Posted by Andy Astbury on April 23, 2008 at 3:17 AM
One from yesterday.
Got the floating hide on the water as it was such a lovely day - alas the water still too cold for comfort
She was off the nest having a bit of R&R when I sneaked around the corner of the island, but even though the Canadas, moorhens, coots and ducks never gave me a second glance she 'clocked me' straight away and came over to inspect - decided I was just some rubbish (something with which I've no doubt my missus would agree ) and then she went back on the nest.
This is the sort of shot I was after on my last post - she now has eggs in the nest which she didn't have last Wednesday - and so getting on the nest is quite a spectacle to view with all the sorting and fiddling she does - an absolute privilege to be allowed to watch and photograph from such close quarters
Having filled a 4Gb card the problem of departure without disturbing her was answered by a very slow walk backwards along the edge of the island and around the corner until I was well out of her line of sight - no easy task when the bottom is covered in birch roots
Wouldn't it be great to be there to witness hatching - fat chance to get the timing right to that degree - but we can dream
D300
Sig 300-800 @ 700mm
ISO 400
1/400th @ f9 -1/3EV
Single Area AF (-3 AF fine tune)
Dynamic metering
Well done Andy. The shot looks great and I enjoyed reading your story. Thanks for showing the hide pics. It looks great. I would love to see you in it sticking your head trough the netting
Hope to see more.
Edwin Kats
Posted by John Robinson on April 23, 2008 at 4:22 AM
Very good !
Shame doing Mr Kingdom out of a job though !!
JohnR
Posted by David Taylor on April 23, 2008 at 4:45 AM
The things we do for a great image I hope your hide is centrally heated :
Posted by John Chapman on April 23, 2008 at 5:23 AM
Hi Andy great shot and a great story fantastic hide.
John
Posted by Paul Inglis on April 23, 2008 at 5:30 AM
Very nice "natural" shot, I hope you have success in observing hatching. The floating hide looks very interesting, a couple of questions Do you always make sure in you stay in water deep enough to walk on the bottom?? If not how do you hold onto it and swim?? Would it benefit from "grab" handles?
Good looking and well made hide-very interesting, I will be making one for when i am in the States-Nice exposure and detail-love the water droplets
Dave
Posted by Andy Astbury on April 23, 2008 at 8:37 AM
Hi Rob - yes, keep your feet on the bottom for safety sake, though I did test it without the camera gear by lifting my feet off the bottom and it supported me easily and stayed flat.
Robert - I was waiting for someone to ask that one - all clear with EN
Posted by eric weight on April 23, 2008 at 12:14 PM
Blimey Andy round here that's known as a houseboat! Kettle and sandwiches whatever next?
I see you were using 700mm @1/400 - and obviously no IS on the sig, It's hardly a tripod, so how do you find it for stability with the long lens? Do you waste more shots than usual or is it steady enough? Interesting post as usual.
Nice shot by the way. Eric
Posted by Ian Andrews on April 23, 2008 at 12:31 PM
Excellent work all round!
Ian
Posted by Guy Rogers on April 23, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Hello Andy.
Another fine capture of your GCG series. I hope you do make the for hatching for all tha hard work you are putting in.
Thanks for sharing your hide pictures
Posted by Andy Astbury on April 23, 2008 at 2:22 PM
Thanks for all the feedback folks - glad you like the image as it makes it all worthwhile
Eric - never have a problem with wasted shots down to movement - wish I could say the same for front and back focus
The lake has been covered with high frequency wavelets about 4" from peak to trough today and a stiff breeze from the west - no point in even getting the hide out as it would be difficult to control and would bob about a bit plus you always get the increased risk of water coming over the top of your chesties and turning you into an anchor
But as for IS - well, I make a habit of never paying for anything I'd never use - IS on anything above 300mm is heading for the 'novelty' classification and on 600mm and over is really a big waste of money - IMHO of course.
Tiny movements caused by vibration might be recoverable with IS, but vertical movement due to water swell is another matter.
If an 800mm lens moves a couple of inches vertically then the movement translates to the best part of a couple of feet or more at 25 yards - and there's not an IS system that can cope with that as far as I'm aware. But if someone can prove me wrong.....
Posted by Austin Thomas on April 23, 2008 at 2:38 PM
Nice one Andy,
Great image and a great hide from which I am sure you will get some fantastic results.
Great and good of you to share the images of your floating Hide, wouldn't use one down here as most of our lakes are old quarries, deep and strewn with all sorts of hazards...
