The Temp is S L O W L Y creeping up

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Yeap, we’re down in TX and the weather started to turn in our favor today. The temp hit 98.3 this afternoon and with that the birds started to pour in. This is a Scale Quail which was kind enough to hop up on a stump to pose. Now if only next time it will move a little to the left so the background is just a little cleaner. I know, I know, yesterday I was moaning it was cool, today the birds need to go to modeling school. What’s next?

Photo captured by D3x, 600VR w/TC-20e3 on Lexar UDMA digital film

Nikon 200-400VRII w/TC-20eIII

I am a little amazed after my quick blog posting about the 200-400VRII w/TC-20eIII works…but…I didn’t get one query. That but though is a big but and has absolutely nothing to do with image quality!

Finding a subject to do real world field shooting and cooperative to do a side by side has been a challenge. In the last couple of days the Violet-green Swallows have come back to Mono Lake to nest. And with sex in the air, a photographer testing a lens just doesn’t register. Thanks goodness, this was not only a gorgeous male but dang helpful in illustrating my points.

Photo on left is just 200-400VRII / on right is the exact same everything but with TC-20eIII added.

First and foremost, shooting the 200-400VRII with the TC-20eIII (no, didn’t test and not going to test with 1.7x) produces gorgeous quality, easily producing a 24×30 print which is my standard. With this said, I would personally never use that combo. The 200-400VRII lives to be shot on its own! The reason is two fold, the main one being the DOF is just too damn narrow! I had to work my butt off and think way too much about technique taking my concentration away from the subject. Next, the number of elements in the 200-400VRII cuts the light down enough so the AF system isn’t as responsive. Shooting the exact same swallow with the 600VR w/TC-20eIII, AF was snap on. Those two factors would keep me from taking this as a serious wildlife photographer solution. Sorry.

This pair of swallows was great, the male displaying to keep other males away from their nest site. And the female bringing in nesting material, feathers being a very popular item. I was only 9.5′ away during my shooting which made testing real simple. Now many have asked about the “old” 200-400VR with the TC-20eIII. I have no clue on that combo. Many have asked about the combo I did test, hopefully you have my own personal conclusion there, it works and works optically beautifully. I still get a lot of folks asking if the new 200-400VRII is “better” than the old version. Like I stated just last week, displaying via the web a visual of what I’m seeing on my Cintiq just isn’t going to happen. IMHO and for MY photography, the new 200-400VRII produces a cleaner image. Or in terms that have become infamous in my 70-200VRII video, it’s a TAD of an improvement. YOU will have to decide for YOUR photography if the upgrade is worth the price. I’ve already put my money down (thanks Jeff) so my mind is already made up. I sure hope this helps some folks, it’s all I have to offer.

More from the 200-400VRII

The 200-400VRII is primarily my “big game” lens but entering into the summer, there just isn’t any big game around the house in the Sierra so field testing by photographing them isn’t possible at the moment. Well, not field testing just won’t do!

With PRS coming up soon, I decided to practice my panning and at the same time, field shoot with the new 200-400VRII. So Jake & I headed to Mono Lake to a creek the California Gulls come into in the afternoon to bathe. I set up purposely so the gulls would be backlit and let some natural fill light reflecting off the tufas deal with some of the shadows. I set myself up where the gulls would set their wings in a glide just prior to come to the creek and pulling up to land.

We shot for about two hours, until our arms got tired of handholding and panning for nearly 800 images. I was VERY impressed with my results which are basically hundreds of images like this, a single gull coasting on in.

And why did I concentrate on just flight for two hours? You been to Mono Lake in the afternoon? You can’t find a nastier background for birds than its bleached bright white alkaline! Yeah, the gulls did interesting and funny things, but you need welding glasses to see it the light is so bright. I’ll take the interesting backlit green background over this white out anytime! The new 200-400VRII seems to be a tad better balanced handheld which I do like. I shot the whole time at f/8 and the D3s did all the AF work. The lens continues to impress me and support my own personal conclusion that it does produce a cleaner image.

Photos captured by D3s, 200-400VRII on Lexar UDMA digital film

The End of 24hrs on the Platte

I spent more time here on the Platte then just 24hrs, but this is how this 24hrs ended. It ended with a moral!

