Sigma Telephoto Zoom Club

kentster · 11-02-2015, 10:43 AM

Originally posted by Rupert

And learned to fly

Awesome pictures..... what a thing to be front row at and witness

Rupert · 11-02-2015, 11:53 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by xanis

Great shots of the night herons.

Thanks Xanis!

Thanks Kentster!

It was 3-4 years in a row that two or more families came and nested in my yard. I got so many shots and they were so used to me that I could get very close. I watched the chicks grow and leave the nest...come back the next year and start all over. It was not unusual to have the chicks learning to fly land withing a few feet of me...they seemed very curious of me and my camera.

When I got the Bigma the shots got much better.....

Here are more......starting in 2005 with the old Quantaray 70-300.
BIG BIRDS 2005 Photo Gallery by James Williams at pbase.com

Chicks 2006 Photo Gallery by James Williams at pbase.com

BIG BIRDS 2006 Photo Gallery by James Williams at pbase.com

BIG BIRDS 2007 Photo Gallery by James Williams at pbase.com

BIG BIRDS 2008 Photo Gallery by James Williams at pbase.com

It was fun times! Very interesting too! The parents took turns watching the young and hunting. They are night hunters and good at it. Wonderful experience...right in my own back yard!

After 2008 and a very bad and stormy year I never saw them here again, although I do see them in the immediate area quite often. I miss them.

With the better sensor on the K5IIs and better processing tools available today, I think I could enjoy them even more. But...I did what I could and was pleased to get what I got at the time!

Regards!

xanis · 11-02-2015, 12:14 PM

Originally posted by Rupert

Thanks Xanis!

Thanks Kentster!

It was 3-4 years in a row that two or more families came and nested in my yard. I got so many shots and they were so used to me that I could get very close. I watched the chicks grow and leave the nest...come back the next year and start all over. It was not unusual to have the chicks learning to fly land withing a few feet of me...they seemed very curious of me and my camera.

When I got the Bigma the shots got much better.....

Here are more......starting in 2005 with the old Quantaray 70-300.
BIG BIRDS 2005 Photo Gallery by James Williams at pbase.com

Chicks 2006 Photo Gallery by James Williams at pbase.com

BIG BIRDS 2006 Photo Gallery by James Williams at pbase.com

BIG BIRDS 2007 Photo Gallery by James Williams at pbase.com

BIG BIRDS 2008 Photo Gallery by James Williams at pbase.com

It was fun times! Very interesting too! The parents took turns watching the young and hunting. They are night hunters and good at it. Wonderful experience...right in my own back yard!

After 2008 and a very bad and stormy year I never saw them here again, although I do see them in the immediate area quite often. I miss them.

With the better sensor on the K5IIs and better processing tools available today, I think I could enjoy them even more. But...I did what I could and was pleased to get what I got at the time!

Regards!

That's a great story to accompany those pictures. Its a tough feeling knowing that these guys are still around your area but just not at your backyard.

**Scorpio71GR** · 11-02-2015, 04:48 PM

Thank you everyone, the tortoise was pretty tame. They let the little kids feed him. The light was terrible and I had to bring up my shutter speed in the second shot. He started moving his front legs in the sand.

Xanis that 70-200 OS is a fine lens. You are lucky to have one since they made Lee's than two years. I see maybe one or two for sale a year.

Rupert those our excellent shots, you are lucky to been able to experience such an event.

Michael

Rupert · 11-03-2015, 08:07 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by Scorpio71GR

Rupert those our excellent shots, you are lucky to been able to experience such an event.

Thanks Scorpio

......They were fun and exciting times!

No Big Birds here nowadays, but there is no shortage of handsome squirrels. This one found a morning treat today.....

Regards!

Rupert · 11-03-2015, 06:58 PM - **3 Likes**

I was looking through my old shots of the Big Birds and saw this one...it brought a smile to my face....I recall the day very well. It was so hot in mid July and this youngster was just learning to fly. He came down from the nest to the cedar fence where I had put out a bowl of cool water for them. He had never seen water before and stepped into the bowl....he looked down at his feet for over 5 minutes as if he was both amazed an baffled. Finally, he took a few sips and moved along, but in a short time he was back standing in the bowl...cooling his feet?

Anyhow, it was so funny

...I just wanted to share!

Shot with my first Pentax....a DS.

Regards!

EDIT: I like this one so much for the memories that I decided to print it for my office photo wall. It was taken a long time ago in terms of the camera and in processing skill and technology. So...I worked on it a little before printing....
What do you think?

