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I was playing around at the Basque Del Apache yesterday. Their was several pro photographers out there with their 500 or 600mm lenses so I felt a little out gunned with my 300mm lens. This ois my first attempt at this shot, so, I'll go back and try it again in the next couple of months. Taken right at daybreak, Nikon D200, Nikon 300mm AFS 2.8 lens with a tripod. 1/500, f11, ISO 800

 

 

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Southwestern New Mexico

Well, that's it.  I'm done with bird photography.  After you took that second shot, there really isn't much point in me trying to top it.  Not going to happen.

Speaking of sandhill cranes, has anyone in Indiana been to the Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife area during the fall?  I'm thinking of heading up there this weekend or next and was wondering if anyone had any tips (what time to go, etc.).  They've counted over 10,000 cranes there so far this fall...  

I actually took a couple hundred shots while I was at the Basque. This month the Crane Festival is from Nov 17th through the 24th. This area has thousands of Sandhill cranes and about a million snow geese. There are also deer, pheasant, elk, coyotes, millions of ducks, bald eagles and who knows how many different types of raptors. This place is world renown for bird photographers. I am not a very good photographer, so, I know you can do better.

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Southwestern New Mexico

Well I can see why you want to keep practicing...

Pretty special... Raptor Lover...

Fraser

 

Simply stunning raptrlvr!

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Last two photo-lifers: Tundra Swan and Varied Thrush.

Awesome shots.

I had my scope pointed at the moon after dark the other night, watching the silhouettes of migrating birds flutter from one side of the moon to the other. It's amazing to watch on a clear night with a moon that's near full.

Treasure those moon shots.  I assume the moon was low in the sky based on the angle of the bird.  I tried for an hour to get a vulture/moon shot, only got close.  Nice work.

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Latest Birds: Sage Thrasher, Ferruginous Hawk, Common Goldeneye

Awesome shot, especially the second frame!

I love how you keep saying you're not a very good photographer and yet, you keep posting shots like that. 

I'll concede that there may be degrees of "good", but I for one would say you've at least attained some level of "good" at this point.

I tried to get some shots as the moon came up on Monday afternoon, but, none of the birds were co-operating. These shots were taken in the morning as the moon was going down and the sun was coming up. This shot has been done many times over by pro photographers, but, everyone wants to see if they can get that shot.  You really need a longer lens such as a 500mm or a 600mm. If I tried to use my 1.4 teleconverter along with the 300mm, I don't think I would have had enough light to stop the action of the bird.

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Southwestern New Mexico

Wow, they took my breath away!

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"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals."
Immanuel Kant

raptrlvr:

I tried to get some shots as the moon came up on Monday afternoon, but, none of the birds were co-operating. These shots were taken in the morning as the moon was going down and the sun was coming up. This shot has been done many times over by pro photographers, but, everyone wants to see if they can get that shot.  You really need a longer lens such as a 500mm or a 600mm. If I tried to use my 1.4 teleconverter along with the 300mm, I don't think I would have had enough light to stop the action of the bird.

Speaking of light, I was wondering why you were shooting at f/11.  Did you need to close down that much to get the bird and the moon within the DoF?

I think I'm going to give it up, too - how can anyone top that?  Gorgeous shots, raptrlvr!!

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Life List: 164
New this year-to-date: 13
Latest: Red-crowned Parrot

I was trying to keep the moon and the bird in focus. In hind sight, I should have opened the aperture more and used a lower ISO. But, when your out there and the birds are flying, you have to time when they are going to cross the face of the moon. Next time, I'll plan things a little better.

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Southwestern New Mexico

Great shots, raptrlvr!

raptrlvr:

I was trying to keep the moon and the bird in focus. In hind sight, I should have opened the aperture more and used a lower ISO. But, when your out there and the birds are flying, you have to time when they are going to cross the face of the moon. Next time, I'll plan things a little better.

I completely understand the heat of the moment, and I'm not being critical at all.  It's a great shot.  I especially love how the moon frames the crane's wings perfectly.