Wood Stork Landing

[Harryb]

Hi you'll

Here is a sequence that I shot recently
http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/24204906-L.jpg

http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/24204910-L.jpg

http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/24204914-L.jpg

http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/24204917-L.jpg

http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/24204918-L.jpg

http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/24204921-L.jpg

http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/24204929-L.jpg

This was all one sequence and I have another 6 shots from it. This is why I love the D2h. I never could have shot a sequence like this with the D100.

[Dee]

Wow, what a series indeed! I still say you make it look too easy.

So how long were you set up for the shot? Did you observe how long the bird sat on the nest and took off, and how long to return? Did you have it spotted out?

Or were you just pointing in the right direction? :): :): :):

I think I know the answer :rofl

[Michiel de Brieder]

how to make a camera shine by Harry Behret:
erm, just check out tha pics :lol

AWESOME Harry, the shaprness is just unbelievable!!
So you're gonna have a BBQ soon? :hotfood

[Harryb]

Wow, what a series indeed! I still say you make it look too easy.

So how long were you set up for the shot? Did you observe how long the bird sat on the nest and took off, and how long to return? Did you have it spotted out?

Or were you just pointing in the right direction? :): :): :):

I think I know the answer :rofl
Thanks Dee. The storks were flying out in one direction to get food and nesting material and then flying back in the same direction. I just set up and saw him fly out so I waited a bit until he flew back to the nest. When I saw him returning I locked focus on him, started shooting and followed him into the nest.

[4labs]

Harry if you keep posting pics of my MIL I am going to start getting nightmares:rofl Great set as always..

[Eric&Susan]

Harry if you keep posting pics of my MIL I am going to start getting nightmares:rofl Great set as always..
:wink :rofl :rofl

Great set Harry:clap I always look forward to your posts.

Eric

[jeff lapoint]

sweet shots harry. love #'s 1 and 2 inparticularhttp://dgrin.com/images/smilies/thumb.gifhttp://dgrin.com/images/smilies/thumb.gif.

please make sure you keep posting shots like these even if they become commonplace to you...i think you might be surprised if you knew how many of us beginners used them as learning tools! (not to sound like a total http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/BUTTkissass.gif...i'm just sayin'...)http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/yelrotflmao.gif

-j

[Seamus]

Great sequence Harry,:thumb

[bfjr]

Harry it is Harry right :D

Hey another wonderful series
as always Pristine :thumb So Sharp :thumb

My FZ def won't do that so got another month 1/2 before d2hs and a lens (big one). I didn't realize that was gonna run around 9 G's :wow :D

[jwear]

very nice shots Steve ---- oh no its Harry yea Harry did you not want to put in one soft shot or one with a little blur :scratch thats right you threw those out :thumb well back to photo class very nice set of bar risers MR H :thumb :clap :D

[ehughes]

Cool series Harry, I really like that first one...:clap
Ed

[Harryb]

how to make a camera shine by Harry Behret:
erm, just check out tha pics :lol

AWESOME Harry, the shaprness is just unbelievable!!
So you're gonna have a BBQ soon? :hotfood
Thank you Michiel. The D2h and the 300mm/f4 is a fine combo. I'm in Florida now so we BBQ just about every night. Welaternate between heron and egret. Storks and cranes go on over the weekends. :rofl

[Harryb]

Harry if you keep posting pics of my MIL I am going to start getting nightmares:rofl Great set as always..
Thanks and that is surely one ugly bird. :D

[Harryb]

:wink :rofl :rofl

Great set Harry:clap I always look forward to your posts.

Eric
Thank you very much Eric.

[Khaos]

Wow. Fantastic set Harry. :thumb :thumb Perfect capture sequence.

The first make me giggle because it looks like he's jumping up in the air in a surprise attack. I can almost hear him saying "Ahah!"

[Dee]

Thanks Dee. The storks were flying out in one direction to get food and nesting material and then flying back in the same direction. I just set up and saw him fly out so I waited a bit until he flew back to the nest. When I saw him returning I locked focus on him, started shooting and followed him into the nest.

inhabit your area? I had NO idea there were so many!

Thanks for the explanation, I kind of thought you must have observed them first.

I think with shooting birds one has to observe their habits first, and then it's a "little" easier to photograph them if you can sort of predict where they'll be. Those are some big stork babies too...