Name: Bowl Bird.jpg
Views: 214
Size: 82.2 KB

The old Pentax DS delivered some nice shots for me when I first got it. I had gone to Wolf Photo with intentions to buy a Nikon D70 but when I saw the smaller Pentax and the salesman, a man I knew well, offered to let me shoot a few in and around the store with both the DS and Nikon.....and then he would print them right there as I waited....I gave them both a try. The DS felt better and the prints that came out, about a dozen, let me pick the ones I liked best. The DS had better color and I bought it. The salesman was a Canon shooter but he was impressed with the Pentax and for a new shooter like me, he thought it was the best value and gave the best result. Been happy with Pentax ever since!

**boriscleto** · 11-04-2015, 11:37 AM - **2 Likes**

Cross posted from 300mm+ Club.

It's rare to get nice weather in November in CNY, so I had to take advantage of it.

Montezuma NWR with the lil'Bigma

xanis · 11-04-2015, 11:50 AM - **1 Like**

Weather has been awesome for the last two days. Went out hoping to see some herons, or some jays and cardinals. Must be my luck, didn't run into any of those but a few squirrels and lots of sparrows. Saw a hawk but some kids made so much noise that it left before I even had a chance to get near. meh...another day another time i guess.

Rupert · 11-04-2015, 08:42 PM

Originally posted by xanis

didn't run into any of those but a few squirrels

Nice squirrels!

That last one looks like the nut is almost a big as he is!

Regards!

xanis · 11-04-2015, 10:40 PM

Originally posted by Rupert

Nice squirrels!

That last one looks like the nut is almost a big as he is!

Regards!

Thanks Rupert. Hahahah its so small that he didn't know what to do when i was so close to it. I hope he stays safe since that area has been an active area for hawks and vulture.

xanis · 11-04-2015, 11:55 PM

Originally posted by boriscleto

Cross posted from 300mm+ Club.

It's rare to get nice weather in November in CNY, so I had to take advantage of it.

Montezuma NWR with the lil'Bigma

Great shooting. That red tailed is awesome.

xanis · 11-05-2015, 11:45 AM - **1 Like**

Not of the best quality, here are a few from earlier. The eastern bluebirds were heavily cropped in. Sneaky fast little fellas.

**Scorpio71GR** · 11-05-2015, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Cross posted from 300mm+ Club.

It's rare to get nice weather in November in CNY, so I had to take advantage of it.

Montezuma NWR with the lil'Bigma

Great series, the weather has been pretty nice here the last few days too.

Quote:

Not of the best quality, here are a few from earlier. The eastern bluebirds were heavily cropped in. Sneaky fast little fellas.

Nice shots, glad to see you got out to enjoy the weather.

Nothing new from me just some old shots from this summer. I don't think the Bigma will much action until spring.

Michael

xanis · 11-06-2015, 03:22 AM

Originally posted by Scorpio71GR

Great series, the weather has been pretty nice here the last few days too.

Nice shots, glad to see you got out to enjoy the weather.

Nothing new from me just some old shots from this summer. I don't think the Bigma will much action until spring.

Michael

By the end of the day its all about having fun with these big lens. Have a great weekend and happy hunting.

Rupert · 11-06-2015, 07:58 AM

Nice woodies guys!

Originally posted by xanis

By the end of the day its all about having fun with these big lens.

Yes, it is!

Originally posted by Scorpio71GR

I don't think the Bigma will much action until spring.

Well, I hope that is not the case!

It does become much more difficult in the winter light with the big slow lenses...but it is still possible to have some fun and get a few decent shots to keep our thread alive.

Here are some past winter shots with the Bigma. You know it's winter when the little birdies are all fluffed up!

A tiny Spanish dove gets large!

A very cold January day.

He felt the January cold too!

Even the teeny Carolina Wren knows it is January!

Sparrows feel the cold too.

Whatever this was...he felt the chill in the air!

Butterball cold!

Let's go somewhere and cuddle together!

Even the Woodies can fluff up a little when it's December!

A Wax Wing can do a little March fluffing too....

It starts in early November and lasts until April...although it seldom gets extremely cold here.

Even in the cold, you can still get some shots, you just have to work a little harder. Even if you have to push the ISO they still make great card fronts and the noise won't show on a matte card front.

So let's not have any excuses for not posting this winter!

Regards!

