did you know it's egret-fest?

[Andy]

i'm out here in california, and my good friend, and fine photographer steve cavigliano took me up to the palo alto baylands nature preserve this afternoon. what a treat! it's a regular egret-convention, ginger, i have found where your egrets went.

i'm really a street shooter, this bird shooting, well, it's for the birds, y'know? or so i thought :lol3 i really had a blast tonight. birding is a real challenge, i've great respect for those that do it regularly. getting a crisp clear, sharp bif, or a cool expression, well that's really worth the effort, let me tell ya.

all shots with my 20d, 70-200 f/2.8L i.s. aboard, plus canon 1.4tc. shot in av mode, iso400 for the most part, -2/3s ec for the most part. shutter speeds 1/800th to 1/1000th sec.

this guy was in the tree waiting for us as soon as we got there. a night-heron?
http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/18181268-L.jpg

watching them fly it's almost hypnotic..
http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/18181269-L.jpg

http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/18181270-L.jpg

then of course the main event - it *is* egret-fest right now, but you already knew that, eh? :lol3 i took these egrets in honor of my good friend harry behret, and also to piss off fish :deal

http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/18181261-L.jpg

http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/18181262-L.jpg

http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/18181273-L.jpg

and as the sun went down and our isos went up, we decided to call it quits, and say good-bye to our fine feathery egret friends. this was one butt-shot that i kept, i rather liked it...
http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/18181266-L.jpg

afterwards, it was off to a really nice dinner, calamari, iceberg wedge salad, hangar steak, and what must've been the idaho state fair prize-
winning baked potato :eat it was, another fine photographic time, and i thank steve for showing me "the baylands...."

enjoy (egret) photography,

[David_S85]

i'm out here in california, and my good friend, and fine photographer steve cavigliano took me up to the palo alto baylands nature preserve this afternoon. what a treat! it's a regular egret-convention, ginger, i have found where your egrets went.

i'm really a street shooter, this bird shooting, well, it's for the birds, y'know? or so i thought :lol3 i really had a blast tonight. birding is a real challenge, i've great respect for those that do it regularly. getting a crisp clear, sharp bif, or a cool expression, well that's really worth the effort, let me tell ya.


enjoy (egret) photography,

http://users.aol.com/bikedave1/respect.gif


OK Andy, I am more amazed everyday with your ability to WOW us. I mean, geez, you don't do birds you say, then this!

All these BIF's, and so well exposed, framed and focused. Blast you! You's a good learner - and Steve's a great teacher.

Harry, look out for this guy. Andy will probably be headed your way to tame all those egrets and herrons down in Florida next.

[Andy]

http://users.aol.com/bikedave1/respect.gif


OK Andy, I am more amazed everyday with your ability to WOW us. I mean, geez, you don't do birds you say, then this!

All these BIF's, and so well exposed, framed and focused. Blast you! You's a good learner - and Steve's a great teacher.

Harry, look out for this guy. Andy will probably be headed your way to tame all those egrets and herrons down in Florida next.

shucks david, thanks a lot man - i really appreciate the kind words and the feedback. there are several things that i really find tough with this subject matter -

1) the exposure - there is usually such mixed lighting - like in the third shot here.. half in shadow, half in really bright reflected sunlight... -2/3s exposure compensation helped avoid a blowout...and still, the highlights are in a few spots, 250ish - but not blownout - really tough! i should have added that these shots are, for the most part, lightly processed. converted from raw (no multiple exposures needed - the 20d really has a fine dynamic range, i'm always impressed by it)... some cropping, though not much, as these birds were close and i had good reach with the 200 + tc. and sharpening.


2) the amount of reach, and fast, sharp glass. man - good glass for birding is a must. we were in really bright conditions, but still using iso 400, and at the end, 800, to get the shutter speeds up there... but the other tricky area is that you want to use the lens' sweetspot, so shooting at f/4's no good, eh? conundrum here, becuase to shoot at f/8, let's say, that means you either sacrifice on shutterspeed or iso. big tradeoffs. i opted for f/5.6, f/6.3 and i managed ok. but the exposure calcs were always going 'round my head during the shoot.