I'd have to go to the zoo to see storks. You have so many pretty birds in your area.

[ginger_55]

I saved a few blur shots for you, Jeff. One, my only BIF, I just could not chimp out.

Those are fantastic shots, Harry. They look tripod sharp, but if you followed him in, they must have been handheld. Fantastic. Those birds are rare in South Caroline, I read that the other day. But, on the other hand, places are reporting sightings (sp), but they are not the places I go, a bit far unless a special occasion.

If I saw one, no way I would get shots that sharp.

You might be glad to hear that I spooked two night herons and didn't shoot one today. Had some strange experiences, though, am exhausted, have picture for new avatar: dead person walking, or sitting finally. I asked Bill to take it.

Need to upload. that is a fantastic set!

ginger

[Harryb]

sweet shots harry. love #'s 1 and 2 inparticularhttp://dgrin.com/images/smilies/thumb.gifhttp://dgrin.com/images/smilies/thumb.gif.

please make sure you keep posting shots like these even if they become commonplace to you...i think you might be surprised if you knew how many of us beginners used them as learning tools! (not to sound like a total http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/BUTTkissass.gif...i'm just sayin'...)http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/yelrotflmao.gif

-j

Hey Jeff,

Thank you very much. I'm glad you liked em. Not to worry about me posting shots, heck try to stop me. :D I have been slow posting the last week or so because I've had some visiting shooters in town and we did a lot of shooting. I'm in the middle of post processing a few thousand shots right now.

[Harryb]

Great sequence Harry,:thumb
thanks Seamus.

[Harryb]

Harry it is Harry right :D

Hey another wonderful series
as always Pristine :thumb So Sharp :thumb

My FZ def won't do that so got another month 1/2 before d2hs and a lens (big one). I didn't realize that was gonna run around 9 G's :wow :D
Thanks Ben.

You only spent $9k so far!!!!! You piker! Hehehehehehe, that's only the beginning. Wait until lens lust hits. :hang Tell the family that this stuff about 3 meals a day is only propaganda from the food industry. You can't be spending your glass money on frivilous stuff like food or the rent.

[Harryb]

very nice shots Steve ---- oh no its Harry yea Harry did you not want to put in one soft shot or one with a little blur :scratch thats right you threw those out :thumb well back to photo class very nice set of bar risers MR H :thumb :clap :D
Hiya Jeff,

Thanks for the kind words but if you look you'll see some blur in the wing tips on a few of the shots. :D

[BigAl]

Great series Harry. Your Wood Stork looks nothing like the one we get down here. I'll really have to get out soon to get you some "proper" birds :thumb

regards
alan

[Harryb]

Cool series Harry, I really like that first one...:clap
Ed
Thanks Ed.

[dragon300zx]

Great set as always harry. I just can't get over how ugly those birds are though. Talk about a face only a mother could love. :fish

[Steve Cavigliano]

Super Harry :thumb :thumb


The first one really floats my boat :D I imagined hearing a voice, while viewing the later shots. "Lucy, I'm home and juve got some splaining to do" :lol


You need to get a part-time job Harry. You have entirely too much time to shoot on your hands....LOL Do I sound envious? You bet your retired butt I am :bad

Steve

[Harryb]

Wow. Fantastic set Harry. :thumb :thumb Perfect capture sequence.

The first make me giggle because it looks like he's jumping up in the air in a surprise attack. I can almost hear him saying "Ahah!"
Thanks. I do enjoy the expressions on the storks. They are a lot of fun to shoot because they their landing poses are so unique.

[Harryb]

inhabit your area? I had NO idea there were so many!

Thanks for the explanation, I kind of thought you must have observed them first.

I think with shooting birds one has to observe their habits first, and then it's a "little" easier to photograph them if you can sort of predict where they'll be. Those are some big stork babies too...

I'd have to go to the zoo to see storks. You have so many pretty birds in your area.
Hey Dee,

It really is important to observe the bird's behavior. I'm getting experienced enough now that I can predict some of their actions. This has improved my shots.

I got so many different birds in the area that I can't count em. Once I get a 500mm lens I'll be able ot get some shots of the smaller species that I haven't been able to get a good shot of so far.

