Several months ago, I began to make a determined effort to try and get clean backgrounds for my bird shots whenever possible. It's not easy, as there are just too many variables involved when shooting a wild creature in its natural habitat. Success rate is terribly low, and oftentimes the effort becomes an exercise in frustration.

But there are days when I do get what I wish for, and it makes the birding sortie quite fulfilling. Here's a couple of Pied Bushchats I captured at Morong (Bataan) yesterday, in the company of Manny Illana. Both were taken with the hand held 20D + 500 f4 IS + Canon 1.4x TC in manual exposure...:)

1. Male, 1/320 sec, f/7.1, ISO 400

http://www.pbase.com/liquidstone/image/66545855.jpg


2. Female, 1/400 sec, f/7.1, ISO 400

http://www.pbase.com/liquidstone/image/66589720.jpg


Regards,

Romy

Romy... Romy... Romy... (scratching head) :) Nakakainis naman sa talim niyang post mo Bro.! :D

Galing talaga! Handheld pa! I'm planning to make a trip to Subic in October. When I do, I'll make sure to ask tips from you and Manny regarding the spots to go to.

Romy, you think I can get away with monopod mounted shots with my D200 / Tamron 200-500 f5.6-6.3 / 1.4x TC combo? It's obviously not a fest lens and has no stabilization feature. I've tried that combo before in Singapore with some success, but regretted not using a tripod. But with a tripod, the set-up just takes too long. I wish I had a longer VR lens, but those babies are just way beyond my budget!

Thanks, Earl and TJ...:)

TJ, the Tamron at full zoom with 1.4x TC is f/9 wide open, and you probably need to stop it down a bit for improved IQ. That would be terribly slow for under-the-canopy shots, unless you have a tripod. Even with the bare 500 f4 IS, I often resort to ISO 800, 1/200 and f4 when hand holding.

I suggest that you bring a tripod in the car for forest shots. For shots in wide open spaces, you can probably use a monopod and a 1.4x TC.

Romy


Galing talaga! Handheld pa! I'm planning to make a trip to Subic in October. When I do, I'll make sure to ask tips from you and Manny regarding the spots to go to.

Romy, you think I can get away with monopod mounted shots with my D200 / Tamron 200-500 f5.6-6.3 / 1.4x TC combo? It's obviously not a fest lens and has no stabilization feature. I've tried that combo before in Singapore with some success, but regretted not using a tripod. But with a tripod, the set-up just takes too long. I wish I had a longer VR lens, but those babies are just way beyond my budget!

Again amazing captures! :)
These are truly beautiful well worth the effort to get clean BGs :)

Thumbs up! :)

Ay yay yay Romy !!!! Awesome captures as usual !!!!! Clean background ??? nakuuuuuu malayo pa ako sa stage na yan but hopefully one day makakarating din. For now nasa hoping to get clear captures of birds palang ako :Grin:

Simply WOW Romy and the time and effort spent for the clean bg is well worth it.

Thanks, Marlon, Tina and Reyno...:)

Romy

Wow Romy! These are really "clean"!!! Am glad that our little sortie went well.
Hopefully, I can get to round up our group and get an approval for a group shoot/eb.
Now you really hit my birding fever (though frankly got hit by the intestinal flu last Saturday prior to our sortie). Hmmmm... what lens to save up for???

at grabe ka pare.... yung setup mo, pang workout na sa gym yan eh! you guys can just imagine Romy bringing a whole set of weights doing treadmill at the same time, hehe.

@TJ, am not really a specialist on this kind of stuff. i just observe my surroundings and keep it to memory. glad to bring Romy for these excellent captures.

Romy, terrific shots. Two pix eliciting different viewing perception... in most of your shots it's "Wow! I have got to go find one of those!" These pix says "I have got to go to this place!" Post some more Romy....and thanks for sharing.