11-03-2015, 08:07 AM - 2 Likes	#470
Rupert Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 25,123	Originally posted by Scorpio71GR Rupert those our excellent shots, you are lucky to been able to experience such an event. Thanks Scorpio......They were fun and exciting times! No Big Birds here nowadays, but there is no shortage of handsome squirrels. This one found a morning treat today..... Regards!

11-03-2015, 06:58 PM - 3 Likes	#471
Rupert Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 25,123	I was looking through my old shots of the Big Birds and saw this one...it brought a smile to my face....I recall the day very well. It was so hot in mid July and this youngster was just learning to fly. He came down from the nest to the cedar fence where I had put out a bowl of cool water for them. He had never seen water before and stepped into the bowl....he looked down at his feet for over 5 minutes as if he was both amazed an baffled. Finally, he took a few sips and moved along, but in a short time he was back standing in the bowl...cooling his feet? Anyhow, it was so funny ...I just wanted to share! Shot with my first Pentax....a DS. Regards! EDIT: I like this one so much for the memories that I decided to print it for my office photo wall. It was taken a long time ago in terms of the camera and in processing skill and technology. So...I worked on it a little before printing.... What do you think? The old Pentax DS delivered some nice shots for me when I first got it. I had gone to Wolf Photo with intentions to buy a Nikon D70 but when I saw the smaller Pentax and the salesman, a man I knew well, offered to let me shoot a few in and around the store with both the DS and Nikon.....and then he would print them right there as I waited....I gave them both a try. The DS felt better and the prints that came out, about a dozen, let me pick the ones I liked best. The DS had better color and I bought it. The salesman was a Canon shooter but he was impressed with the Pentax and for a new shooter like me, he thought it was the best value and gave the best result. Been happy with Pentax ever since! Last edited by Rupert; 11-04-2015 at 07:10 AM. Reason: Add photo

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11-02-2015, 10:43 AM	#466
kentster Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Bremerton, Washington Posts: 287	Originally posted by Rupert And learned to fly Awesome pictures..... what a thing to be front row at and witness

11-02-2015, 11:53 AM - 1 Like	#467
Rupert Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 25,123	Originally posted by xanis Great shots of the night herons. Thanks Xanis! Thanks Kentster! It was 3-4 years in a row that two or more families came and nested in my yard. I got so many shots and they were so used to me that I could get very close. I watched the chicks grow and leave the nest...come back the next year and start all over. It was not unusual to have the chicks learning to fly land withing a few feet of me...they seemed very curious of me and my camera. When I got the Bigma the shots got much better..... Here are more......starting in 2005 with the old Quantaray 70-300. BIG BIRDS 2005 Photo Gallery by James Williams at pbase.com Chicks 2006 Photo Gallery by James Williams at pbase.com BIG BIRDS 2006 Photo Gallery by James Williams at pbase.com BIG BIRDS 2007 Photo Gallery by James Williams at pbase.com BIG BIRDS 2008 Photo Gallery by James Williams at pbase.com It was fun times! Very interesting too! The parents took turns watching the young and hunting. They are night hunters and good at it. Wonderful experience...right in my own back yard! After 2008 and a very bad and stormy year I never saw them here again, although I do see them in the immediate area quite often. I miss them. With the better sensor on the K5IIs and better processing tools available today, I think I could enjoy them even more. But...I did what I could and was pleased to get what I got at the time! Regards!

11-02-2015, 12:14 PM	#468
xanis Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Okemos, Michigan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 242	Originally posted by Rupert Thanks Xanis! Thanks Kentster! It was 3-4 years in a row that two or more families came and nested in my yard. I got so many shots and they were so used to me that I could get very close. I watched the chicks grow and leave the nest...come back the next year and start all over. It was not unusual to have the chicks learning to fly land withing a few feet of me...they seemed very curious of me and my camera. When I got the Bigma the shots got much better..... Here are more......starting in 2005 with the old Quantaray 70-300. BIG BIRDS 2005 Photo Gallery by James Williams at pbase.com Chicks 2006 Photo Gallery by James Williams at pbase.com BIG BIRDS 2006 Photo Gallery by James Williams at pbase.com BIG BIRDS 2007 Photo Gallery by James Williams at pbase.com BIG BIRDS 2008 Photo Gallery by James Williams at pbase.com It was fun times! Very interesting too! The parents took turns watching the young and hunting. They are night hunters and good at it. Wonderful experience...right in my own back yard! After 2008 and a very bad and stormy year I never saw them here again, although I do see them in the immediate area quite often. I miss them. With the better sensor on the K5IIs and better processing tools available today, I think I could enjoy them even more. But...I did what I could and was pleased to get what I got at the time! Regards! That's a great story to accompany those pictures. Its a tough feeling knowing that these guys are still around your area but just not at your backyard.