We arrived at the bridge to see this, gray skies with gray birds landing in gray water. Yuck! It might just be enough to really depress you. Unless you know better and have the Radar App on your iPhone. With it and some years behind you, you could see to the west there were no clouds. Gray clouds in front of you, clear on the horizon can only mean one thing boys and girls!

Color! Yeah baby, five minutes before official sunset and the color started to glow. And what a cool color it was for a few moments!

Then it went to the more typical reds of sunset. I felt sorry for those who left early, when the gray skies abound because I know they looked back in their review mirror to see this. Putting in the time once there is the easy part, especially when you’re already there and you have fifteen thousand Sandhill Cranes flying in! Mark even put up the hood on his hoodie because of the fear of being bombed! It was a spectacular end to a spectacular this 24hrs on the Platte!

Photos captured by D3x, 600VR w/TC-20e3 / 70-200VR2 / 600VR w/TC-20e3on Lexar UDMA digital film

Sunrise on the Platte

The alarm went off. Got up, stuffed the sleeping bag, policed the area, set up the tripod and 600mm to the sounds of cranes calling outside. Opened the window slowly to see the cranes hadn’t walked up closer during the night.

Now that might sound bad and if you have a short lens, it can be a little bit of a heartache, but time does cure it. The birds move about and some fly off and in a little while, there are shots to be made. Especially when the stragglers start to think about flying off.

“The Dance” is something I just love watching, so much so I all too often forget to hit the button. When pairs are forming or bonding, they do the most entertaining dance. The D3s was killer because of its video, I got some amazing footage! I shot the entire evening and morning with the TC-20e3 and it performed beautifully! The AF wasn’t happy with the gray on gray so I often manually focused but the images quality, well you can see it here. This isn’t the project I bought it for, but it worked great!

Photos captured by D3x, 600VR w/TC-20e3 on Lexar UDMA digital film

24hrs on the Platte

In my mind at least, the day starts on the Platte at sunset. That’s when the magic unfolds on a scale that can’t be communicated in a single click. When you can see five thousand cranes out the small window of a blind, that number is nothing when you know there are about fifteen thousand within reach of your lens!

Our evening in the blind was capped off by a blazing sunset that lit up the world. The calls of the cranes which echoed in my mind all night as we slept beside them, they in the Platte and us in the blind just instills such an inspiration for these gentle creatures. It was hard for me to sleep last night, excited with what sunrise would bring. Let me show you how the rest of the 24hrs went.

Photo captured by D3x, 600VR w/TC-20e3 on Lexar UDMA digital film

The Amazing Platte

The Platte River and especially its temporary guest, the Sandhill Crane is simple put, one of nature’s great spectacles! I’m here again with my good friend Mark Chitwood revealing in this magnificent event.

It all starts kinda late. We were inserted into the blind (a 4×8′ plywood box, has carpeting though) around 16:00. At around 19:30 the first cranes started to float by in camera range and by 20:00, they were in perfect range. Sunset was at 19:59 and we had cloud cover so there wasn’t much to be photographed at sunset. But you’re not really here for sunset.

The at 07:34 the sun rose but we were up an hour prior. So were the cranes. You sleep in the blind, you are not permitted to get out, for any reason! Going to sleep by the calls of the cranes is one of the best parts of the experience for me. Then before the sun pops, the cranes stir.

The cranes just mill about for literally a couple of hours and appear to spend the time socializing. Pairs tend to do pair bonding and unattached do that courtship thing. What’s that courtship thing?

Well, they pick up sticks, they chase around and they dance. That’s the courtship thing and it is really, truly, the coolest thing to watch!

Then, just as the 5000 cranes arrived the night before, by 10:00 they are gone. They head out to the fields to forage for the day prior to returning to the safety of the Platte and its waters.

We were let out of the blind just after 10:00, that’s 18hrs in the box for those who are counting. It’s not for everyone, that’s for sure. I love it, it’s an experience that is beyond words and as far as this post is concern at least, beyond photographs. I have little time and a horrible connection to get this posting up but wanted to provide you a little taste of what I’m up to this week. The images are a collection of D3x / D3s with 600VR with one using the TC-20e3. Enjoy!

