Purple Sandpiper -- thanx Heather (Barnegat)

Good work Brian

Brian,

Neat image. I've never used an extension tube on a shorebird. You certainly were close.

Jim

Jim Urbach wrote:Brian,

Neat image. I've never used an extension tube on a shorebird. You certainly were close.

Jim

These guys were so tame that at times they would walk right up next to you. At one point a Ruddy walked around inspecting many of our bags and spent time pecking at my LowePro ... and no I had no food in it (OK, maybe one snickers bar but it was frozen)
I put the extension tube on after focusing started becoming an issue and decided to leave it on the remainder of the day.

If anyone wants to chime in for others to benefit (including me) maybe you could explain how it is that adding a 12mm extension tube (extending the focal length) actually lessens the minimum focus distance. To me this seems to be backwards then what is expected, but it works.

A winner IMHO

Great shot, Brian. I love everything about it especially the perch.

jn

I have many images of the only Purple Sandpiper many have seen on the east Texas coast and none are this nice. Great image, Brian.

Brian, looks like he's posing for you. Love the bright feathers on the back.

Excellent capture indeed!!!
One of these wasted three and one half hour of my time a few weeks ago!!
He never showed up at Biscayne National Park south of Homestead FL!!
He had been seen many times before at that spot!!

Brian,

This is very nice. The colors, the pose, and the perch are all excellent.

Absolutely faultless! Excellent work!

cheers, Oliver

If anyone wants to chime in for others to benefit (including me) maybe you could explain how it is that adding a 12mm extension tube (extending the focal length) actually lessens the minimum focus distance. To me this seems to be backwards then what is expected, but it works.

Adding an extension tube doesn't extend the focal length; it extends the distance the optical node of the lens is away from the film plane. Just like turning the helical focusing mount on a non internal focusing lens moves the lens elements away from the focal plane. This is all contained in the simple equation:

(1/F) = (1/I) + (1/O)

where F = focal length, I = Image Distance (from focal node to film plane), and O = object distance.

Putting an extension tube between the lens and the film plane increases the Image distance, and thus the Object distance (between the lens and the subject) must be smaller as the Focal length stays the same.

It looks like you have the makings of a very nice photo here, but the colors as presented are definitely off. The beak isn't that saturated of a red. It really should be a more subtle dull orange.

Nice capture.

Very good image, the bird really stands out from that lovely BG.

I'm a little late in commenting...nice blue background. It was a pleasure shooting with you again! Glad you enjoyed Barnegat and plan to go back.