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We had another good (but too cold) morning with the Sharp-tailed Grouse. I learned that the Greater Prairie Chickens are only a bit larger than the sharp-taileds. The latter are surely faster and more frenetic than the GPCs. We are moving to a new lek tomorrow as there were too many birds and too many rocks on the one we have been working.
Today is Monday 21 April 2024. We will be up early and heading to a new sharp-tailed lek. Whatever you opt to do, I hope that you too have a ton of fun.
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This image was created on 22 March 2024 in North Dakota by good friend and multiple IPT veteran Kevin Hice. He used the tripod-mounted Canon RF 600mm f/4 L IS USM Lens, an Canon Extender RF 1.4x, and the Canon EOS R5 Mirrorless Camera. ISO 2000: 1//3200 sec. at f/4 in Manual mode. Be sure to click on the image to see a larger and sharper high res version. Image #6: Sharp-tailed Grouse fighting |
Kevin Hice
In the Canon Shooter Kevin Hice is One Smart, Tough, Hardworking, Determined Guy and One Fine Photographer here, I wrote: All are invited to leave a comment on the quality of Kevin’s images. Please let him know which of his images you like best and why you like them.
I feel that each of Kevin’s images is of outstanding artistic and technical quality. My very favorite was Image #6, the Sharp-tailed Grouse fighting image above. I appreciate that one even more since trying to photograph them on Saturday morning! Next up for mw was the beautiful Bighorn Sheep ram, Image #2.
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This image was created on 29 June 2021 at Huguenot Memorial Park on a Jacksonville, FL IPT. Standing at full height I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 200mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 640. 1/3200 second at f/7.1 (stopped down 2/3-stop) in Manual Mode. AWB at 9:16:26am on a sunny morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be dead solid perfect. Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1: Royal Tern screaming in flight |
Square Crops
In the It’s Not Always Easy to Get it Exactly Right in Bird Photography. What Do You Think of Square Crops? And How are Those Two Related? blog post here, I far preferred Image #1 above, to Image #2 because of the neat expression on the tern’s face. Not everyone agreed. As far as square crops in general, I am fine with them. Each of us is the artist, we get to do what we think is best with our images. I try to avoid boxy crops, but will not hesitate going that route when I think that it is best for the image. In the same vein, some images shine with a pano crop.
Best of all, square crops can be used to salvage images where one or two wings have been clipped. And the results are often quite excellent.
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This image was created on 9 MAY 2023 on a DeSoto IPT. While seated on damp sand, I used the toe-pod technique with the handheld the Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1: Little Blue Heron with tiny baitfish |
DeSoto in Spring
In the Fort DeSoto May Highlights Part I — It’s Not Too Late! blog post here, my favorite image by a slim margin was the pied Little Blue Heron. I love the soft color tones, the sweet light, the low perspective, the beautiful and somewhat unusual plumage, the tiny fish, and the perfect head angle. Four of the five images received mention as being the strongest.
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This image was created on 14 April 2024 at Fort Pierre National Grasslands, SD. Seated on a small camp chair working off the rear monitor in a large pop-up blind, I used the lowered Robus RC-5558 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and the ridiculously amazing Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 2000. 1/4000 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file brightness was determined to be perfect. AWB at 7:48:42am on sunny morning. Tracking Zone/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed perfectly even at 1200mm. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #4: Greater Prairie Chicken male on log |
Ah, the Miracle of the Low Perch!
In the Greater Prairie Chicken Miracles Can Happen! blog post here, my favorite by a small margin was #4. I was thrilled the day after we put the perch in place that so many birds obliged us. its #4, my only wish was a complete view of the far foot.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
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