Analysis of a Pacific Swallow's DNA

[Romy Ocon]

I think I've contracted Neonitis for good - I'm beginning to get hooked too on larger than life posts. ;D


Pacific Swallow (Hirundo tahitica, resident)
Shooting info - Caliraya Lake, Laguna, April 10, 2010, 7D + 500 f4 IS + Canon 1.4x TC, 700 mm, f/7.1, ISO 400, 1/250 sec, A-328/3421 support, manual exposure in available light, 5.63 m distance, uncropped full frame resized to 1500x1000






And here's a processed 100% crop of the above showing how large a little bird's head can be when you get very near with a 7D + 700 mm (5.63 m, near minimum focusing distance). As you will note, the DOF of the 700 mm f/7.1 combo at this close distance is paper thin. The rear portion of the head, the bill tip and the shoulders are already OOF.

[Edu Lorenzo Jr]

you got within 6 meters!

this is absolutely over the top!

[Romy Ocon]

Apr 11, 2010 13:57:18 GMT Edu Lorenzo Jr said:

you got within 6 meters!

this is absolutely over the top!

Thanks, Edu. I actually got greedy and even approached a bit closer, but I had to back off because I can no longer focus. ;D

[JP Cariño]

i think the swallow was posing for a passport photo before it goes to its vacation destination

[Ely Teehankee]

You got it within the minimum focusing distance of 4.5 meters wtih more than a meter to spare The picture is super sharp. This is the type of picture that I like. I wonder if you would have gotten everything focus at f8 at that distance. Well done Romy. Mabuhay.

[Ariel Matias]

WOW!!! I almost mistaken this one as a macro shot! Amazing details!

[Romy Ocon]

Thanks, JP, Ely and Ariel!

Here's a couple more photos to aid ID vs the confusion species (Barn Swallow). The first shows more of the underparts and the undertail, while the second reveals more of the dark back.

Quoting the Kennedy Guide:

"(The Barn Swallow is) similar to the Pacific Swallow, which in all plumages lacks the deeply forked tail, and the bluish black breast band. Pacific Swallow also has a pale greyish brown belly, not whitish or cinnamon."


Shooting info - Caliraya Lake, Laguna, April 10, 2010, 7D + 500 f4 IS + Canon 1.4x TC, 700 mm, f/6.3, ISO 400, 1/250 sec, A-328/3421 support, manual exposure in available light, 9.34 m distance, near full frame resized to 1200x800





Shooting info - Caliraya Lake, Laguna, April 10, 2010, 7D + 500 f4 IS + Canon 1.4x TC, 700 mm, f/6.3, ISO 200, 1/250 sec, A-328/3421 support, manual exposure in available light, 10.1 m distance, near full frame resized to 1200x800





A reference photo of the Barn Swallow for comparison, note the whitish belly and undertail:

[Romy Ocon]

Apr 11, 2010 21:47:41 GMT Ely Teehankee said:

I wonder if you would have gotten everything focus at f8 at that distance.

Hi Ely,

Stopping down to f/8 wouldn't matter much with such a combo and close shooting distance. Here are some DOF numbers at various apertures for a 700 mm lens on a 1.6 crop factor body, with a shooting distance of 5.63 m and assuming a maximum print dimension of 20"x30".

f/5.6 - 4 mm
f/7.1 - 5.3 mm
f/8 - 6 mm
f/11 - 8 mm
f/16 - 12 mm
f/22 - 17 mm
f/32 - 24 mm
f/64 - 48 mm

Since the bird's head is easily 1" (25.4 mm) in diameter, I need to stop down to f/32 and beyond to take it all in focus. Of course, that will be way within diffraction territory, plus it would've required very high ISOs and slow shutter speeds. Thus, we need to compromise and just try to make the photo sharp where it matters (the eye area in this case) with a relatively wide aperture.

[Toto Gamboa]

Wooooooooooooow. Staggering details Mastah!

[Clemn A. Macasiano Jr.]

Wow close ! Almost real eye to eye contact with the little fellow. Marvelous executed birding technique Mastah !

[Edu Lorenzo Jr]

the breastband or necklace is the easiest giveaway

[Ralf Nabong]

OMG! Another giant bird! Excellent detail and BG Ka Romy!

[Romy Ocon]

Thanks, Toto, Boy, Edu and Bong!

[William Lim]

This is really ginormous pacific swallow. Magnificent, Romy

[Mark Itol]

Incredible detail, Ka Mastah!

[mantarey]

WOW bird's DNA well defined. Very enjoyable and educational too.

[Romy Ocon]

Thanks folks for the comments!

I finally received the "for internal use only" RAW converter direct from Canon Japan. It's so powerful that it can upres RAW captures of the 7D and newer EOS cameras to the subject's molecular level. Here's a 400% crop from the superconverter, which is of course not available to the public. ;D ;D ;D

[Edu Lorenzo Jr]

hhahaha! what's the next level? see what the bird is thinking?

incredible mastah, as only you can.

[Bob Kaufman]

Not only do we get see a perfect shot, we get to learn from the Mastah as well.

Thanks, Mastah Romy for the instructions (and a glimpse into the inner workings from Canon, Japan) ;D

[Elvin Sansona]

Wow Mastah your shots shock me...very nice!