Swallows in the Metro

[Mark Itol]

I was at the MRT Quezon Ave. station this afternoon on my way home when I noticed this little fellow perch on an electric cable running along EDSA. It was a good thing that I brought my cam (I came from Ayala TBI along Commonwealth to look for office spaces), though at first I was hesitant to take it out from my bag. But this fellow seemed to tease me into taking my cam out of the bag and shoot him (or her). Couldn't resist the temptation, so I ended up taking pictures of this guy while waiting for the train -- letting three trains pass. (I can only wonder what the other commuters were thinking about me.) ;D

Pacific Swallow (Hirundo tahitica)
MRT Quezon Ave. Station, EDSA
D40 + 70-300 VR, ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/30s, Manual, Handheld


Another fellow joins him/her.

D40 + 70-300 VR, ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/15s, Manual, Handheld


The lighting wasn't too good, and wanting to take a "sharper" photo, I took my flash out of the bag.

D40 + 70-300 VR, ISO 400, f/6.3, 1/200s, Manual, Sigma 530 DG Super, Handheld


PS: I hope I got the ID correct.

[Teddy Regpala]

I like the first one. Pretty good, considering it's low SS and handheld. Was it at 300mm?

Not sure what went wrong with the third one (with flash).
The flash should have been for fill only and not the main source of light, as you stopped down there's really not enough ambient light to capture.

[Ding Carpio]

Very nice shots!

And courageously taken. I always dreamed of bringing my 70-200 2.8L into Quiapo and shoot the streetlife but never was brave enough to do it.

[Mark Itol]

Thanks guys.

Yes Ted, all shots were at 300mm (really need a longer reach).
As for the 3rd pic, I did that to try to freeze the constant motion (constantly looking left to right) of the little guy's head. But yes, it oould have been better with the ambient.

[Romy Ocon]

A pair of nicely groomed swallows despite their urban habitat!