Gary March
Well-known member
Sorry I have been away for a few weeks. I have been chasing turkeys and carving decoys for the last three weeks. It looks as though Al has been doing a great job posting photo's and essays. He does an incredible job at it. My day started by jumping into the boat and in search for any birds to photograph. My first exposure was of a pr. of geese. I really liked the shot because it reminded me of actually hunting them in the fall. Even though the grasses were green there were lots of reeds in the background. My camera settings were ISO 200 because I had some sun and plenty of light. Shutter was set at 1/1250 so to have enough speed not to blurr the wings. My aperture was set at 7.1 so I could still see the cattails in the background.
The my second shot was of this goose. He was landing in the bay next to me. He gave me a very close fly by. They seem to know it isn't hunting season. My camera settings again were Iso 200, shutter speed at 1250 and aperture at 7.1. I was in hopes to get a very clear shot without cropping the photo. I did have a minor crop at about 15%. So the IQ was still good. I know just another goose.
My third shot was of this pr. of geese with some day old chicks. They were out in the winter wheat enjoying the sun and all they could eat. Mama goose was very content. My camera settings were 1/1250 shutterspeed and aperture at 6.3 my lens was a 300mm with the 1.4 tc on it so I was at 420mm. The shot turned out just OK.
My fourth shot was of this pr. of mallards. I really like this shot because there balance on one foot is incredible. The way they shift there body weight to balance so perfectly. My camera settings were shutter at 1/1250 and Aperture at 5.6. I was having trouble getting my shutter speed that high because the sun was behind the clouds, so had to drop down to 5.6 aperture. I have to keep my shutter speed high just because my boat is rocking so much on the water.
This next shot was very unusual. I was running down the shoreline at about 30 mph and this drake mallard flew by me at about 40mph. So I just grab my camera and took the shot. I figured it would blur moving so fast. The background was very busy. Not a very pretty shot. My settings were at 1/1250 5.6. I was just lucky it didn't blurr. I know just another Mallard.
My next shot was of a wood duck flying by. I like this shot but got a better one a little later. My camera settings were F-5.6 and 1/1250 shutter speed. I did crop this shot 50% so it isn't all that clear.
This shot was my best of the day. I hope you like it. The sun was working for me and It was clear enough I could crop it 100%. at F5.6 and shutter speed at 1/1250. I have to say this was my best wood duck shot on the wing ever. They are so hard to get. There fast and the sun has to be low mornings or low afternoon to bring the colors out.
Next photo was of another wood duck on the wing. Its just ok. Nothing to great. All camera settings were as the photo before.
As I was going toward home I saw this Great Blue Heron and stopped to get a shot. Camera settings were also the same. F5.6 and 1/1250, ISO 200. On all of these pics I had my Image stablization set at no.2 and on. The boat just moves to much for me to trust the lens shake as I hand held all these shots.
I am still learning and have so much more to learn. I have never taken a shot that I 100% like, so will keep trying. I hope I have helped some of you on this site. If I can answer any questions feel free to email me. Thanks for taking the time to read my post.
Gary March
The my second shot was of this goose. He was landing in the bay next to me. He gave me a very close fly by. They seem to know it isn't hunting season. My camera settings again were Iso 200, shutter speed at 1250 and aperture at 7.1. I was in hopes to get a very clear shot without cropping the photo. I did have a minor crop at about 15%. So the IQ was still good. I know just another goose.
My third shot was of this pr. of geese with some day old chicks. They were out in the winter wheat enjoying the sun and all they could eat. Mama goose was very content. My camera settings were 1/1250 shutterspeed and aperture at 6.3 my lens was a 300mm with the 1.4 tc on it so I was at 420mm. The shot turned out just OK.
My fourth shot was of this pr. of mallards. I really like this shot because there balance on one foot is incredible. The way they shift there body weight to balance so perfectly. My camera settings were shutter at 1/1250 and Aperture at 5.6. I was having trouble getting my shutter speed that high because the sun was behind the clouds, so had to drop down to 5.6 aperture. I have to keep my shutter speed high just because my boat is rocking so much on the water.
This next shot was very unusual. I was running down the shoreline at about 30 mph and this drake mallard flew by me at about 40mph. So I just grab my camera and took the shot. I figured it would blur moving so fast. The background was very busy. Not a very pretty shot. My settings were at 1/1250 5.6. I was just lucky it didn't blurr. I know just another Mallard.
My next shot was of a wood duck flying by. I like this shot but got a better one a little later. My camera settings were F-5.6 and 1/1250 shutter speed. I did crop this shot 50% so it isn't all that clear.
This shot was my best of the day. I hope you like it. The sun was working for me and It was clear enough I could crop it 100%. at F5.6 and shutter speed at 1/1250. I have to say this was my best wood duck shot on the wing ever. They are so hard to get. There fast and the sun has to be low mornings or low afternoon to bring the colors out.
Next photo was of another wood duck on the wing. Its just ok. Nothing to great. All camera settings were as the photo before.
As I was going toward home I saw this Great Blue Heron and stopped to get a shot. Camera settings were also the same. F5.6 and 1/1250, ISO 200. On all of these pics I had my Image stablization set at no.2 and on. The boat just moves to much for me to trust the lens shake as I hand held all these shots.
I am still learning and have so much more to learn. I have never taken a shot that I 100% like, so will keep trying. I hope I have helped some of you on this site. If I can answer any questions feel free to email me. Thanks for taking the time to read my post.
Gary March
