Dreary Day Surprises

[KurtM]

A photographer friend of mine moans that he never bothers to leave the house when it's overcast. Well, there's something about that philosophy that I just don't like. I'm not sure what it is, but it just seems wrong somehow. In any case, despite that it was a depressing cold, slate-gray day, I shook out the folds for a nice little hike through the sticks, and got a couple neato surprises.....

First, this little splash of very welcome warm color: the Field Sparrow.



I make a practice of walking as silently as possible for a whole slew of reasons, and when walking into the wind have learned to keep my head up for deer. Sure enough, I snuck up on this guy:



I like this picture - to me it conveys the feel of winter in southeast Texas.

In other news, I saw the oddest pair of ospreys ever. First of all, ospreys don't pair up; they're solitary creatures. Secondly, they just kind of looked kind of .... well .... not quite right....



Well, no wonder -- they're not ospreys after all! It's a pair of third-year Bald Eagle juveniles.



Sure wish I could've gotten closer! Photo is unmercifully cropped and sharpened, you get what you pay for around here. If anyone thinks they can get better detail out of the original, I'll be happy to send it to them.

[KurtM]

It's bending the rules, but I'm going to risk it. I just want to show the similarities here. First, one of the bald eagle juvies. (His brother had just taken a hike, and so will this one in about two more seconds.)



And here's an osprey. It's a sucky photo I worked up to resemble the other sucky photo....

[Monjo71]

A nice variety of shots. The eagles look to be almost adults. Another year or two and they should be. Love the sparrow shot. It's nice to see the similarities and differences of the raptors.

[jerome.oneil]

Cool shots Kurt! Maybe you'll get another chance to get those Eagles on a better day.

Are you using a tripod in the field?

TFS,
Jerome

[STB]

I can totally see the resemblance to the ospreys, Kurt! I have such a hard time with glasses on to spot the birds, then trying to remember where I saw them while I zoom out. Once of these days I think I'm going to give myself a black eye with moving back and forth.

I love that little sparrow. For some reason he makes me think of a little kid who just got his first haircut. (Hey, I'm a writer, I tend to personify a lot of things. )

[KurtM]

> Are you using a tripod in the field?

No. I have experimented with tripods and monopods, but they invariably impede more shots than they facilitate for one reason or another. Birds simply move about too much, gotta have the versatility and speed of hand-holding or you miss too many opps.

Sharp imagery from hand-held doesn't come automatically; there's a lot of technique that goes into handling a long heavy lens. It's worth thinking about and practicing as if it were a sport. I often practice acquiring and panning on flying birds I have no intention of shooting, practice zeroing on distant or foliage-hidden birds I have no intention of shooting, and leave my shutter on burst mode expressly to train myself to use the button lightly. Mashing the shutter abruptly in the excitement of capturing a moment probably causes more camera shake blur than anything.

Susan, you're my hero! I liked that little sparrow best of that set myself. The big ol' bomber birds get all the press, but the little-bitties are the ones that are hardest to get. You know what I'm sayin'..... Whoops, John said nice things about the runt too .... and he certainly knows how tough they can be.

[Barbara V]

The sparrow shot is just so beautiful.

[Shutteraddict]

Man, I swear all the raptors have been in Texas and Georgia the past couple of weeks lol. At the reserve today here in FL, once again nothing but turkey vultures gliding around. Great shots Kurt!

[jerome.oneil]

Originally Posted by KurtM

> Are you using a tripod in the field?
Sharp imagery from hand-held doesn't come automatically; there's a lot of technique that goes into handling a long heavy lens. It's worth thinking about and practicing as if it were a sport. I often practice acquiring and panning on flying birds I have no intention of shooting, practice zeroing on distant or foliage-hidden birds I have no intention of shooting, and leave my shutter on burst mode expressly to train myself to use the button lightly. Mashing the shutter abruptly in the excitement of capturing a moment probably causes more camera shake blur than anything.
.

Kurt, wasn't questioning because the lack of sharpness, I wondered as I've tried using tripod and monopod and similarly found what you found. I do carry one but that's only because I'm into other outdoor photography and I'm afraid I'll miss an opportunity. BTW, I like that picture of the buck you captured to.

Thanks,
Jerome

[STB]

Kurt,
You and I think a lot alike about a lot of things.

Glad to hear I'm not the only one trying to do the handheld. I'm grateful for the doves and robins that hang around long enough to let me cycle through settings. I do need to practice not mashing the shutter.