An all Time Favorite!

The first “FL” bird I photographed way back when was the Reddish Egret. It was so sweet to me, coming right up to my lens permitting a clean head shot, I feel for them instantly. That love affair still runs hot.

They do have an attitude during the spring when their breeding plumes are at their best. You can see it here when all is well.

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Be a male coming into the area another male feels is his territory and the hackles get raised. Of course, us wildlife photographer love this riff and the photo opp that comes from it. One of the problems is it often happens in the early morn or late evening when the light levels are low. Action with slow shutter speed can often mean not tack sharp images.

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The “trick” to making the shot is simply shooting, shooting and shooting some more year after year. That dang old time thing, it always get’s in the way. At least, it seems to.

Be sure to keep an eye on Jake’s blog this week. He has a series going from last week and I know first hand, he has some sweet images to share!

Photos captured by D3x, 600VR w/TC-17e on Lexar UDMA digital film

I Just Love Pink!

Pink on blue, what a dynamic color combo! The trick, getting the blue because in FL, getting the pink, the Roseatte Spoonbill is pretty easy (compared to getting it like in KS).

Here’s the problem, there was plenty of pink but not the blue. You have two options, don’t shoot or make the most of what mother nature has presented you. Shooting is just in my blood so I don’t know anything else under these conditions and while gray skies is the last background I would prefer, that’s what we had.

There is a rule in wildlife photography, don’t shoot a bird in flight against a gray sky. This is because of exposure range. Exceptions include pink birds and when a tad, very little, the smallest sliver of light slips under the cloud to kiss the subject.

And if you have gray skies then you will have gray water so the rule applies to both. It can put you in quite a pickle or, if you look for the slightest variation, opens the door to new possibilities. Don’t get stuck behind rules, click and make merry!

Photos captured by D3x, 600VR w/TC-17e on Lexar UDMA digital film

Flight in any form is Gorgeous!

All I could think as I admired the incoming flight of White Ibis was, spectacular. That’s until I saw this one itching its back while flying in. Then I just thought, show off!

There is a very special rockery in Tampa when there is a westery breeze, the evening flyin is just a photographic delight. It is a challenge for your panning skills to say the least as you’re using big glass. There are some visual obstacles in the flight path which can take your eye away from the subject. And the rate of keepers is much lower than normal. But when you do make that sweet click, it is indeed sweet.

Making the shot required a teleconverter but with the ever decreasing light, the loss of light made AF operation sluggish. The trick is to prefocus on an object you think is about the distance of the subject when you first want to acquire it. This speeds up the system and makes it possible to make the click.

Photos captured by D3x, 600VR w/TC-17e on Lexar UDMA digital film

The Osprey

Sitting, or standing as it were, at a nest site for long hours is something I have done alot over the decades. Nesting birds perform on demand or on a schedule, they do it all on their own time. That gives one time to ponder the questions of time, or clean their nails.

There are many cool moments to be seen and photographed at an active nest. Many want to get the “flyin,” when the adult brings the fish into the nest. Me, I kinda like the antics after that event.

As is so aptly put by Jay Maisel, we’re looking for light, color and gesture. The light in this case is fading as the sun sets. The color is constantly changing as the clouds float by behind the subject and in front of the sun and the gesture, that’s the biology.

And here’s the deal, take your eye from the viewfinder for a second and you will miss the shot. How do I know this? I’ve suffered from that plight way too many times!

And then there are those moments when the artsy-fartsy appears before ya and you know you’ve paid your dues for the day. Time, it does cure so much in life and photography!

Photos captured by D3s, 600VR / 600VR w/TC-20e / 600VR on Lexar UDMA digital film

It just takes One heartbeat

Gulls seem to be ignored by most so I guess I feel when in their presence, I’ve gotta make up for that somehow. Personally, I find them really very entertaining and when you can find that one unique individual, photographically rewarding.

