Catching a banking Barn Swallow

[Romy Ocon]

This speedster was encircling the mango tree beside our house during the golden BIF hours (4 - 5 pm) yesterday. I thought it would be a good AF practice for my 7D.

It regularly disappeared behind the tree, reappearing from behind the leaves on the other side to bank and circle. For about 2 seconds after reappearing, it had the sky as background before banking into a BG of mango leaves. I therefore had a very brief moment to acquire it while the sky is the BG, and the 7D's AF has a chance to catch it. I set the AF points to AI servo center zone (9 points) to increase the size of my AF net - the 7D's zone AF works fast as long as the BG is featureless.

The short acquisition and tracking time are a recipe for jerky panning, and even 1/2000 sec wasn't fast enough to totally eliminate subject motion/camera blur (there's some at 100% view). Looks like I have a convenient target practice for days to come. ;D



Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica, migrant)
Shooting info - Paranaque City, February 9, 2010, 7D + 400 2.8 IS + Canon 1.4x TC, 475B/3421 support, 560 mm, f/5.0, ISO 400, 1/2000 sec, manual exposure in available light, major crop, 20.4 m distance

[Ariel Matias]

It is hard enough to get a decent BIF shot but it is even harder to get it if the subject is too small and too fast. It takes someone like you to do this trick. Amazing!

[tina mallari]

Amazing !!! I know how hard it is to catch those ultra mega speedy fliers when they are circling a tree. You REALLY only get a FEW seconds to catch it. It must have been a feat to capture this - Bravo IDOL !!!! WOOOO HOOOOO. I have tried so many times to catch birds in the same situation and all of them turned out blurred. Galing talaga !!!!

[mantarey]

WOW extreme flight shots Mastah Romy. That 7D is getting more and more tempting everytime.

[Romy Ocon]

Thanks, Ariel, Tina and Rey!

Plain Idol, your 1D2 plus either a 300 f4 IS or 400 5.6L is the ideal combo for this job.

[Mark Itol]

It is always amazing how you can pull off a shot like this, Ka Mastah.

[Ely Teehankee]

I think there is nothing you can not do if you set your sight to it. I think you got what you wanted and its a beauty. Well done Romy. Mabuhay.

[Toto Gamboa]

Woooooooow. unbelieveable shot!

[Romy Ocon]

Thanks, Mark, Ely and Toto!

In another practice session today, I got one in critical focus but the photogenic mango tree must've moved when I pressed the shutter. I was left with nothing but a boring sky as BG. ;D


Shooting info - Paranaque City, February 10, 2010, 7D + 400 2.8 IS + Canon 1.4x TC, 475B/3421 support, 560 mm, f/5.6, ISO 400, 1/2000 sec, manual exposure in available light, major crop, 28.7 m distance

[Edu Lorenzo Jr]

500 + the TC.. on a tripod.. words have escaped me mastah.

[ppaaoolloo]

Romy you always manage to impress me every time you post. Great work!

[Ronnie Dominguez]

i think this speedster was testing the master and lost,

[Luis (Chito) Limchiu]

Clean, sharp, good color rendition, and creamy blurred BG! What more can you ask?