I know keg has some great bird shots. here are a couple simple ones I took that I kind of like.

hummingbird, geese

Az,
I dont think any of these are great but I do think they are getting better..anyway these are probably my best bird shots.

Eagle 5837
Eagle 5861
Eagle in Flight 5356
Goose "running on water" 5508
Great Blue Heron 5243
Great Blue Heron 5268
Red-Winged Blackbird
Red Shouldered Hawk 4524
Red Shouldered Hawk 4507
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Mocking Bird
Tower: "Runways 1, 2, 3 4 & 5 please stay in holding pattern until further notice" 3108
Winged Rat 0003

REALLY like the hummingbird...I have never even seen a hummingbird live to have a chance to photo one...the closest I ever got was
this shot of a Hummingbird Moth

I was just incredibly lucky when that one came right up to me when i was out on a hike and stayed just long enough for me to get a couple quick shots. I was probably even more lucky that one of them was in focus

those were all very good shots, but these two in particular were my favorites. just love the lighting and contrast on that last one.

I know exactly what you mean..my hummingbird moth was like the freakin flash...i saw him and was able to snap off two QUICK shots and the one I posted was at least good enough to see what it was

thanks and I actually really like that last shot too but have never 100% been able to put my finger on why(composition, contrast, lighting or some combo of that)

e

The back/fore front lighting was superb! Or whatever else you used. I have spent days/weeks trying to get a good shot of a hummer. I have a few, but none compare to that one. Very nice!

Is Mrs. RR aware of this?

It was ambient lighting.....Here is the EXIF Data from Azz's pic:

[Image]
Image Description = SONY DSC
Make = SONY
Model = DSLR-A100
X Resolution = 240
Y Resolution = 240
Resolution Unit = inch
Software = DSLR-A100 v1.02
Date Time = 2009-03-14 09:36:17
Exif IFD Pointer = Offset: 200

[Camera]
Exposure Time = 1/640"
F Number = F5
Exposure Program = Aperture priority
ISO Speed Ratings = 100
Exif Version = Version 2.21
Date Time Original = 2007-05-27 11:07:33
Date Time Digitized = 2007-05-27 11:07:33
Shutter Speed Value = 9.32 TV
Aperture Value = 4.64 AV
Brightness Value = 8.87 BV
Exposure Bias Value = ±0EV
Max Aperture Value = F4
Metering Mode = Pattern
Light Source = unknown
Flash = Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Focal Length = 210mm
Subject Area = Rectangle: center(x=1149, y=1296), width=329, height=393
File Source = DSC
Scene Type = A directly photographed image
Custom Rendered = Normal process
Exposure Mode = Auto exposure
White Balance = Auto white balance
Digital Zoom Ratio =
Focal Length In 35mm Film = 315mm
Scene Capture Type = Normal
Gain Control = None
Contrast = Normal
Saturation = Normal
Sharpness = Normal

[Thumbnail Info]
Compression = JPEG Compressed (Thumbnail)
X Resolution = 72
Y Resolution = 72
Resolution Unit = inch
JPEG Interchange Format = Offset: 768
JPEG Interchange Format Length = Length: 12671

yup, it was really just a nice, bright day

edit: one thing I should add, is that I believe I had a b+w circular polarizer filter on for the hummingbird shot....those are just awesome for midday sunlight, toning down the harshness and getting a really nice full range of color and contrast.

Nice shots Keg, great angles on a few of them and make sure you get those watermarks up there.

ETA: Your mockingbird shot has a tremendous amount of color and depth. My only constructive advice on that one from an advertising standpoint is to get a little more focus on the lower left portion of the frame. Well done.

Thanks, not sure if I will be able to go back and put the watermarks on the pics currently up but it will be going up on all new pics (thanks)


Thanks again...and I am not exactly sure what you mean when you say more focus in teh bottom left...i think you mean to have more image in that part of the frame since his tail feathers are right there...if that is the case you are correct..that is a crop that was done a bit to tight...I actually gave that picture to my MIL for Christmas and it isnt cropped as much on that side...believe it or not that was like my first real shot with my 100-400 and it was hand held so I was extremely surprised to get such a crisp shot (hand held at 400mm)...i say first real shot because I did have to shoot inanimate objects with it in the house just to try it out but that pic was snapped on my first walk right down the corner from my house...honestly, I was floored when I saw the colors in that shot along with how nice the bokeh was with that lens.

In a word...YES! Because I had my Tripod setup in the kitchen for 3 days (in one instance) and she kept saying "When are you putting that stuff away???!!!)".

fwiw, I talked to Azz prior to changing the title of this and the other Pics thread...Figured an accronym like LAMP (Look At My Pics) along with whatever the theme is would allow for us to search out the threads a bit easier in the future. Also figured that LAMP kinda goes hand in hand with Lighting which of course is important to photography so that is why I came up with LAMP...if anyone has a better idea I will gladly change it.

love the hummingbird and how the dandylion seeds are in focus in its beak

here are some Pileated Woodpecker pics(while he is building a nest)

not sure if anyone knows but these guys are not easy to photo...they are normally very active and always moving so getting a clear shot is far from easy....i got lucky with this guy(male has the red mustache)....and man can this guy toss some wood chips.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3646/338367...bcd43b5e2_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3579/338284...e47fef97e_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3664/338370...04b34a1e3_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3618/338374...b220047ae_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3634/338363...ded9ff569_b.jpg

oh and a couple bonus pics of an Osprey I was able to get very close to
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3603/337236...2e8253eaa_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3449/338097...ac5edc753_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3568/338095...c3e2082ac_b.jpg

was out on the river today in a 14' jon boat (luckily there was next to no wind and hence no real wave action...but there were other boaters and contending with their wakes made things much more difficult to get shots in focus) and was lucky enough to get a shot of a mother osprey landing into her nest and if you look very close you can see a couple of offspring...unfortunately the fog/haze had yet to burn off of the river so the background and lighting conditions in general were horrible...the second link is to the original size(large) for those that want a better look at the well camouflaged young

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3386/360384...111e5a87f_o.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2457/360383...24238386c_o.jpg