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Some in-flights from Flight School Photography

17 years ago

This past weekend I attended the Fly South with the Birds workshop in Florida. The workshop teaches photographers how to hand hold telephoto lenses for birds in flight. I used my 500 f/4 for the workshop. The lens weighs almost 9 pounds.

Sandhill crane:

Snail kite. This is the most endangered raptor in North America:

Barred owl:

Little blue heron:

Caracara:

Pileated woodpecker:

Bald eagle:

Liz

My photo gallery

Help native birds - discourage house sparrows!

My Live Feeder Cam

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Comments (17)

mrbass111
17 years ago
wow you realy hit the jackpot. did you get all these shots in one spot?
gymell
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks - no, they were in various locations around Kissimmee, where the workshop was held.
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Hi Greenthumb The first two images were shot at 1/1600 and 1/2000, using 700mm and ISO 1600 and 1250, respectively. The last two were shot at 1/2000 and 1/3200, both at ISO 1600. Admittedly the third picture is very grainy. It was originally a throwaway. I was shooting another hummer and this guy was in the background so I cropped it and sharpened it (probably too much) and threw away the rest of the picture. I try to get as close as I can to the birds. Usually I get within 15 feet or so. I never use flash. It alters the color, especially the green back feathers of hummers, in a way I don't like. I always shoot offhand and almost always use auto focus. That is OK when they are perched or when they are hoovering but following them in the air or when they are fighting or chasing each other is a real challenge. My camera does focus very quickly and has almost no delay between the trigger and the shutter response. Still, it's mostly luck when you get a really good one. I do crop all my shots as much as I can before I post them. If it's a picture of a bird I like to show the bird and not a lot of sky. If the bird happens to be doing something interesting, like a a scarlet tanger picking a cherry from a tree, I back off and show you a bit of the tree too. I guess it's a bit like being an artist. I do it mostly for me and hope others will like it too. If they don't, that's too bad but there are lots of other artists out there. One thing you give up when you shoot up close and wide open is depth of field. Still, even if part of the subject is out of focus, I prefer that way to using a flash that would probably burn out the closest part. For example, here is a shot where both of their bills are in focus (and not much more) Still, you can tell at a glance what is going on. Dave
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builder24car
17 years ago
Fantastic shots, no other way to describe them!
scott_thomasville_ga
17 years ago
WOW!!! WOW!!! WOW!!! I could only dream about getting such great shots!!!
bhowdy
17 years ago
Liz,
Awesome images! The Sandie lighting and all is special.
SO did you "feel the burn" hand holding the Mark III and the 500? LOL

Bob
gymell
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks! It was a great workshop, and yes that 500 was heavy. I took the last shot of the eagle with the 100-400 (because the nest was so close) and after holding the 500 for 3 days, it felt like a toy!
sowngrow (8a) G
17 years ago
Very nice professional looking shots. How did you happen to capture the barred owl, flying towards you, in daylight no less?
janie_may
17 years ago
Incredible, Liz! Amazing! Fabulous!
harryshoe zone6 eastern Pennsylvania
17 years ago
Just beautiful. I am very impressed with your photography. And envious of your equipment.
dzyg
17 years ago
Wow!! Awesome captures! That pileated is amazing!! So what is the secret to being able to handhold the camera to get these shots??

Donna
gymell
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks, the secret is being very efficient with your shooting. Resting most of the time, then being really quick to lift up the lens and acquire the subject in the viewfinder and track it. With such a heavy lens, there's no way to just hold it for minutes at a time. So you have to be quick. And accurate. It's hard but gets better with practice!
shanachie1
17 years ago
Goodness, Liz, after schlepping the 300f2.8 on a two hr. hike this past weekend to see golden eagles my shoulders were shot for a few days, I cannot imagine ~hand-holding~ the 500mm (and in fact after seeing how sore I was with the 300, decided against purchasing the 500mm)....and then I see your images and know why I wanted one LOL. Amazing you photographed a pileated in flight, and I'm so envious,I've been trying to find my local barred owl for the past two years.

Thanks so much for sharing your images!

Debi in NY
gymell
Original Author
17 years ago
Debi - as long as you hold it up for only short periods and rest a lot, then the 500 is very handholdable. I have to admit I've never tried taking the 500 on a 2 mile hike. I've got the Lowepro Lens Trekker 600 backpack which is pretty comfortable and might work for carrying it that far. I certainly wouldn't want to carry a tripod along on that kind of hike.

If you're interested in learning Jim's techniques, check out Flight School Photography.
rachel_frome_ky
17 years ago
DuBois and I just looked at the photo gallery on your Flight School Photography link..very impressive!
gymell
Original Author
17 years ago
Yeah, it makes me want to quit my job, buy a house in Florida on a lake and spend every day boating around and watching snail kites.

Interestingly, Jim is originally from Minnesota. He said when he moved to Florida that his only regret was that he hadn't moved there sooner. ;-)
chris8796
17 years ago
I was just down in the Kissimmee area on Toho, definately a birder's paradise. The highlight of my trip was seeing a bobcat walking by the FL turnpike about an hour south of Kissimmee.

Snail kites are interesting, I always wondered why such a fleet raptor was needed to catch a snails.
kenn3d
17 years ago
Gorgeous shots Liz,

I know you had a great time. :)

Kenn

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