Thanks, Manny and Caloy...:)

That place of Manny is a prime site for dude birding - a lot of shots can be taken from the vehicle without having to hike for miles. Plus it's just 20 minutes from Subic, where forest birds abound, and ice-cold beer is readily available....:D

Romy



Wow Romy! These are really "clean"!!! Am glad that our little sortie went well.
Hopefully, I can get to round up our group and get an approval for a group shoot/eb.
Now you really hit my birding fever (though frankly got hit by the intestinal flu last Saturday prior to our sortie). Hmmmm... what lens to save up for???

at grabe ka pare.... yung setup mo, pang workout na sa gym yan eh! you guys can just imagine Romy bringing a whole set of weights doing treadmill at the same time, hehe.

@TJ, am not really a specialist on this kind of stuff. i just observe my surroundings and keep it to memory. glad to bring Romy for these excellent captures.

:Mad: Now I really feel bad that I didn't go. Nakita ko sana the great Romy Ocon in action...unfortuntely it was my lolo's funeral last weekend...

Romy idol ka talaga!

Manny, Caloy where are your pix?

Maneh sama ako next time, (BTW I might be in Subic on Saturday, ibang shooting lang nga gagawin ko :) )

Thanks, Manny and Caloy...:)

That place of Manny is a prime site for dude birding - a lot of shots can be taken from the vehicle without having to hike for miles. Plus it's just 20 minutes from Subic, where forest birds abound, and ice-cold beer is readily available....:D

Romy

Haha! The first time I heard of Dude Birding was from Tina! Hilarious!

your shots shock and awe me everytime. you must be a very patient man to take those classic bird portraits?

Manny, Caloy where are your pix?

Maneh sama ako next time, (BTW I might be in Subic on Saturday, ibang shooting lang nga gagawin ko :) )

Edwin, this is one kind of my bird shots (underwater)
http://static.flickr.com/88/228924162_72959fe024.jpg



Honestly, the only bird shot I've ever done is this chicken shot:Grin:
http://static.flickr.com/80/238263149_dcfdddd73c.jpg

Nice shots Romy!!! ... Nice try Caloy :)---> (your bird shot)

Thanks again, guys.

Caloy, that's an amazing underwater shot - beautiful colors and great control of light... though I have to say the fish looks like it won't win a Miss Reef beauty constest....:D


Even the lighting on the chicken is very interesting...:)


Romy

your shots shock and awe me everytime. you must be a very patient man to take those classic bird portraits?

Thanks, Carlo.... patience (and tolerance to bug bites) is a bird shooter's middle name...:)

Romy

hahahahaha thanks Romy....you too John;)

You are always lifting up the baseline. Mahirap humabol, tuloy panay tull laway na lang ako sa mga shots mo. Exceptional Romy.
cheers,
gil

@TJ....
fill me in.... what's with the "dude birding"? hmmm... ang sama ng tunog nun ah! hahaha

@romy...
technically, the site's not mine... though wish it was....hahaha... in my dreams. still glad i have the chance to work on it for the company.

@edwin...
don't have bird pics eh. meron ako trabaho shots of the next stages in planning... hehehe

Haha! The first time I heard of Dude Birding was from Tina! Hilarious!

Naku TJ, dude birding is close to my heart ! What better way to take photographs than in the comfort of your car - the possibility of encountering snakes or leeches is very slim. Ang problem mo nalang is how to make your shot as steady as can be and how to position your car in order to get a good angle.

Subic is my perfect dude birding spot although next time, I think I want to go nearer those guaiaberos that frequent a certain guava tree there :)

Edwin, this is one kind of my bird shots (underwater)
http://static.flickr.com/88/228924162_72959fe024.jpg



Honestly, the only bird shot I've ever done is this chicken shot:Grin:
http://static.flickr.com/80/238263149_dcfdddd73c.jpg


hehehe...cool! underwater bird :D

Haha! The first time I heard of Dude Birding was from Tina! Hilarious!

Same here, first time I heard the term is from Tina hehe!:)