First Post - Burrowing Owl


Posted by toddao on Wed Sep 28, 2005 9:23 pm

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Hi all. I've had my SLR since March, and recently discovered how much I enjoy shooting and learning about birds. I spent most of the summer sitting in my backyard with my camera watching and shooting bird photos. So I just got a more serious birding lens, the 400 f/5.6, about a month ago. I joined this forum to learn as much as I can and hopefully improve my technique. This seems to be a nice group of folks, and I generally have found the critiques I've seen to be very helpful.

So I was out in the Bay Area on business and took a couple of days to hit some birding spots I'd learned about and found these Burrowing Owls in Mountainview at Shoreline Park. What a treat! I'd never seen owls in the wild before so I thought I'd share.
Image
There are a few other images on my pbase site including a couple of birds I haven't yet ID'd.

http://www.pbase.com/toddao/birds_and_b ... 005&page=2
-Todd
http://www.pbase.com/toddao

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by Terence P. Brashear on Wed Sep 28, 2005 9:30 pm
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Todd

Welcome. Some technicals on the image would be helpful - shutter speed, etc.

Looks like a little more depth of field was needed since the eye is sharp, but the top of the head and the beak are not. Nice image.

Regards,

Terry
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by toddao on Wed Sep 28, 2005 9:34 pm
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Thanks Terry,

The details....of course......Sorry!

400mm 1/800sec, f/5.6, ISO 400, handheld, no flash.
-Todd
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by Van Hilliard on Wed Sep 28, 2005 9:37 pm
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The eye is the key. It's sharp, giving the entire image a point of focus.
Terrific first post. I might have made it just a bit darker -- or perhaps a little more contrasty.

Still, a great shot of a wonderful bird.

Welcome to NatureScapes. You can learn more from the comments here and from the posts than any other source. It's just my opinion, but I think it's shared by most others who take part here.

Van
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by whf4 on Wed Sep 28, 2005 9:41 pm
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Very cool first post. I agree with the other comments.
4 down, 2 to go.
 

by toddao on Wed Sep 28, 2005 9:47 pm
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Thanks Van, 4 Celsius. Appreciate the feedback. He let me get fairly close, so I guess that may have reduced my DOF. I think that's one of the most difficult concepts for me in the field is to know if my DOF is going to be adequate.

I suppose for most shots when I'm further away the DOF wide open is somewhat less of an issue.

-Todd
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by bcurrie on Wed Sep 28, 2005 9:54 pm
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Welcome Todd. I agree with Terry's comments. Great profile shot though.
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by tagor on Wed Sep 28, 2005 10:05 pm
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Were you one of the guys who ignored the signs to leave the nest alone (using a fairly short lens)? If this is full frame you must have been awfully close to the minimum focusing distance of the 400.

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by AForns on Wed Sep 28, 2005 10:13 pm
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Todd you got a nice one here !!! I would suggest pointing the camera a bit more up and left would give a little extra negative space and balance the image !!! Could increase contrast or go to Selective color and increase the neutral and move the bottom slider only !! Will make bid difference. Glad to do for you if you wish!!!

I like the plane of pose and bg !!!! Thanks for posting and hoping to see lots more !!! 8) 8)
Alfred Forns
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by Paul Klenck on Wed Sep 28, 2005 10:39 pm
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Todd, Great first post, and some wonderful suggestions already made. You're right, figuring out appropriate DOF while in the field is a learning process!! Look forward to seeing more.
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by jhapeman on Wed Sep 28, 2005 10:42 pm
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Very nice first post. As others have pointed out, a touch more DOF would have been nice here. Looks like it was bright enough. Keep posting!

Jeff
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by KK Hui on Thu Sep 29, 2005 1:15 am
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Welcome aboard NSN, Todd!
A bit tight as is and would like to see a little more dof in this one. Keep up with the good work and look forward to seeing more ...
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by Juan E. Bahamon on Thu Sep 29, 2005 2:14 am
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Todd:

Thanks for joining NSN. Great stuff on your web site. I love the Chickadee. All the nits of this picture have been addressed. The main isssue here is to know behavior, since we know burrowing owls do not move much, then is necessary to bring a tripod, chose an aperture of of f11 with AV the resulting shutter speed ~ 1/125 or 1/60 will be more than appropiated to render the bird tack sharp from head to toe.
Juan E. Bahamon
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by mrhughj on Thu Sep 29, 2005 5:51 am
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Welcome to NSN and congrats on your frst post, Todd!!!!!!!!!!

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by toddao on Thu Sep 29, 2005 7:52 am
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Thanks for all the great suggestions everyone!

Todd
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by Alan Murphy on Thu Sep 29, 2005 5:17 pm
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Todd, welcome to NSN and bird photography. Your off to a great start.

You may have a Golden Crowned Sparrow on page three of your site. Where was it taken.
Alan Murphy
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by Mike Wilson on Thu Sep 29, 2005 9:29 pm
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Nice post and welcome. I agree that focusing on the eye and bill are the key here and stopping down to f/11-16 would improve sharpness throughout the bird.
Mike Wilson
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by toddao on Thu Sep 29, 2005 9:56 pm
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Thanks Alan and Mike.

Alan I think you may be right about the Golden Crowned Sparrow....I also took this in the Bay Area of CA.
-Todd
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