Looks like more and more of our kabayans are getting into bird shooting....:)

Here's sharing a tip for more pleasing captures of birds in the water or on the ground - shoot low.

Whenever possible, one should try shooting at an angle which is level with the bird's eye (this applies to perched and flying birds as well). This means getting down low for water/ground birds. It's not a very easy thing to do, particularly for waistline-challenged people like me. It could mean getting muddy or being bitten by ants. But the rewards are worth the hardship - the background and foreground melt into glorious bokeh, isolating the subject.

Artie Morris is a great practitioner of this technique, and it's now an "industry standard" for wading/ground birds.

Here are a few examples:

1. Marsh Sandpiper, 20D + Sigmonster, Sta. Cruz, Zambales

http://www.pbase.com/liquidstone/image/57073919.jpg



2. Grey Wagtail, 20D + Sigmonster, Tiaong, Quezon

http://www.pbase.com/liquidstone/image/57731605.jpg



3. Black-winged Stilt, 1DM2 + Sigmonster, Sta. Cruz, Zambales

http://www.pbase.com/liquidstone/image/56994664.jpg



Regards,

Romy

Great shots as usual Romy and very good tips. I haven't shot birds in a bit but I'm looking forward to practicing this on waders. :)

Master Romy, nagiging mukhang manok ang mga kuha ko pag nakikita ko ang mga bird shots mo! Your shots are truly jaw-dropping. Do you ever have to crop with a 'Sigmonster'?

Regards,
Norman

Great shots as usual Romy and very good tips. I haven't shot birds in a bit but I'm looking forward to practicing this on waders.

Thanks, TJ.... oo nga, I noticed you haven't posted bird pics in a while. The migrants should be in full force now, and South Lagoon is a good place to get them. When shooting seaward in Manila Bay, early morning is the best time so the sun is behind you. Just don't forget to bring an extra change of clothes when you go mud-crawling...:)



Master Romy, nagiging mukhang manok ang mga kuha ko pag nakikita ko ang mga bird shots mo! Your shots are truly jaw-dropping. Do you ever have to crop with a 'Sigmonster'?

Regards,
Norman

Thanks, Norman. Even with the Sigmonster, I still have to crop 99% of my shots to improve composition. However, the longer reach and zooming flexibility allow me to minimize the cropped out area and leave me with enough MP for big prints...:)


Romy

Lovely :) As usual wonderful pictures Romy :) The first one is my favorite :)

what's that bird doing to the other bird's feet? (pic 1)

I really really like your pix, Romy. Great stuff!

Nice tip bossing Romy! Didn't know na may mga exotic birds din pala sa lugar namin. Hehehe! :)

what's that bird doing to the other bird's feet? (pic 1)


Foot fetish -- bird style. :D

Birdmaster Romy, excellent shots!!!!!

birds on foot spa? he he...

lovely shots and inspiring.

what's that bird doing to the other bird's feet? (pic 1)

I really really like your pix, Romy. Great stuff!

Thanks, Marton, Caloy, Chuck and Teejay!

Caloy, they were fighting for feeding territory and when the feathers began flying, I let go of a burst from the 20D. I didn't even notice the feet inside the bill in the VF during the capture... only much later when I browsed the RAWs in my desktop.

Romy

Excellent captures Romy. I've seen it used by noted wildlife photographers incluting Arthur Morris and it's an effective way to isolate and make the subject standout while maintaining space between subject and habitat.

i love the lens! :D

Great shots Romy! Looks a bit more unique. :D

Nakakalaglag-panga shots as usual from Romy! :)

So true. The lowest I got was sitting down on my butt and yes, the perspective is quite different. Alternative to lying down is to get right angle viewfinder or the zigview angle finder. This was a crouching shot but not too low yet :~).
cheers,
gil

http://art4less.smugmug.com/photos/56507005-L.jpg