The Stare - View Large Please

Still straining on bird imaging. Even the rented 100 - 400mm barely fit

the bill. More of a behavioral shot verses an individual study. I thank

you in advance for any help you might suggest.

-Dave

Would this work better with the camera turned to portrait orientation?

I could, but it is a pretty serious crop already.

-Dave

I can understand your reluctance to crop if you have already cropped it to a degree, but I think the current composition works ok as it is., because"The Stare" seems to be aimed at the mussel bed being revealed, (presumably by an ebbing tide).  Maybe a bit more room to the right of the bird would place it in a more "thirds" position horizontally with a more traditional "Landscape" shape to the shot. The image looks to have a painterly quality to it, and though this may not be intentional, it does have appeal.

Regards

Alf

Hi Dave,  I tend to agree with Alf on this one.  The colors on the GBH are beautiful but The light on the water and mussel beds is to dark/contrasty... if that's a word.  Here you might have to go back and wait for a better shot. It may take a while but when you get one with prey it makes the hours worth it.  Have fun.

Here is a move more to thirds.  Steve may be right, I might have to try again.  Guess I'll rent a 500mm and possibly a 1.4 the next time.

-Dave

Yeah, Dave, I like this crop better but it sounds like you have the bug to get the shot. 

I haven't heard exciting things about the TC on the 100-400 and have only used mine on my 500.  I like the 100-400 as is (after three trips to Canon to tweak it for sharpness...) and putting a TC on it will slow it down enough that if may be hard to get fast enough shots  unless, or course, you are tripoding the thing.  I see that some of your shots are in SoCal. You ever get down the the Bolsa Chica bridge?

SoCal is a long way away from me.  I am up near Sacramento.  I have not dropped the bomb for any birding gear, probably won't for a number of years (about $10,000 new or 2/3rds that used).  But there are rental companies.  I mainly shoot landscapes as you see, but am trying to diversify a bit more, mostly with the gear I have and circumstances allow.  Best regards...

-Dave

Love your landscape shots.  If that 30D is yours all you need is a good used Canon 400 5.6.  It's not an IS but it is super sharp and in daylight shooting, at a decent speed you can get some really super shots.....  just an idea.

Here's a link to a friend of mine who used one for some of his older shots.  I think you'll see that his newer stuff with the 500 shows better reach but that 400 is danged near as sharp if not equal.

Pardon me for spending your money...

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=9709816