[stormtech]

Here are a few to add to this thread.
One of my favorites of 2012, doesn't seem like much but every time I view this this one it takes me back to that day (a fantastic one it was!!!)...
Osprey - Coming Up Empty

I can see why this would be one of your favorites Joe - looking at your location and perspective behind the lens, it looks like you were right there with the Osprey "feeling" the action. Really like how you captured the water spray.

[dunerunner]

Some really great shots in this thread, I don,t have many close ups but love to see(and hear) when the geese are moving around here in S. Dakota. Shot with a 77LTD

[joe.penn]

Here is another one, this was taken a while ago but just happened to run across it on my file server


Immature Bald Eagle (Sigma 70~200 FLD w/ CPL)

[TER-OR]

Goldeneye Ducks - Fast fliers. All with K-5 and 55-300


More on my photostream, some nice captures, I think.

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Last edited by TER-OR; 02-27-2013 at 11:20 AM. Reason: spelling

[RockvilleBob]

My wife liked this picture - not flying but I thought I would post. Early morning on a frozen lake, sun behind the swan, K-5 with Sigma 150-500 at about 400mm f10

[gifthorse]

Red-tailed hawk


Black crowned night herons


American white pelican


American avocet (making a bombing run)

[Ken T]

[RockvilleBob]

Red-tailed hawk


Black crowned night herons


American white pelican


American avocet (making a bombing run)

Really nice photos. As someone just starting BIF photography it would be great to know what camera and lens you used. Thanks.

[gifthorse]

Thank you for the kind words. I'm using a K-r and (usually) a Sigma 70-300 DL Super.

[Sagitta]

Quick question on what the best way to post process a picture of an all-black bird would be. I tried a few things last night, but wound up just dropping contrast down to silly levels trying to pull details from the feathers of these guys.

The original wasn't showing much detail at all since it was basically black-on-black with them. I also tried HDRing them, but again the end results weren't that great. Its frustrating since I'm a little proud of actually nailing this one in focus since it was a spur of the moment, handheld manual 200mm shot.

This is what I ended up with after dickering with the original. Its an OK end result, but the original is a LOT better.

A hair less than a 100% crop, K-30, f/8-ish or so. ISO 100, 1/320 sec

[RockvilleBob]

Quick question on what the best way to post process a picture of an all-black bird would be. I tried a few things last night, but wound up just dropping contrast down to silly levels trying to pull details from the feathers of these guys.

The original wasn't showing much detail at all since it was basically black-on-black with them. I also tried HDRing them, but again the end results weren't that great. Its frustrating since I'm a little proud of actually nailing this one in focus since it was a spur of the moment, handheld manual 200mm shot.

This is what I ended up with after dickering with the original. Its an OK end result, but the original is a LOT better.

A hair less than a 100% crop, K-30, f/8-ish or so. ISO 100, 1/320 sec

Hi Jody
Here is a quick edit of your picture using the jpg. Working with raw would be much better. I use NIK tooks within Photoshop. It is an expensive way to go but I did this in under a minute. You can do the same in Photoshop without NIK tools but NIK tools is an intuitive interface to all the power of photoshop but you never need to learn photoshop. It harnesses photoshop's engine and makes it photographer friendly.

[RockvilleBob]

Yesterday at Middle Creek Wildlife in PA. K-5 Sigma 150-500 at 400mm f9 - cropped away about half the frame.

[joe.penn]

This one could pass as a "Birds In Fight" picture.
[not shot with a pentax body, thought it was cool so thought I would share]

[normhead]

I'm not sure I posted these hear, if they are already in the thread, my apologies...









From a recent outing to the park.

[joe.penn]

We had really nice weather yesterday, the osprey and other birds are starting to move in so I decided to go out and try and capture a few pics...

This guy scooped but came up empty:


A pair of Greater Yellowlegs working the low tide shoreline:


Osprey chasing down the other trying to get a piece of the catch:


A little bad luck for this Tern, dove in and came up empty handed:


[Not A Bird In Flight] This Osprey had his eyes on me - looks like a young one from last years hatch.