11-02-2015, 04:48 PM	#469
Scorpio71GR Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Michigan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,005	Thank you everyone, the tortoise was pretty tame. They let the little kids feed him. The light was terrible and I had to bring up my shutter speed in the second shot. He started moving his front legs in the sand. Xanis that 70-200 OS is a fine lens. You are lucky to have one since they made Lee's than two years. I see maybe one or two for sale a year. Rupert those our excellent shots, you are lucky to been able to experience such an event. Michael

11-04-2015, 11:37 AM - 2 Likes	#472
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Cross posted from 300mm+ Club. It's rare to get nice weather in November in CNY, so I had to take advantage of it. Montezuma NWR with the lil'Bigma

11-04-2015, 11:50 AM - 1 Like	#473
xanis Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Okemos, Michigan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 242	Weather has been awesome for the last two days. Went out hoping to see some herons, or some jays and cardinals. Must be my luck, didn't run into any of those but a few squirrels and lots of sparrows. Saw a hawk but some kids made so much noise that it left before I even had a chance to get near. meh...another day another time i guess.

11-04-2015, 08:42 PM	#474
Rupert Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 25,123	Originally posted by xanis didn't run into any of those but a few squirrels Nice squirrels! That last one looks like the nut is almost a big as he is! Regards!

11-04-2015, 10:40 PM	#475
xanis Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Okemos, Michigan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 242	Originally posted by Rupert Nice squirrels! That last one looks like the nut is almost a big as he is! Regards! Thanks Rupert. Hahahah its so small that he didn't know what to do when i was so close to it. I hope he stays safe since that area has been an active area for hawks and vulture.

11-04-2015, 11:55 PM	#476
xanis Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Okemos, Michigan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 242	Originally posted by boriscleto Cross posted from 300mm+ Club. It's rare to get nice weather in November in CNY, so I had to take advantage of it. Montezuma NWR with the lil'Bigma Great shooting. That red tailed is awesome.

11-05-2015, 11:45 AM - 1 Like	#477
xanis Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Okemos, Michigan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 242	Not of the best quality, here are a few from earlier. The eastern bluebirds were heavily cropped in. Sneaky fast little fellas.

11-05-2015, 08:58 PM	#478
Scorpio71GR Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Michigan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,005	Quote: Cross posted from 300mm+ Club. It's rare to get nice weather in November in CNY, so I had to take advantage of it. Montezuma NWR with the lil'Bigma Great series, the weather has been pretty nice here the last few days too. Quote: Not of the best quality, here are a few from earlier. The eastern bluebirds were heavily cropped in. Sneaky fast little fellas. Nice shots, glad to see you got out to enjoy the weather. Nothing new from me just some old shots from this summer. I don't think the Bigma will much action until spring. Michael

11-06-2015, 03:22 AM	#479
xanis Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Okemos, Michigan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 242	Originally posted by Scorpio71GR Great series, the weather has been pretty nice here the last few days too. Nice shots, glad to see you got out to enjoy the weather. Nothing new from me just some old shots from this summer. I don't think the Bigma will much action until spring. Michael By the end of the day its all about having fun with these big lens. Have a great weekend and happy hunting.

11-06-2015, 07:58 AM	#480
Rupert Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 25,123	Nice woodies guys! Originally posted by xanis By the end of the day its all about having fun with these big lens. Yes, it is! Originally posted by Scorpio71GR I don't think the Bigma will much action until spring. Well, I hope that is not the case! It does become much more difficult in the winter light with the big slow lenses...but it is still possible to have some fun and get a few decent shots to keep our thread alive. Here are some past winter shots with the Bigma. You know it's winter when the little birdies are all fluffed up! A tiny Spanish dove gets large! A very cold January day. He felt the January cold too! Even the teeny Carolina Wren knows it is January! Sparrows feel the cold too. Whatever this was...he felt the chill in the air! Butterball cold! Let's go somewhere and cuddle together! Even the Woodies can fluff up a little when it's December! A Wax Wing can do a little March fluffing too.... It starts in early November and lasts until April...although it seldom gets extremely cold here. Even in the cold, you can still get some shots, you just have to work a little harder. Even if you have to push the ISO they still make great card fronts and the noise won't show on a matte card front. So let's not have any excuses for not posting this winter! Regards!