'Lift off'

Still feeding my Brambling flock and I have been trying to get wide angle images of the flock feeding. I have however been disappointed with the results as the birds blend with the background too well (which nature intended) and it doesn't make for a good image. I have tried in both full sun and overcast but it is not working as well as I had hoped as I feel I need them to stand out a littl more from the BG.

1D MkIII + 24-70 f2.8 iso 800 f10 at 1/1000 fired remotely from the comfort of my car

Have included another image below to illustrate the problem!

Taken today in overcast conditions!

David

Hi David,
Looks like your time and effort with the Bramblings is paying off.
Looks like the sunshine in the top image appears to really help with the seperation of birds and backdrop, thanks to the that wonderfully illuminated and colourful chest the birds have.
Love the viewpoint and the slight pano crop.

Hi Dave, I agree with Justin that the first image is the better of the two. Actually it's a very very nice image, and I think you have a fine separation from the BG! Interesting apporach with the wide-angle

Hi David


I love the soft colours of the second image but struggling with the speed to freeze the action!
Even with the birds static I prefer the second image,good luck keep at it whilst the birds are still around.


Craig
www.craigchurchill.co.uk

the brambling flock is a lovely sight in both images. The wideangle approach is effective. Of the 2 I prefer the top one.

Matt

Yes David what a difference a day makes (24 little hours) feel a song coming on there.
The posabilities are endless and you have captured one here.
Great thing just to witness that amount of Bramblings.

Major.

it's amazing how they can blend in with such bright orange!! I would prefer the firtst image.

brilliant, i love the first shot, looks surreal and very different, i couldn't even work it out at first

I think the 1st one is great. For me it has an instant visual impact plus if you look a bit closer some birds going up but a few aren't which adds extra interest. The 2nd one seems to be a group of disconnected individuals. It doesn't have .the focus which the mass take-off gives the 1st picture.



Paul

Always refreshing to see a differant kind of shot. Good one



Tim

Hi David. I think you need sunlight for the contrast and shutter speed. Have you tried have the camera on a beanbag on the ground so it is looking skyward. You would have less background to distract... An off-camera remote flash could be used to pick up the under-wings. Love the idea - had huge potential!

Hi David,

Definitely better for the sunlight to bring out the orange colours, and I like the idea too.

Any chance of getting a different angle to get a blue sky from ground level (from the left say?).



Mark

Hi David great capture and full marks for trying.
John
Aberdeen

Hi David,

Superb project you have going here! I like both images but the first is more interesting so to speak! Good luck with achieving your goal!

Hello Dave

Loved all the shots you have posted on brambling and I really like these two as well they both work.



Danny

Very different, i love the contrast of the birds colours with the BG. The second shot i admit looses the impace, but its still a useful shot of what you would see with them feeding on the ground.

I like the first one best. I have never seen a brambling and always wonder if I am missing them among flocks of chaffys, but that first image tells me what to look for in the field. That orange is more distinctive than I expected.
Eric