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[Images from the Id] – Watch your Ps and Qs or what does that manual really say?

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Posted by :Terry Mieger On : August 22, 2014
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Category: Images from the Id

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Images from the Id – Watch your Ps and Qs or what does that manual really say?

After a pretty miserable start, we arrived at Rocky Mountain National Park much too late for anything to happen or even be encouraging in terms of photography. You need to remember, sometimes getting going early in the morning is just not in the cards and after too long of a breakfast at local truck stop, we finally arrived. Part of the reason for the trip was to check out the damage from last September’s floods. Both the Alluvial Fan/Indovalley and Fall River Road were basically wiped out. They are to re-open in about a year and the great fall colors of the area will be missed this fall. On the high side, after 3 years the Bear Lake Road was completely open and we had been earlier we could have driven to the lake but were not the mood for the shuttle. Why did we go up on a Sunday?

As expected not much going on, way to late for any self respecting wildlife, and even landscapes are bad in this light. My shooting became an exercise in getting images for a presentation I am giving. That was pretty much crap because of being too lazy to carry the tripod. Or was it just forgetfulness that I would need it?

Sprague Lake is a favorite for landscapes of Hahn’s Peak and surprises. Just call me quick draw. I was shooting some “nice” scenes of a couple of fly fisherman and above appeared an Osprey. The good news was the 80 mm to 440 mm lens was on the camera, the bad news; the camera was not prepared for shooting the bird, especially in a dive. Solution is all based in experience and knowing your camera. Did you read that manual?

The Camera menu settings take too long to do that fast so… have the focus lock on the back button for all of your photography NOT on the half pressed shutter button. This takes a while to get used to, fro me a couple of hundred shots, but do it!  You can use the on-camera settings (if you have them) with that setup, use continuous servo (in your manual) and 3d focus metering. Exposure metering should be “spot” and the shutter should lock it (these may not work for you so experiment) Have the ISO easily changed. I have mine adjustable on one of the top control wheels, Know how to change the frames per second quickly.

So there’s the bird, within seconds I have the ISO, frame rate, and metering reset. Just practice and take a lot of photographs for re-enforcement.

Results: The camera basically locks on for the first shot and follows the action. As the bird got to the trees the camera tried to follow the trees 8-( Back to the manual. Hum, if I slow down the tracking lock on it should not lose the bird so quickly. I always learn something.

The settings for all of these are basically the same

Iso 800, 400 mm/ 600mm, 0EV, metering was Pattern (not spot), 1/6000 sec, f/5.6

Osprey 2-001

 

Osprey 2-002

Osprey 2-003

Osprey 2-004

[Images from the Id] Choices or How to Outsmart a Red-Tail Hawk.

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Posted by :Terry Mieger On : May 7, 2014
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Category: Images from the Id

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Images from the Id – Choices or How to Outsmart a Red-Tail Hawk.

Commentary: Generally speaking I have lost confidence in the American people. There was a time when Lincoln’s prediction of “that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” meant something to this nation. It is amazing if we look at history and how the political parties have flip-flopped. Yes, Republicans are still conservative and Democrats are still liberal but their views on human rights have totally reversed since Lincoln’s time. The“new” Republicans believe in human rights – as long as the rights are in line with their beliefs. Let me give you my spin. I am anti-abortion (be careful with this because it may not mean what you think) BUT I am pro-choice. Yes, you know all about certain cases where it should be done etc. I look at it differently. To be anti-choice is very different than anti-abortion. Against choice doesn’t mean there is no choice but only one choice, in this case – the choice to not have an abortion. My point is being pro-choice on anything also protects my rights and your rights to say no not just yes. Can’t they under stand the word choice.

Making choices in photography is a huge subject and may lead to many blog entries. For now let’s look at birds and one experience.

Last Saturday, I decided to go to a nearby state park and see what I could find. Usually there were some wading birds and at worst some radio controlled aircraft to practice on. I have a general pattern in the park. I usually go to a parking lot that overlooks the lake and has some shore access. It is good for White Pelican, some shore birds and once in a while some surprises. Next, I stop a small wetlands area which usually has a lot of activity. This time I hit jackpot at the parking lot. Near the lot was perched a large Dark-phase Red-Tail Hawk and it seem to be ignoring me. So I started stalking. I slowly walked closer and circled behind the bird. I knew from experience not to approach from the front. Once behind the hawk, it swooped down to capture something and missed. I got some good shots but they were all with the bird going away. My brain and experience kicked in. I took my time and quietly walked down to the shoreline. I took a few Pelican shots, nothing special and talked to a few fisherman. They can give a lot of information since they have the patience I lack. I knew that by approaching from the shore I had cover and could see the bird from the front. Quietly walking up the hill toward the bird I became increasingly excited. It was still there, I was getting a front view, and I was ready. After a few poses, it happened. The bird attacked.  I was so close I actually had to zoom out. Fifteen feet from me, it hit and this time successfully. That poor little Bull Snake had no chance, and I got something special.

