Herons at Candaba

[Romy Ocon]

Still very few ducks on this February 5th sortie, so I focused my attention on several species of herons in my favorite wetlands. Starting to process some captures from some 8 GB of RAWs taken, here's the first one. ;D


Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), 1DM2 + 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, 1/1600 sec, f/7.1, ISO 320, manual exposure, 475B/3421 support:



Romy

[Farmer Nestor]

Gorgeous idol Romy magnifico! fantastico!

[Romy Ocon]

Thanks, Nestor..... here's another Heron from yesterday.


Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) - 1DM2 + 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, 700 mm, f/7.1, 1/1600 sec, ISO 320, manual exposure, 475B/3421 support:

[mantarey]

Wow, it doesn't get any better than this I suppose.

Ka Romy, can you please post some BIF's taken with the 40D and your shorter 400mm lens, if it ever exist in your portfolio?

Just want to see the "maximum potential" with that kind of set-up

[Bob Kaufman]

We are not worthy! We are not worthy!

[tina mallari]

Goodness gracious Romy !!!! You are making my eyes pop with envy with these excellent captures.

My ultimate dream is to take pictures that are close to yours in excellence without having to buy a 500mm lens - HahAHhahAHahAHahAHahAHahhaA looks like I'll be dreaming my whole life

[mantarey]

csmallari said:

Goodness gracious Romy !!!! You are making my eyes pop with envy with these excellent captures.

My ultimate dream is to take pictures that are close to yours in excellence without having to buy a 500mm lens - HahAHhahAHahAHahAHahAHahhaA looks like I'll be dreaming my whole life

Me too, me too

Wifey says she'll leave me if I'll buy the 500mm, men, I'll really miss her ;D

[Romy Ocon]

Thanks, Rey, Bob and Tina!

Here's a cooperative fellow, as I continue to PP yesterday's pics - uncropped full frame, resized to 800x1200. ;D

Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus) , 40D + 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, 700 mm, 1/160 sec, f/7.1, ISO 400, manual exposure, Ix! bean bag:

[Romy Ocon]

mantarey said:

Ka Romy, can you please post some BIF's taken with the 40D and your shorter 400mm lens, if it ever exist in your portfolio?

Just want to see the "maximum potential" with that kind of set-up

Hi Rey, I don't use the 40D at BIFs when I have the 1DM2 with me, but here's a test shot when the 40D was newly bought:

40D + 100-400 IS, 400 mm, f/5.6, ISO 320, 1/1600 sec, manual exposure, hand held:

[JP Cariño]

nice romy! i like the night heron pic the best

[mantarey]

Wow, that's a great shot. Something I will aspire to imitate. Long way to go but I'll get there somehow.

400mm's not too bad if I can develop the skill that's needed. I think I will try to stick with 400 for the time being

Thanks a lot Master Birdman for your indulgence

[Romy Ocon]

mantarey said:

Wow, that's a great shot. Something I will aspire to imitate. Long way to go but I'll get there somehow.

400mm's not too bad if I can develop the skill that's needed. I think I will try to stick with 400 for the time being

Thanks a lot Master Birdman for your indulgence

Hi Rey,

Another body upgrade path for you is to keep your present 400D for static birds, then just buy a used 1DM2 for BIFs. Some of the 1DM2s now go for around USD 1.7K (less than PHP 70K) at FM. This is a much better value than a 40D at PHP 55K, as the AF and frame rate leave the prosumer bodies behind.

Here's how the 1DM2 can nail the AF at BIFs, note the sharp head, while the rest of the bird is already outside the DOF.

1DM2 + 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, 475B/3421 support, EXIF intact:


Romy

[Lydia Robledo]

mantarey said:

csmallari said:

Goodness gracious Romy !!!! You are making my eyes pop with envy with these excellent captures.

My ultimate dream is to take pictures that are close to yours in excellence without having to buy a 500mm lens - HahAHhahAHahAHahAHahAHahhaA looks like I'll be dreaming my whole life

Me too, me too

Wifey says she'll leave me if I'll buy the 500mm, men, I'll really miss her ;D

HA, ha, ha, ha, ha, REY!
I like that.
Perla is praying that you will buy the 500mm. She'll miss you, too.
Ahi-hi!

Then you will be doing this.

Hooray for wise wives. te lyd

[mantarey]

admin said:

mantarey said:

Wow, that's a great shot. Something I will aspire to imitate. Long way to go but I'll get there somehow.

400mm's not too bad if I can develop the skill that's needed. I think I will try to stick with 400 for the time being

Thanks a lot Master Birdman for your indulgence

Hi Rey,

Another body upgrade path for you is to keep your present 400D for static birds, then just buy a used 1DM2 for BIFs. Some of the 1DM2s now go for around USD 1.7K (less than PHP 70K) at FM. This is a much better value than a 40D at PHP 55K, as the AF and frame rate leave the prosumer bodies behind.

Here's how the 1DM2 can nail the AF at BIFs, note the sharp head, while the rest of the bird is already outside the DOF.

1DM2 + 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, 475B/3421 support, EXIF intact:


Romy

Wow fanatastic shot. I didn't know you can get used 1DM2's at that price. Anyway, just got my 40D two days ago and disposed the 400D. Will take some time to upgrade again but I will definitely consider that upgrade path. Hopefully before the next Candaba season . I heard that the 1D can really focus so accurately fast.

Thanks again for the guidance, really appreciate it a lot.

[Ding Carpio]

And you all think Master Romy takes fantastic pictures because of his talent? Well, it started out that way. But lately, the birds took notice. So whenever they see this strange man with the looooong lens, they put on a show. Notice how well combed their feathers are? How expressive the eyes? How acrobatic the wings? Sometimes, when they think they look too perfect, they even put a smudge of food on their beaks. They're all showing off for the master! Hah!

I have now resolved I will also shave my head and wear the same vest and will see if I can fool the birds.

[Lydia Robledo]

balarila said:

And you all think Master Romy takes fantastic pictures because of his talent? Well, it started out that way. But lately, the birds took notice. So whenever they see this strange man with the looooong lens, they put on a show. Notice how well combed their feathers are? How expressive the eyes? How acrobatic the wings? Sometimes, when they think they look too perfect, they even put a smudge of food on their beaks. They're all showing off for the master! Hah!

I have now resolved I will also shave my head and wear the same vest and will see if I can fool the birds.

Naaah. First, your crown of glory will be a crown of glow... danger of over-exposure. The Master has mastered the glare... he had no choice. That is why he has become an expert. That's out of need... and it comes with age. You are still too young, Ding. You remind me of my La Salle boys when they were getting ready for school with neatly parted hair. Ka guapo. So think it over about the hair.
(pengeng silica ulit ha? ).
Btw. Nagpapamada ka ba?

[Romy Ocon]

Haha.... you Ding and the Butterflywatcher really crack me up.

balarila said:

And you all think Master Romy takes fantastic pictures because of his talent? Well, it started out that way. But lately, the birds took notice. So whenever they see this strange man with the looooong lens, they put on a show. Notice how well combed their feathers are? How expressive the eyes? How acrobatic the wings? Sometimes, when they think they look too perfect, they even put a smudge of food on their beaks. They're all showing off for the master! Hah!

I have now resolved I will also shave my head and wear the same vest and will see if I can fool the birds.