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This Ring-billed Gull at first seemed to want nothing to do with me. But after only a couple of minutes, the temptations of the sand flees coming up took over the fulls natural impulse to eat. I would keep its back to me for a while, making it easy to fly away if it were scared. But finally it got use to my standing there and I got the shot I had previsualized, that look just prior to make the snatch on a flea. But to me, it appears the gull is listening to some silly joke the flea is telling it as they passed on the beach. I love capturing those moments.

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Photos captured by D3x, 600VR w/TC-14e on Lexar UDMA digital film

Work it Baby, Work it!

Yeah, there are Fl Brown Pelicans there and how can you not focus in on them, they are just such characters!

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And you can’t just photograph any old pelican that happens to land in front of your lens. You have to be picky. You want to look for adult males in prime breeding plumage. That gets you the brown throat, yellow forehead and greenish tint to throat pouch. This is a great example of just that.

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And then you’ve gotta push it, go for the next step in working it. This afternoon, this is whata I came up with. I like!

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Photos captured by D3s, 500VR on Lexar UDMA digital film

Royal Flight Photography

Laughing Gulls weren’t the only thing taking to the airways. We had a great variety of birds, one of them were Royal Terns.

One of the great things about the location we go to do our panning practice is the birds are flying nearly eyelevel with us while at the same time, giving us a really clean background. It’s the perfect set up.

Sharon just got a 500VR lens (honest, it’s hers) and being the dutiful husband, I had to test the lens and break it in so she doesn’t get hurt by it. That’s because the 500VR is one sharp lens! I’ve used it for the Reno Air Races with killer results but after today, I’m thinking it might be my Sharon’s perfect flight lens.

Photos captured by D3s, 500VR handheld on Lexar UDMA digital film

Laughing Flight Photography

It was practice the basics day at Base Camp and nothing is more basic or essential then panning. And there is no better subject to practice on then gulls. In FL, one of my favorite gulls is purty common, the Laughing Gull. What makes this gull a favorite is the black head and red bill.

There are two ingredients needed for successful flight photography (bird going without saying). Light and sun on you back. Well we had that and man, did it provide the results.

And wanting to challenge myself, I went for shooting headshot flight shots. It was a challenge and I like the results. But I need to spend more time with this and perfect. Thank goodness there are gulls, best practice subject there is!

Photos captured by D3s, 500VR handheld on Lexar UDMA digital film

Back in the Sunshine Again!

Base Camp FL has started and I have to tell ya, it feels great to have the ooz of Tampa Bay between the toes and FL sun on the back. And with all of that, I’m back with friends.

Yeah, Laughing Gulls, they make me laugh!. It’s breeding season so they look great and act so goofy. The challenge, finding the right light for that black and white, find that light in enough quantity to freeze the silliness in the frame and not drive yourself mad in the meantime. The wind didn’t help today, going the wrong direction to get flight stuff.

Then there was this gift. Yeah, I’ve photographed the American Oystercatcher before here in FL, but it was always on the beach. This morning, had this individual on an actual bed of oysters! Now that’s cool. The time and tide were against us, but hope to find him there again this week. It was a great way to get back playing in the sun!
Photos captured by D3x, 600VR w/TC-17e on Lexar UDMA digital film

Simple Click – Not Really

Say hi to a Light-footed Clapper Rail. While this is a simple click, straight out of the camera, actually getting the photo is anything but simple. The Light-footed Clapper Rail is a very endangered species. It is one of the first T&E species I started working with 30yrs ago. I had the opportunity to make a couple of new clicks of them so I thought I would just introduce you. You’ll be seeing more of them in my upcoming book.

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Photo captured by D3x, 200-400VR handheld on Lexar UDMA digital film

Peak of Action

A sharp subject, the #1 ingredient in a successful photograph. There are a whole lot of techniques that when used in concert can help you achieve this goal. Peak of Action is just one of them. It was THE technique back in the day of manual focus but with AF, many don’t know about this simple tool in capturing a sharp image.

The stills in this video weren’t taken during the video filming, the D3s just can’t do that. You can stop video capture for still capture and that works great but the video won’t start again until the buffer is done emptying all the stills. But I think you’ll get the idea better this way then by just a verbal description.



Photo captured by D3s, 600VR w/TC-17e on Lexar UDMA digital film

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