthorse Quote
Wow! Four great shots. I guess it's true that one good tern deserves another! These critters ARE hard to shoot. I've tried often enough. I think the fourth image is simply the bird shaking water out of its eye
Thanks gifthorse. Didn't realize that he could turn his head that much.

QuoteOriginally posted by tessfully Quote
These are wonderful Susan. That is a very cool looking bird. I love the wings in the second ... a wonderful capture. They look like very fast fliers, so kudos on such great shots.
I refuse to fess up as to how many shots I took of those terns.

QuoteOriginally posted by Cee Cee Quote
all good shots but like #2 the best, great capture!
cheers
Thank you CeeCee. I appreciate your having a look and commenting.

QuoteOriginally posted by daacon Quote
Another good set Susan love the last one.
Thanks Dave.
08-09-2012, 10:07 AM   #7
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Fine shooting! Love that 2nd one, very neat! Do you have a system you use for shooting BIF?

Regards!

08-09-2012, 11:54 AM   #8
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Nice capture, by the way I know what the guy in the 4th pic is doing... shoulder check before changing lanes....Bas
08-09-2012, 01:25 PM   #9
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Nice series Susan.

I've pretty much given up on BIFs as they always turn out to be Boofs - birds-out-of-focus shots.

Tom G
08-09-2012, 03:34 PM   #10
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QuoteOriginally posted by Rupert Quote
Fine shooting! Love that 2nd one, very neat! Do you have a system you use for shooting BIF?

Regards!
Would you believe brilliance? Actually, after much trial and error and the purchase of a K-5 for the higher ISO, I found this works for me some of the time: TaV mode, autofocus (I swear I don't know how anyone manages with manual focus on fast moving birds). I set the F stop to F-8 and the shutter speed to 1/2000 of a second and leave it there unless I'm going after a sitting bird that doesn't look like it wants to take off.) The camera takes care of everything else. I rarely use a tripod because mine is not very good for chasing after the quicker variety.

QuoteOriginally posted by basquist02 Quote
Nice capture, by the way I know what the guy in the 4th pic is doing... shoulder check before changing lanes....Bas
Now that's funny. At least he wasn't texting.

QuoteOriginally posted by 8540tomg Quote
Nice series Susan.

I've pretty much given up on BIFs as they always turn out to be Boofs - birds-out-of-focus shots.

Tom G
Thanks Tom. I have a lot of BOOFs too but I just don't show them to anyone.
08-09-2012, 04:33 PM - 1 Like   #11
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Nice job, Susan. I can't do this; in fact I'd say, "If the bird's on the ground my pictures are sound, of the bird's in the air, I ain't gotta prayer."

Jer
08-09-2012, 04:48 PM   #12
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that's an enjoyable series to view Susan. #4 made me smile, it is like "Hey look at Me, bet you can't do this one".
08-09-2012, 05:30 PM   #13
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These are truly amazing shots, Susan!! That is one cool looking bird! The way the wings are pointing straight up in the second pic is really fantastic - perfect timing! Thanks so much for sharing these.
08-09-2012, 05:51 PM   #14
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Really great shots and a big thanks for sharing your tips. Please don't post any more for fear I will get OCD on BIF's, enough trouble with my current macro and panorama obsession!
08-09-2012, 06:37 PM   #15
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Excellent series. Well done Susan.
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