Nice warm light and lots of detail. Very nice picture
Posted by Paul Williams on April 24, 2008 at 2:56 PM
Another great shot Andy.....you do realise that the cold water is not going to do your love life any good!
Posted by Paula Graham on April 26, 2008 at 1:18 PM
All these comments made me smile...I have had workman in doing up the house and not had much time lately for photography or the forum...shall have a look at some other shots in the series. Hope you wish will come true and you are there at the moment of hatching.
Posted by Andy Astbury on April 26, 2008 at 6:44 PM
Thanks for all the feedback - much appreciated as ever
Posted by Alan Bryant on April 26, 2008 at 6:54 PM
Great shot Andy.
And i love to see how these shots are taken, via you posting pics of your hide
Hope you get, and post up your "dream" chick shot.That would be awesome
Discussion
31 repliesGot the floating hide on the water as it was such a lovely day - alas the water still too cold for comfort
She was off the nest having a bit of R&R when I sneaked around the corner of the island, but even though the Canadas, moorhens, coots and ducks never gave me a second glance she 'clocked me' straight away and came over to inspect - decided I was just some rubbish (something with which I've no doubt my missus would agree
This is the sort of shot I was after on my last post - she now has eggs in the nest which she didn't have last Wednesday - and so getting on the nest is quite a spectacle to view with all the sorting and fiddling she does - an absolute privilege to be allowed to watch and photograph from such close quarters
Having filled a 4Gb card the problem of departure without disturbing her was answered by a very slow walk backwards along the edge of the island and around the corner until I was well out of her line of sight - no easy task when the bottom is covered in birch roots
Wouldn't it be great to be there to witness hatching - fat chance to get the timing right to that degree - but we can dream
D300
Sig 300-800 @ 700mm
ISO 400
1/400th @ f9 -1/3EV
Single Area AF (-3 AF fine tune)
Dynamic metering
PP Bibble Pro and CS3
Thanks for looking as always
I endorse the view that you should post a picture of the floating hide arrangement!
Dave
Great series of images. I'd also be interested to see the floating hide.
Good luck with witnessing hatching - that would be amazing.
Rob
Well done Andy!
Greetings,
Jeroen Stel
http://wildlifeinpixels.com/img/gear/WIP00002988.jpg
and
http://wildlifeinpixels.com/img/gear/WIP00002998.jpg
Next time I get it on the water I'll do an interior - there's enough room for two cameras, sarnies and a brew - you've got to take the necessaries
Hope to see more.
Edwin Kats
Shame doing Mr Kingdom out of a job though !!
JohnR
John
Awesome image! Interesting story! You're hide looks great! Thanks for sharing!
Paul
Dave
Very nice "natural" shot, I hope you have success in observing hatching. The floating hide looks very interesting, a couple of questions
Regards
Rob
Great hide and I now want one, so thanks very much!!!!!
Robert
Dave
Robert - I was waiting for someone to ask that one - all clear with EN
I see you were using 700mm @1/400 - and obviously no IS on the sig, It's hardly a tripod, so how do you find it for stability with the long lens? Do you waste more shots than usual or is it steady enough? Interesting post as usual.
Nice shot by the way.
Ian
Another fine capture of your GCG series. I hope you do make the for hatching for all tha hard work you are putting in.
Thanks for sharing your hide pictures
Eric - never have a problem with wasted shots down to movement - wish I could say the same for front and back focus
The lake has been covered with high frequency wavelets about 4" from peak to trough today and a stiff breeze from the west - no point in even getting the hide out as it would be difficult to control and would bob about a bit plus you always get the increased risk of water coming over the top of your chesties and turning you into an anchor
But as for IS - well, I make a habit of never paying for anything I'd never use - IS on anything above 300mm is heading for the 'novelty' classification and on 600mm and over is really a big waste of money - IMHO of course.
Tiny movements caused by vibration might be recoverable with IS, but vertical movement due to water swell is another matter.
If an 800mm lens moves a couple of inches vertically then the movement translates to the best part of a couple of feet or more at 25 yards - and there's not an IS system that can cope with that as far as I'm aware. But if someone can prove me wrong.....
Great image and a great hide from which I am sure you will get some fantastic results.
Best regards,
Austin
Great and good of you to share the images of your floating Hide, wouldn't use one down here as most of our lakes are old quarries, deep and strewn with all sorts of hazards...
Best wishes
Frederic
And i love to see how these shots are taken, via you posting pics of your hide
Hope you get, and post up your "dream" chick shot.That would be awesome
Am I right to assume it's a private lake Andy?