3) steady hands - these birds are fast!

thanks again for giving me, one of your 1.51 posts per day today, i'm really and truly honored :D

[Steve Cavigliano]

Hey David,
I didn't have to teach Andy very much, I mainly led him to the birds and he took it from there. I actually think he's having fun birding :clap :clap :clap :clap


Andy,
Ya done good :thumb :thumb While I was busy shooting the bull, you were busy shooting the birds :lol

As David mentioned, they all came out well. Fish is gonna love em :lol4


We had a great time, got lots of nice shots and talked to a couple other Canonites :clap Including our friend Daniella, who was "test driving" a new 350D :wow Man, that camera is small. Even in her small hands, it was almost too small. In fact, she complained that her hand had cramped up, from holding it :uhoh Much too small for Andy, or I. Couldn't even get two fingers around the grip :huh It sure looked nice though.


Geeze, I let you post the first Egret/Heron pics and you post all the good ones.......lol Never trust a street shooter :lol

All I'll add is this, closer, shot of a Black Crowned Night Heron.

http://freezeframephotography.smugmug.com/photos/18183057-L.jpg


OK, it's off to bed :snore Hopefully, we'll have another good day of shooting tomorrow :thumb


See ya in few (too few....lol),

Steve

[Dee]

So that's what those white blobs in the palm trees look like up close?

I have to say I'm impressed, and you not even a bird man!

It was a gorgeous, clear, breathtaking day today -- but very very very windy at the coast. I managed to get out for a couple of hours, but no great shots, waves were flat, couple of surfers, couple of black birds, nothing much... and there you and Steve were having a blast getting spectacular bird shots!

Oh well..... I'm glad you got to enjoy a beautiful day -- and catch some interesting birds too -- flying egrets! Wow... The exposure is pretty darn spot on too... got to hand it to you... :clap :clap :clap

[MuskyDude]

Let me start by saying :jawdrop

Totally awesome Andy, love looking at these. Something I read about you recently, you used to or still do bike? For local nature photography this year I plan on biking out of the city, into the country for shots. I think I can get to some fairly unique and remote ares this way, and get great excercise at the same time. Do you bike and shoot?

Seriously, these are great shots Andy, just plain awesome in details and sharpness. Thanks for sharing.

AJ

[ginger_55]

Andy, your shots are beyond me! You street people are tough. Don't you have anything to do but post awesome BIF shots, as a newbie at birds, for us "older" newbies to drop jaws over. Are the streets not calling you. I remember a bridge you used to like to photograph over there on that side of the universe.
Is it still there?

Seriously, I guess if you know your settings, you know your settings whether in streets or following Daniella around and meeting MY birds. They were not so compliant for me. Also, you found them, that is always fun for me. I know they are there, but I can't find them with the lens, then when I do, my lens goes hunting.

Awesome shooting both of you. Steve, you are leading him astray. You will both be birders for life.

Did either of you notice the full moon? Or almost full, will be full tonight. It is quite a challenge, too. Interpretation comes in there, too.

Awesome, Andy, Steve,:clap :clap

from just ginger with one of her usual many posts............:D

[ginger_55]

http://users.aol.com/bikedave1/respect.gif


OK Andy, I am more amazed everyday with your ability to WOW us. I mean, geez, you don't do birds you say, then this!

All these BIF's, and so well exposed, framed and focused. Blast you! You's a good learner - and Steve's a great teacher.

Harry, look out for this guy. Andy will probably be headed your way to tame all those egrets and herrons down in Florida next.

Good gosh, man, don't mention heron! So far he just throws them in a bit, next thing we know he will be eating ribs with them while taking their photos.

g

[Kirwin]

mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

mmmmmmm

mmmm

mm... x-tra krispy nigh' heron. :doh ... x-tra krispy bacon...mmmmm.....
http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/18181268-S.jpg

[Harryb]

Hey Andy,

I must say I'm impressed. :wow You really are beginning to show some promise with this photography thing. :rofl

Really fine shots. :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap

A great contribution to Egret Fest (we will have to do this every year now)
:smile6 :smile6 :smile6

and if Fish don't like I' m prepared to take action
http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/17863324-M.jpg

[wxwax]

Really nice shots. Very impressive. Once again, thanks for sharing your technique. Note to self, must learn lens sweet spots. Not blowing out the highlights in that sun is a major achievement, IMHO. And the Bird In Flight shots are excellent.

