Handhold for birding

Mark, you did it again -- these are just incredible!

 

Again, thanks for sharing your experience as well,

Mary

Mark, thanks so much for sharing your incredible pictures, your generosity with technique, and your sense of humour.

Hellow Mark, First of all I would congratulate you for that kind of amazing work.

 

I don't know that what secret is behind this, but I know there is a secret.

 

I wish you would share with us, how do you manage and how did you got this kind of fine sturdyness...?

 

How did you started, and how you improoved your abilities...?

 

I would be thankfull if you share the some practice suggestions with us.

 

I don't like to use tripod in these kind of conditions and my lowest ristriction I think is 1/200 and sometimes 1/90-1/45 with my 70-300 at 300mm on a film body.

 

I would also like to know about you exposure calculations.

 

Thanks and regards.

Pankaj Purohit

Mark, I think that in general your shots are beautiful. But, calling my suggestion to take 'several shots in bursts' small advice is fairly typical of your contribution to this discussion. You basically go on to give the exact same advice I give after ridiculing mine.

Thank you so very much, Mark, for this very instructive and inspiring presentation. It does not say enough that these images are magnificent. I am new to wildlife photography and am very partial to handholding for the very common sense reasons that you have presented here. I am using a D300 with a 80-400mm VR f4.5-5.6 zoom which has it's limitations but has already shown that it can produce some very nice results handheld with some practice and patience. I am anxious to get better and I love to spend time in the field, often in a canoe, kayak or a boat, but you have given me some more ideas. I just had to express my gratitude for what you have presented here. I'll close with a small example of one of my first shots with the 80-400...<div></div>

I will just have a few words. I already promised in private email exchange to answer some Pankaj’s question as soon as I will have a spare moment. In meantime thanks Mary and Geoff for even more kind words.

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Now I have to quickly answer Daniel’s post as I see quite misunderstanding. I called my advice small as it was an addition to your post. I should not place a period after but, it is not a secret, I made quite a lot of mistakes when writing. In fact after reading my posts later I found quite a few typos etc that I should correct before posting. True, small advice could be unintentionally understood the wrong way. Again I wanted just add a few remarks how I handle shooting in bursts and called this a small advice. Sorry that this was to you, as everything I wrote before, a <I>‘fairly typical of your contribution to this discussion’</I>. I can’t satisfy every one taste and I am sure many knows more then I do. I am glad that you are in a position that you do not have lo learn from posts like mine here. It is a wonderful feeling. Trust me. My posts are rather directed to those who want to learn something new from me and those who just find them boring, uninteresting and not contributing too much or far below their own skills and knowledge please just skip them. Beauty of the internet; too many posts to choose from on all levels. Best, Mark

And thanks Richard for your words. I am glad that you found something to have thoughts about for a future use. Exactly what I want to trigger by my posts. You had to write the same time I did. All the best and good luck with wonderful adventure of handheld wildlife photography. Mark

I hand hold a Canon 100-400 for birds and shoot as fast as light allows. The information above is very good and I wish I had it when I started shoot birds back in the film days. If you shoot many birds you will get a few excellent, 7/7 type photos; however, you will have many beautiful birds that are out of focus or over exposed, and lots of perfectly focused bird’s rear ends as they fly away. Good luck, take bug spray and a candy bar.<div></div>

Apologies Mark, I misunderstood you. It seemed you were putting down my honest attempt to answer the original point of this thread, which (quite respectfully, here!) you have mostly ignored. In response to a post asking about handheld shooting at low shutter speed people have posted *beautiful* handheld shots that were clearly shot at very high shutter speeds. The only exceptions to these are maybe 4 of the 20-some photos you posted, some nice shots by Douglas Herr, and the amateurish nest shot I posted. This thread has generally ignored the original poster, but has been packed with gorgeous shots.

Incredible Shots, Mark! I think you have done a very nice job of explaining what the original post was about and even

a little more information that we all can learn and grow from. You have even shown us that even low light conditions

can be very favorable, if you know what you are doing. Not many can accomplish the outcomes that you have

achieved, mind you, but hey, we can all appreciate, (well at least the ones that don't let jealousy get in the way), the

wonderful work you do. Thank you so much for sharing as i am sure you are a very busy man.

By the way, Mr Barton i hope you understand that when birds are nesting it is very important to not stress them out

or get too close for a number of reasons, one in particular is that you may unknowingly be leading a predator to the

nest by your smell. There is a code of ethics with nature photographers, please all, respect them and remember you

don't need to get closer you just need a bigger lens :)

 

Heres a link to the Code of Ethics in case you are not aware of it.... http://www.naturephotographers.net/ethics.html

Dear Caped Crusader,

I am a PhD student in evolutionary biology, and the photos I take of bird nests at nests that I am checking

during my research. I have been doing this for about 10 years. I bring a camera along prior to checking their

contents for hatch, measuring nestling growth rates, etc. I have federal and state permits to do so. I greatly

appreciate your efforts to avoid disturbing nests and spread information about how to avoid disturbing nests, as

bird conservation is a critical concern world wide. I hope all amateur and professional wildlife photographers

adhere to such rules.

 

Best,

Dan Barton

Thank you Mark for the kind words, I enjoy making people smile. Due to my not so well thought out argument, I quit early. However, I stand by my words. Getting sharp images of birds handheld at speeds slower than 1/60 second is pure luck. Know matter how steady your hand is if the bird moves the shot is blured.

 

Would you call it skill in keeping the bird from moving? Personally I would call it luck. If you are so skilled in keeping a bird or any animal from moving you are more than skilled, you are a god!

 

What is wrong with admitting that luck plays a big part in photography? Is your ego that inflated?