Newest lens is for the birds... - DPChallenge Forums

01/11/2009 10:39:44 PM · #1

My woodpecker finally came for a visit. Twas a nice surprise.

my bird gallery

08/09/2008 11:53:13 PM · #2

07/31/2008 02:49:54 AM · #3

I'm back!

sabphoto

Samsung Galaxy S8/S8+

07/03/2008 07:34:11 AM · #4

Originally posted by cynthiann:

Originally posted by drewbixcube:

Originally posted by cynthiann:
You probably just saved me a headache.

Nah, just switch over to Canon...ours is a button on the back of the flash!
If you have any trouble it's page 98 in your camera's manual.

LOL! Unfortunately, I'm just as stubborn as the rest of the Nikonians.

1.5 hours of daylight left... the bait is set... and now I sit and wait. Haven't set the setting yet, we'll see how that goes . I'm out of town next few day, so this is my last chance for awhile. I'd put out extra peanuts, but my squirrel, Slippy, will eat them. :)

Oh sure, bait us with some cool pics and info then just leave us for a few days! Not cool. ;) Have a great weekend.

07/02/2008 07:38:09 PM · #5

Originally posted by drewbixcube:

Originally posted by cynthiann:
You probably just saved me a headache.

Nah, just switch over to Canon...ours is a button on the back of the flash!
If you have any trouble it's page 98 in your camera's manual.

LOL! Unfortunately, I'm just as stubborn as the rest of the Nikonians.

1.5 hours of daylight left... the bait is set... and now I sit and wait. Haven't set the setting yet, we'll see how that goes . I'm out of town next few day, so this is my last chance for awhile. I'd put out extra peanuts, but my squirrel, Slippy, will eat them. :)

07/02/2008 04:33:16 PM · #6

Originally posted by cynthiann:

You probably just saved me a headache.

Nah, just switch over to Canon...ours is a button on the back of the flash!
If you have any trouble it's page 98 in your camera's manual.

07/02/2008 04:27:52 PM · #7

You probably just saved me a headache. Thanks again!!

...and I get off work in 2 minutes.

Woohoo!

Like I said... You da' man!!

07/02/2008 04:18:57 PM · #8

I am not that familiar with the Nikon systems, but did some research.

From SB600 manual:
High-Speed flash synchronization at your camera�s highest shutter speed is now possible. In this mode, the Auto FP High-Speed Sync mode is automatically set when the shutter speed exceeds the camera�s sync shutter speed. This is useful when you want to use a wider aperture to achieve shallow depth of field to blur the background.
� Available with compatible cameras. You cannot set the Auto FP High-Speed sync mode on the SB-600 directly, but must set it on the camera.
� When set on the camera, the K indicator appears on the LCD panel.
� High-speed flash synchronization is possible exceeding your camera�s sync shutter speed up to your camera�s highest shutter speed.
� Auto FP High-Speed sync also operates in the Advanced Wireless Lighting mode.
� Available flash modes are i-TTL and Manual flash.

I think you should be able to enable Custom Setting #25 on the camera and it will do the trick...according to the manual.

Best of luck!
-drew

07/02/2008 03:49:21 PM · #9

SB600

07/02/2008 03:46:03 PM · #10

which flash are you using?

07/02/2008 03:34:01 PM · #11

OMG Drew! You the man!!!!!

I can't wait to get home now.

07/02/2008 03:27:55 PM · #12

Originally posted by cynthiann:

Since I set up this wireless flash my camera isn't letting me go faster than 1/200 in manual. Why? :(

First off, awesome shot!

1/200 is your max sync speed for the flash/camera. If you go faster the flash will only appear in part of your frame, as the mirror is already closing on the dark end. See if there is a "high speed sync" button on the flash, it should enable you to sync at higher speeds. Keep up the great work! You have to love the 50mm 1.8! I took this shot with it...of course I cheated and had a coworker holding the hawk!

-drew

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

07/02/2008 03:01:31 PM · #13

Thanks Ryan, I'll take a closer look at WB. I usually let the camera and RAW do it automatically.

Last night I set up the flash and here's what I got.

So here are my new questions? I need another flash, don't I?

and...

Since I set up this wireless flash my camera isn't letting me go faster than 1/200 in manual. Why? :(

ETA: forgot again to take pics of my set-up. I'll do it after work before I obsess about the birds. :)

Message edited by author 2008-07-02 15:03:34.

sailracer_98

Canon EOS-6D

07/01/2008 04:52:02 PM · #14

Hi Cynthia,

Nice job, overall, but I do have one suggestion that I think would improve the photos. It looks like the white balance of your camera is not set to match the (tungsten?) lights you are using for lighting the scene. The result is a "warmish" cast in all the photos making them look a little un-natural. Are you shooting in RAW? If you are, you can easily experiment with the different white balance settings in the RAW converter and see the results. You could also "calibrate" your white balance by shooting a picture of a white piece of paper on the bird perch and then using the click white balance option in the raw converter and use an eyedropper tool to select the white piece of paper and set the white point and then save that setting and automatically apply it to all of the images. (The Nikon RAW converter may differ from the Canon one I am used to, but there should still be a similar way to choose a white point.)

-Ryan

07/01/2008 03:20:51 PM · #15

Originally posted by cynthiann:

It's actually in my office at home. The birds usually land on a particular branch before flying to the feeder. So I can do my office work until I see one, roll over to the window, grab the camera and point without them suspecting a thing. I'll have pics tomorrow, I promise.