[Seamus]

Hey David,
I didn't have to teach Andy very much, I mainly led him to the birds and he took it from there. I actually think he's having fun birding :clap :clap :clap :clap


Andy,
Ya done good :thumb :thumb While I was busy shooting the bull, you were busy shooting the birds :lol

As David mentioned, they all came out well. Fish is gonna love em :lol4


We had a great time, got lots of nice shots and talked to a couple other Canonites :clap Including our friend Daniella, who was "test driving" a new 350D :wow Man, that camera is small. Even in her small hands, it was almost too small. In fact, she complained that her hand had cramped up, from holding it :uhoh Much too small for Andy, or I. Couldn't even get two fingers around the grip :huh It sure looked nice though.


Geeze, I let you post the first Egret/Heron pics and you post all the good ones.......lol Never trust a street shooter :lol

All I'll add is this, closer, shot of a Black Crowned Night Heron.

http://freezeframephotography.smugmug.com/photos/18183057-S.jpg


OK, it's off to bed :snore Hopefully, we'll have another good day of shooting tomorrow :thumb


See ya in few (too few....lol),

Steve
Sigma should sponsor you, bigma is back in the frame, excellent shot. I know it's the photographer, not the lens, but you do get very impressive photos with that lens.:thumb

Shay.

[bfjr]

Street, Birds, Landscape it's all good :thumb:thumb
Comes from being excellent photographers, both Andy & Steve. Oh, and I guess Steve gets one of these :thumb for being a great host!!

Beautiful images guys.

[windoze]

real nice Andy ! i always knew you were one for the birds......

the last one is EXCELLENT!

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/24/24_11_46.gif

i'm out here in california, and my good friend, and fine photographer steve cavigliano took me up to the palo alto baylands nature preserve this afternoon. what a treat! it's a regular egret-convention, ginger, i have found where your egrets went.

i'm really a street shooter, this bird shooting, well, it's for the birds, y'know? or so i thought :lol3 i really had a blast tonight. birding is a real challenge, i've great respect for those that do it regularly. getting a crisp clear, sharp bif, or a cool expression, well that's really worth the effort, let me tell ya.

all shots with my 20d, 70-200 f/2.8L i.s. aboard, plus canon 1.4tc. shot in av mode, iso400 for the most part, -2/3s ec for the most part. shutter speeds 1/800th to 1/1000th sec.

this guy was in the tree waiting for us as soon as we got there. a night-heron?


watching them fly it's almost hypnotic..




then of course the main event - it *is* egret-fest right now, but you already knew that, eh? :lol3 i took these egrets in honor of my good friend harry behret, and also to piss off fish :deal







and as the sun went down and our isos went up, we decided to call it quits, and say good-bye to our fine feathery egret friends. this was one butt-shot that i kept, i rather liked it...
http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/18181266-L.jpg

afterwards, it was off to a really nice dinner, calamari, iceberg wedge salad, hangar steak, and what must've been the idaho state fair prize-
winning baked potato :eat it was, another fine photographic time, and i thank steve for showing me "the baylands...."

enjoy (egret) photography,

[ysr612]

I don't know why I keep coming back here:dunno all these great pictures:clap just make me depressed.:cry


those were great your panning skills must be second to none.

[Daniella]

wow, those are gorgious! I really like the first one. Sorry I missed you guys today but I had a sunburn from yesterday and so decided not to go out today as to not make it worse. I should have put sunscrean :( I even had problem sleeping because it was burning.

Hope you saw some bobcats and coyotee...looking forward to see your photos from Elkhorn!

[pathfinder]

http://users.aol.com/bikedave1/respect.gif


OK Andy, I am more amazed everyday with your ability to WOW us. I mean, geez, you don't do birds you say, then this!

All these BIF's, and so well exposed, framed and focused. Blast you! You's a good learner - and Steve's a great teacher.

Harry, look out for this guy. Andy will probably be headed your way to tame all those egrets and herrons down in Florida next.


He just makes it look easy doesn't he??!! :): Lovely set of BIFs Andy!

[Andy]

OK, it's off to bed :snore Hopefully, we'll have another good day of shooting tomorrow :thumb

Steve

steve, it was a *great* day, looking forward to processing my pics over the weekend. for now, i'm off to hop the redeye back to new york zzzzzzzzzz

very fun today, great to meet ian, and ed h and his family.

thanks for the kind words and for stopping by.

