Cliff Swallow

Gallery: AvianPosted May 15, 2011142 views25 comments

Each spring I attempt to photograph swallows in flight but my efforts have always ended up in frustration. I'm starting to get more keepers now so I guess perseverence (and trying new tactics) is the key. I do wish I had more DOF for the tail but it was very early morning without a lot of light.

7D, 1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 800, 500 f/4, shot from pickup window on 5/13/11, cropped to 66% of original image, slight exposure adjustment in ACR, sharpened bird, no additional processing or adjustments, natural light, not set up or baited

Larger version provided

Comments/critique appreciated

Comments

25 comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on May 15, 2011 at 6:42 PM

These guys are fast. I like the image you have here. Nice depth of color in the head and face. Good detail in the body and just enough wing motion.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on May 15, 2011 at 6:46 PM

I'm definitely impressed, and jealous. A difficult subject, done nicely.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on May 15, 2011 at 8:17 PM

Excellent head turn and the dirt on the bill/head is a beautiful addition

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by John Blumenkamp on May 15, 2011 at 10:27 PM

Great, unique body position here Ron... nice work!

Registered on February 26, 2011, 58 Posts, 313 Comments

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on May 15, 2011 at 10:44 PM

Excellent shot of the flight dynamics, Ron. I really like the headturn and blurred wingtips. Techs and comp are top notch, as usual. Congrats on getting this shot.

What AF mode were you using?

Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on May 15, 2011 at 11:00 PM

Excellent, Ron. A nice angle and great head turn. The lighting worked out well in this one.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on May 15, 2011 at 11:05 PM

I like the wingspread and the way the head is turned to give you the direct eye contact. Very nice, Ron.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on May 16, 2011 at 12:57 AM

Great eye contact on this flight shot Ron, I'd like a touch more room on the bottom. Nice work on a difficult subject.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on May 16, 2011 at 1:33 AM

Nice detail especially in the larger view Ron. I like the acrobatic twisting pose, gives a good hint at their flight skills. Hats off to you for even attempting this, great result. I will have to give it a try some time.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on May 16, 2011 at 2:15 AM

A very tough choice of subject, and I have a depressing numbered of blurred, clipped and wretched images to prove it.

This is very nice, and particularly for shooting from a truck window and not a tripod.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Karen Summers on May 16, 2011 at 5:54 AM

These are so quick so very well done for getting this a beauty

Registered on December 3, 2009, 83 Posts, 818 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on May 16, 2011 at 7:04 AM

Great effort Ron - the head is razor sharp

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on May 16, 2011 at 9:32 AM

Ron,
I love the flight pose and the eye so well visible. I think you did a great work with a tough subject.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on May 16, 2011 at 11:02 AM

Okay Ron...since this is considered showmanship, your posting privileges are being revoked! (Teasing of course)

Absolutely one of the better swallow flight shots I have seen. Curious, what are your new tactics? I have tried this only a handful of times with swallows, but have been wanting to try. I was thinking of finding them perching already (since swallows are notoriously friendly to approach) focus on them and wait for a takeoff moment. Not sure if that is how you managed this, but any other ideas or tips would be welcome!!

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Graham Brown on May 16, 2011 at 12:00 PM

Good luck to you Ron trying to get a sharp image of such a swift bird. This looks pretty good to me I particularly like the head position with the beak slightly open. Graham

Registered on November 20, 2007, 275 Posts, 1365 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on May 16, 2011 at 12:11 PM

Ron, I like how you caught it with the shutter, so that the wings curve up, head up, so that the form is sweeping. Nice sharp head detail with the beak partially open, this is very appealing.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on May 16, 2011 at 12:15 PM

Curious, what are your new tactics?

Kurt - This bird and others had nests underneath a pavillion at a refuge parking lot. They would sometimes hover under their nests before entering them. So I tried prefocusing where they might hover and got lucky a few times. The head turn in this shot is because the swallow is looking up and to its right toward its nest. I'd tried the same tactic a few days earlier but the sun was too high to get light under the birds so on this day I made a point of shooting just after sunrise which made a big difference. Shooting from my pickup also helped because the swallows are so used to vehicles in the parking lot that they just ignored us.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on May 16, 2011 at 3:12 PM

W!!! Awesome in flight catch Ron!!! The wing spread, open beak and sharpness. This one has it all

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on May 16, 2011 at 7:12 PM

Really nice Ron. Very impressive as these guys are as tough as they get for flight shots. Really great detail and sharpness where is matters. Love the head turn and light. Really impressed with the lack of noise at ISO 800 on the 7D. Would love to have this in my files.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on May 16, 2011 at 8:48 PM

Ya know? Can it get any cooler than that? I have attempted these shots as well and this one amazes me.

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by David Sparks on May 17, 2011 at 10:01 AM

I agree, this would be a keeper if the tail were in focus. Keep trying Ron. Eventually, you will get a keeper.

But I'm not falling into your trap. Life's too short to take up swallow flight photography.

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments

Comment posted by Lucy Aron on May 17, 2011 at 10:43 AM

Really nice. Like esp the turn of the head. I've tried to shoot the barn swallows who nest all over our property but they're really fast. Your picture inspires me to keep on keeping on.

lucy

Registered on February 25, 2011, 189 Posts, 1160 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on May 17, 2011 at 7:29 PM

Swallows are so swift. This is an amazing capture.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Soubhik Patranabis on May 18, 2011 at 12:08 PM

Really nice - great shot !

Registered on January 25, 2010, 54 Posts, 610 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on May 18, 2011 at 9:33 PM

The wonderful pose here does it for me Ron, I'm sold!

Perfect comp that fits that great pose too..
I think you did an excellent job with the very early light - Well done!

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments