Starlings

I have just started a personal project to document this interesting aspect of urban wildlife and it is proving more technically challenging than first envisaged. I'm trying to combine low ambient light, bright artificial lights, flash and fast birds.

Clearly not enough flash on this one. All critique and advice welcome.

Taken at a secret location in the south of England.

D3
70-200
rear sync flash
1/640@f5
ISO 1250

Cheers

Terry

I am not sure how I would put those three elements together, but I did want to tell you that your "secret location" comment made us smile.

David

Excellent shot. Works really well. Mark

I Like this Terry - if you'r modifications improve on this you'll be doing very well indeed.

Nice project idea too - but you might fid someone joining you now!!



Mark

A shot with some topicality. I'm not sure what you were expecting the flash to do in this situation tho'.

Nice idea - lovely birds - most under considered in my opinion. I'm doing a similar thing currently in my neck of the woods.

If it were me in your situation I'd get two flashes below the 'o' one on either side, compose the moon in the 'o' with a long lens to pull it in, focus on the 'o' and fire the flashes remotely with a radio trigger.

Inverse square law dictates that your on-camera flash will be as much use as a candle in illuminating the birds at the current distance you're working. Getting the guns in closer will certainly help with fill-flash.

Compositionally (because I like this sort of thing!) I'd crop tight to the left of the 'r' in Brighton and exclude 'b' and get rid of the 'pier' word completely, putting the right frame edge on the 'n'. :-)

This could be a really good project - its got loads of potential. Keep at it.

Have you asked the pier management about access for unusual angles?

John

Many thanks for the advice. I haven't contacted the Pier management but I will. I did play around a bit with compositions but, as you know, it's all over in minutes so it all has to be done one small step at a time. I hadn't thought of putting remote flashes closer.

"I'd crop tight to the left of the 'r' in Brighton and exclude 'b' and get rid of the 'pier' word completely, putting the right frame edge on the 'n'. " - Right on!

Thanks

Terry

Right on Terry!

Laughed at your location comment
Looks like it needs some CCW rotation but looking forward to seeing more fruits of your labour

Certainly setting yourself a challenge combining those four items all together Terry but all good stuff. The images makes me ask, are the birds attracted to the bright lights or is it just the structure serving as a roosting perch? Do they roost on here or is it just a stop over point? Is there heat given off from the lights that attracts? Nice project.
I was a bit slow on the uptake re your location comment.
Major

It is so good I was going to ask where you took it

David

Is it my imagination or have brighton pier starlings just become the thing to photograph? There was a shot of them over this landmark on the bbc news site the other day (or was that yours as well?).
I must say I like what you have come up with so far, they are one of my favourites and I look forward to more.
Eric

Major

The starlings roost underneath the pier and just use various structures to perch on as they arrive. They may only be on the signs for a couple of minutes.

Eric

It wasn't mine and I didn't see it. I was aware of the interest in starlings (due to reports of their decline) and also some of the TV coverage on Springwatch etc. I thought I'd tie it in with my interest in urban wildlife. Most of the Brighton images I have seen are of the West Pier (now a skeleton) roost. I think the RSPB have a stand and volunteers there at weekends.

Cheers

Terry

Nice picture. Especially the repost I do like.