[Seamus]

?


watching them fly it's almost hypnotic..
http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/18181269-L.jpg











enjoy (egret) photography,
Great shots Andy. This is my favourite, when (if) I get a decent bif I will use this as an example in how to frame it.

Shay.

[wholenewlight]

mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

mmmmmmm

mmmm

mm... x-tra krispy nigh' heron. :doh ... x-tra krispy bacon...mmmmm.....
http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/18181268-S.jpg

Tastes like chicken . . . :wink

[ian408]

Hey guys!

What do you think of this panning shot?

http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/18229312-M.jpg

ian

[Andy]

So that's what those white blobs in the palm trees look like up close?

I have to say I'm impressed, and you not even a bird man!

It was a gorgeous, clear, breathtaking day today -- but very very very windy at the coast. I managed to get out for a couple of hours, but no great shots, waves were flat, couple of surfers, couple of black birds, nothing much... and there you and Steve were having a blast getting spectacular bird shots!

Oh well..... I'm glad you got to enjoy a beautiful day -- and catch some interesting birds too -- flying egrets! Wow... The exposure is pretty darn spot on too... got to hand it to you... :clap :clap :clap

dee, i'm really enjoying shooting up your home state :thumb and to give a serious go at birds for the first time, well, that was really special too.

thanks for the comments, and the kind words, and for stopping by.

[davemj98]

I cannot imagine taking these shots with my 717 and no Post. Thanks for the tour. :clap :clap :clap Breathtaking. Have only seen the sun here in Indiana twice in 30 days, so I am even more in awe. :thumb This seems like a really nice place and no one is ranting or raving, Why?:lust Well, I like it. Nice work Mr. Williams.

[Andy]

Let me start by saying :jawdrop

Totally awesome Andy, love looking at these. Something I read about you recently, you used to or still do bike? For local nature photography this year I plan on biking out of the city, into the country for shots. I think I can get to some fairly unique and remote ares this way, and get great excercise at the same time. Do you bike and shoot?

Seriously, these are great shots Andy, just plain awesome in details and sharpness. Thanks for sharing.

AJ

heheh yer funny aj :) do i *look* like i've been biking lately? :lol3 i'll get back to it soon enough though...

thanks for the kind words, and for stopping by :D

Andy, your shots are beyond me! You street people are tough. Don't you have anything to do but post awesome BIF shots, as a newbie at birds, for us "older" newbies to drop jaws over. Are the streets not calling you. I remember a bridge you used to like to photograph over there on that side of the universe.
Is it still there?

Seriously, I guess if you know your settings, you know your settings whether in streets or following Daniella around and meeting MY birds. They were not so compliant for me. Also, you found them, that is always fun for me. I know they are there, but I can't find them with the lens, then when I do, my lens goes hunting.

Awesome shooting both of you. Steve, you are leading him astray. You will both be birders for life.

Did either of you notice the full moon? Or almost full, will be full tonight. It is quite a challenge, too. Interpretation comes in there, too.

Awesome, Andy, Steve,:clap :clap

from just ginger with one of her usual many posts............:D

aw ginger, thanks so much. you've made my day, really. i appreciate your comments very much. thanks.

mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

mmmmmmm

mmmm

mm... x-tra krispy nigh' heron. :doh ... x-tra krispy bacon...mmmmm.....


hey kirwin - yer a funny guy! thanks for stopping by and commenting :clap

Really nice shots. Very impressive. Once again, thanks for sharing your technique. Note to self, must learn lens sweet spots. Not blowing out the highlights in that sun is a major achievement, IMHO. And the Bird In Flight shots are excellent.

sid - it's a real treat when you get shots like this. i had a blast, man. thanks for commenting!

Sigma should sponsor you, bigma is back in the frame, excellent shot. I know it's the photographer, not the lens, but you do get very impressive photos with that lens.:thumb

Shay.

shay, steve wields that bigma like nobody's business! he's just awesome with that thing, isn't he?

Street, Birds, Landscape it's all good :thumb:thumb
Comes from being excellent photographers, both Andy & Steve. Oh, and I guess Steve gets one of these :thumb for being a great host!!

Beautiful images guys.

bfjr, thanks man.

[Andy]

thanks everyone else who replied :D