Lessons to learn: Always be prepared.- in most cases a situation will never repeat itself. Practice, practice, practice – part of being prepared. Know your subject – most animals have behavior patterns they follow. Be patient – my biggest problem. Take a lot of images at your fastest shutter rate. For birds uses shutter speed of 1/1000 or even faster to stop the action. Know your equipment – what setting work best for this situation.

Red-Tail Attack-001

 

Lunch-001

This week’s Photo

“The Attack”; f/6.7, 1/2000 sec.(fast Bird), 210/315 mm.. +1 EV (dark Bird) ISO 800. Cherry Creek State Park. Colorado, Adjusted in Lightroom 5.4

Second image “Lunch” f/8,1/1000 sec, ISO 800, +1 EV (too bright but adjusted easily) 400/600 mm After the attack.

[Images from the Id] – Timing or In Search of the Eagle Part 2

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Posted by :Terry Mieger On : March 27, 2014
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Images from the Id – Timing or In Search of the Eagle Part 2

Eagle 2-001

Now for the truth and the frustration.

Lesson – Bald Eagles are iconic. People have this preconceived idea as how they look. The Eagle does not reach its full “baldness” until its 4th year. This means a lot of eagles don’t look like what people thing they should look like. I wish someone would buy a picture of an immature baldy.

Lesson – Eagles mate for life and in many places don’t tend to nest where they winter, my lake =-(  They usually use the same nest each year and just re-build or add on to it. Photos of nesting eagles are near the top of the list for photos. Study the locals. Get on the “Birders” email list.

Lesson – Birders have different goals than photographers. Don’t be disappointed if you chase one of their leads and the bird is a small dot at 200 yards and sure it’s an eagle but… Last week, I spotted a Peregrine Falcon attacking a flock of crows way up there in the sky. I got a photo but just enough to identify it accurately. Someday…

Lesson – Feeding shots are the best, yellow talons outreaching out with the great fierce look, wings back and no nictitating membrane over the eye.

Lesson – Bald Eagles are equal opportunity feeder. They prefer fish but will eat some small mammals or even dead animals (Was Ben Franklin right in preferring the Turkey for our symbol?) Give the lambs and little children to the Golden Eagle not the Bald Eagle. Like many animals it is very important to expend the least amount of energy for a given amount of prey. It’s not laziness it’s just whether the energy used is less than energy eaten. Because of this they eat carrion, or more spectacularly, steal fish.

Lesson – Learn about your “prey” try to anticipate what it is going to do. Don’t waste your energy.

The Case Story – I and picked up one of my 80mm-400mm lens from the repair shop and they said there was nothing wrong with it, so I went to the lake to “test” it. Arriving I immediately went to the trees where the big guys usually hangout in. Nobody home. Went down to the dam tower, usually a good second choice. Nobody home. So it was down to the lake shore. There it was, soaring high above the lake, a beautiful mature Bald Eagle. I am 3 minutes from the parking lot. While driving and looking, not too hard in this park – no other cars that day, the Eagle starts showing some definite interest in the surface of the water, At 2 minutes from parking, it was obvious it was happening. Tuning the corner in to the boat launch/parking area, the Eagle begins its attack, 10 seconds. My brain is yelling, “Miss, miss, miss” Hoping it would re-attack; small chance of that. Then, ten feet from shore and where I would be in five seconds, I see a large carp get plucked by yellow talons and carried away to the distant trees. I don’t believe in luck but it’s hard to keep saying that I just need to get their more often. Another bird, another day.

This week’s Photo

“Mature Bald Eagle” Viera Wetlands Florida. Again as last week 9 am early, low light,  ISO 800; 1/6000 shutter speed; f 6.7; 0 EV; 400/600 mm, Aperture priority; spot metered. Cropped for composition; processed and sharpened in Lightroom 5.3. The only time I have been eye level with the eagle. Right time in right place? Well, almost. Right after my camera’s buffer filled, the eagle shot straight up in to the air attacking an Osprey carrying a fish. Very spectacular no body got the fish and this time I was 10 seconds early 😉