[Harryb]

I
Those are fantastic shots, Harry. They look tripod sharp, but if you followed him in, they must have been handheld. Fantastic. Those birds are rare in South Caroline, I read that the other day. But, on the other hand, places are reporting sightings (sp), but they are not the places I go, a bit far unless a special occasion.

If I saw one, no way I would get shots that sharp.
ginger
Thank you Ginger. These were handheld because my tripod set-up is ok for landscapes but not for tracking birds in flight. I see a Wimberly in my future. :D

Your shots will be as sharp once you get as experienced at them as I am. Almost all my early attempts were pretty soft. I ain't that good. I'm just lucky that i have the time and the photo ops to keep doing it until I get it right.

Harry

[Harryb]

Great series Harry. Your Wood Stork looks nothing like the one we get down here. I'll really have to get out soon to get you some "proper" birds :thumb

regards
alan
Hey Alan,

Thanks for the comments. Good luck with your birds.

[ginger_55]

Thanks, Harry. I rarely even try bif anymore, because I have to focus manually. So it is a choice. I still have no ability to shift my attention or even follow a bird with manual focus, none whatsoever. That was one reason I was excited at the closer rookery. The one where I was slightly over exposed, but even then I wanted to get the chicks, but I could take the 2 Xs off and use the AF.

Usually I try to set up for a landing or take off. And they have not been cooporating. I waited, made bill wait, too, for almost a half hour for a heron to take off last night. I took a photo of an egret. Turned back to him. He was gone, I asked Bill. He said that the bird waited til I turned to the egret. Before then I had run into another street heron (my street shooting, smile.), I had to back up on him, so I did take the 2X s off, and happened to have it off while waiting for the non cooporative heron.

Once these chicks are gone, maybe I can force myself to practice more. So much to do, with so many different places to go. I am hoping to go to a different wetlands this weekend, plus, Magnolia, plus the Osprey, plus danger......... and in between I have to take the stuff off my cards at a minimum.

I look at the eye for clarity. Got some clear ones yesterday, of herons playing invisible by not moving an inch. I couldn't see well to focus with the sweat running down my face, not to be gross.

I could have died when I ran off the night heron TWICE.

ginger, thanks for the encourgement. I have the time, but did not have this wealth of birds until recently. I don't think it will dry up either, not completely. And right now it is a fight with myself between babies and flying birds. Maybe when the babies start flying they will be slow? and they and I can learn togother, but that does not sound realistic. Also, would be nice to have a long lens with AF, longer than 300, but I have no plans in that direction. I am comfortable.

I still love the quality of that woodstork, though.

[Harryb]

Great set as always harry. I just can't get over how ugly those birds are though. Talk about a face only a mother could love. :fish
Thanks Gary. I guess all birds don't get to be egrets. :cry

[lynnma]

Harry thats a fantastic series!! I've never even seen a wood stork.. well, maybe once when my son was delivered...:rofl

[Harryb]

Super Harry http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/thumb.gif http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/thumb.gif


The first one really floats my boat http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/icon10.gif I imagined hearing a voice, while viewing the later shots. "Lucy, I'm home and juve got some splaining to do" http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/lol3.gif


You need to get a part-time job Harry. You have entirely too much time to shoot on your hands....LOL Do I sound envious? You bet your retired butt I am http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/blbl.gif

SteveHey Steve,

I enjoyed shooting that guy. He did have some good poses on him. http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/xzicon_smile_cool.gif

I don't blame you for being envious. I would explain more but the hot tub is just about the right temperature. http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/roflol.gif

[ginger_55]

You don't say, re hot tub.

speechless in SC.

later,

g

best stork shots I have ever seen in my life, all i got was a blurred osprey.

you know what harry? you made the woodstork look good. now that is photography. maybe glamour photography.

i am so tired i just walked in the door, ................ and you are getting in the hot tub. i am getting my husband get me out of PT tomorrow, I hurt too bad to add that to my schedule. Now, a hot tub, that I could handle.

Is the PC there, too. Gotta have the PC.

enjoyed, I am sure!

[Harryb]

Harry thats a fantastic series!! I've never even seen a wood stork.. well, maybe once when my son was delivered...:rofl
Thank you Lynn. I'm glad I could introduce you to the woodstork w/o the package this time. :D