Many thanks to you for putting up with me, I appreciate you taking the photos and look forward to seeing them. Hope you do not mind more questions as they come about. I have attempted the same photos for about 2 years now and had minimal luck, so I am really interested in what you have created.

thanks again,
Rich

07/01/2008 03:09:09 PM · #16

07/01/2008 02:48:44 PM · #17

Originally posted by cynthiann:

Well, since I'm behind a window, they can't hear me... and since I'm behind a black sheet in a dark room and they are under a bright light, then they can't see me.

Ahhhh.... So this is placed on a window from say a garage or a home then? and these are shot through a window? I will wait and look at the photos, maybe then I will understand better... Sorry I am a bit slow today for some reason :)

Message edited by author 2008-07-01 14:52:27.

07/01/2008 02:47:14 PM · #18

Well, since I'm behind a window, they can't hear me... and since I'm behind a black sheet in a dark room and they are under a bright light, then they can't see me. If I leaned up closer to the window, they would probably sense me, but there is no need to, they are literally inches from the glass.

Message edited by author 2008-07-01 14:48:24.

07/01/2008 02:33:10 PM · #19

Originally posted by cynthiann:

Originally posted by Hot_Pixel:
Hi Cynthiann,

Could you please direct me to the description of your setup, I would love to hear about how you are being able to do these beautiful shots with a 50mm. Any help would greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Rich

Basically it's a bird feeder built out of 2X4s that is about 1 foot by 1 foot. I put sunflower seed, cheap bird feed, and peanuts in it (sometimes grub). Above are some bright utility lights and soon to be a flash. The top half of the window is covered with aluminum insulation that reflects the light back away from the window and keeps the birds from seeing in. The inside bottom of the window is covered in static cling car window tint with a hole cut out to take pictures through. I've hung a black sheet on the curtain rod, cut out a hole for the viewfinder, set my settings, and rubber band the camera to the sheet. That way when the bird looks through the cut out part of the window tint, all he sees is a floating camera. :)

I take pics of it tonight.

fir3bird, thanks for the info and the offer. I wish I did live nearby. :)

Thanks, photos would be great!!!! One more question, are you doing your photos by wireless remote, whow do you make it so your presence doesnt scare them away?

Thanks again,
Rich

07/01/2008 02:29:47 PM · #20

Originally posted by Hot_Pixel:

Hi Cynthiann,

Could you please direct me to the description of your setup, I would love to hear about how you are being able to do these beautiful shots with a 50mm. Any help would greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Rich

Basically it's a bird feeder built out of 2X4s that is about 1 foot by 1 foot. I put sunflower seed, cheap bird feed, and peanuts in it (sometimes grub). Above are some bright utility lights and soon to be a flash. The top half of the window is covered with aluminum insulation that reflects the light back away from the window and keeps the birds from seeing in. The inside bottom of the window is covered in static cling car window tint with a hole cut out to take pictures through. I've hung a black sheet on the curtain rod, cut out a hole for the viewfinder, set my settings, and rubber band the camera to the sheet. That way when the bird looks through the cut out part of the window tint, all he sees is a floating camera. :)

I take pics of it tonight.

fir3bird, thanks for the info and the offer. I wish I did live nearby. :)

Message edited by author 2008-07-01 14:34:22.

FireBird

06/30/2008 04:24:13 PM · #21

Originally posted by cynthiann:

yeah, my neighbor has one I can borrow, I'll try that today or tomorrow. My main concern with using a flash is their little eyes. I've actually tried my in camera flash a few times and it doesn't phase them a bit (though it didn't give me the results I wanted). Even though they didn't seem to mind it, I still can't help but think they will start to see spots when the blink and curse the bird feeder that gave it to them.

Flash is the way to go. The birds might jump or startle a bit from it but it will not harm the birds. I'm sure their thinking process are not like ours at all and they probably won't associate the flash with your feeder and avoid it. They'll probably gradually get used to it. As to hurting their eyes, you can set most flashes manually to low levels. If you lived nearby I'd let you use my flash setup. I've got 4 SB28's with rf remote triggers attached. You could have flashes in 4 different locations, all controlled by a transmitter in your hotshoe. BTW these work as well on Canons as Nikons because you'll be adjusting the flash manually.

06/30/2008 04:21:45 PM · #22

06/30/2008 04:14:42 PM · #23

Originally posted by sabphoto:

Very nice pictures and it sounds like a cool setup, I may have to remember your setup for when I move back home.

I almost had a cool bird shot this morning on the way to work...less than 5 minutes earlier I had put my wide angle on the camera and locked it in the closet (military barracks life...yeah...) I grabbed my other stuff, walked out and locked the door...went around the corner. As I approached the steps I noticed something fly to the ground. I looked down and it was a huge beautiful hawk. He was sitting there looking for something. I thought "damn you, why didn't you have the camera!"

Since he sat there for a minute I decided I could rush back to my room and get the camera. Just as I rounded the corner I looked back and he flew up to a tree branch that would still give a nice shot. I unlocked my door as he dove to the ground again, ran inside, got the camera, added the tele and went outside...yep he was gone. I was so mad at myself, I probably could have gotten such a nice shot of him, I'm still kicking myself this afternoon. lol

lol, you know, if you hadn't of locked up your camera, the hawk wouldn't have been there at all.

sabphoto

Samsung Galaxy S8/S8+

06/30/2008 04:06:43 PM · #24