Posted by Ian Butler on October 27, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Hi everyone
I've been busy recently making the most of the Ring Ouzels that are in my local area. The tree that they are feeding on has been completely stripped bare now but unfortunately is a very 'straggly' rowan and was extremely hard to get individuals with a plain background. I spent five days under concealment trying to get these shots. It was great being so close to them and listening to their contact calls between each other.
This is the first time I've photographed Ring Ouzels so I was pleased to get some usable images. They weren't the shots I wanted to end up with but still a nice shot of the bird without any branches in the foreground....at least the camouflage works.
Does anybody have any ideas of how to entice birds into another area especially when working with migrants to get clear shots? I thought about pruning berries off certain parts of the tree and mounting them either side of the main tree to get them with a clear background. I'm not sure how succesful this would be? Any body had any success in the past?
Comments and crits welcome.
Regards
Ian
Shooting Mode Aperture-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/320
Av( Aperture Value ) 5.6
Metering Mode Evaluative Metering
Exposure Compensation 0
ISO Speed 320
Auto ISO Speed OFF
Lens EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x
Focal Length 700.0mm
Image Size 5184x3456
Image Quality RAW
White Balance Mode Auto
AF Mode AI Servo AF
AF area select mode Spot AF
Picture Style Faithful
Sharpness 0
Contrast 0
Saturation 0
Color tone 0
Color Space Adobe RGB
Long exposure noise reduction 0:Off
High ISO speed noise reduction 0:Standard
Highlight tone priority 0:Disable
Auto Lighting Optimizer 0:Standard
Peripheral illumination correction Enable
File Size 22455KB
Dust Delete Data No
Drive Mode High-speed continuous shooting
Live View Shooting OFF
Posted by John Robinson on October 27, 2009 at 2:45 PM
Hi Ian
Nice shot ! Surprised at the lack of comments but there you are.
I,ve done quite a lot with moving berries around, Holly and Hawthorn mainly. I did it with the Mistle Thrush on mistltoe berries that was in BBIrds also. You need a lot of time on your hands though.
You need to wait until most of the other fruit has gone. It usually works ok.
Cheers
JohnR
Posted by Andy Shepherd on October 27, 2009 at 2:49 PM
Nice one Ian and I'm very envious to say the least, the Ring Ouzel is right near the top of my most wanted list, I'd be well pleased if this were mine, can't believe this image is 93 / 0 !!!
You just bet me to this one John, commenting patterns on UKNP can be quite strange and surprising at times
A very nice shot Ian. I hadn't realised these birds where still around in the UK as we only see them in the spring & summer up on the moors...and then only in small numbers.
Posted by Lewis Thomson on October 27, 2009 at 5:19 PM
Hi Ian,
I had a feeling you would be on to these. Its a great shot! Difficult species, as you say getting a clear view of berry eating birds is a nightmare, I think you've done well. I would give your idea a try if they hang around.
Cheers,
Lewis.
Posted by Craig Jones on October 27, 2009 at 5:25 PM
Very rare and very nice, love the berries too
Posted by Ian Butler on October 27, 2009 at 6:22 PM
Hi everyone
Thanks for posting! Thought I'd offended someone when nobody was posting or that no-one liked the picture!
Glad everyone likes it. If the weather improves I might be tempted to go back and have another go with a few nicely selected cuttings off other rowan trees!
I've posted another shot that I really like and wish that the branch was not there. Like they say, patience is a virtue so hopefully time with these birds will pay off. Gutted springs to mind with this picture. Nice to see the patterning continues to the undertail coverts aswell!!
Cheers
Ian
Posted by Ian Butler on October 27, 2009 at 6:23 PM
Hi Both very nice images, the second would be outstanding if it wasn't for the branch in front, I don't normally condone major manipulation, it may be time well spent patching/cloning it out.
Posted by Ian Mason on October 27, 2009 at 7:00 PM
Never seen one, but this makes me want to! Have to say I agree totally with Phil's comment on the second image. Looking forward to seeing more of these.
Posted by Brett Lewis on October 27, 2009 at 7:04 PM
Really very nice captures Ian and I hope you succeed in getting one out in the open as you suggest. Super detail throughout and although there is a lot going on in the shots it puts it all into context for this time of year. Keep them coming.
Brett
Posted by David Kjaer on October 27, 2009 at 7:16 PM
Cracking images Ian - not very often photographed on passage!
David
Posted by Ian Haskell on October 27, 2009 at 7:39 PM
Lovely images...both of them.
Ian
Posted by Ian Butler on October 27, 2009 at 7:40 PM
Just for a bit of fun I've spent the last half hour doing a massive clone job on the picture removing the branch. I wouldnt normally do this but just to see what it would look like
Posted by Ian Mason on October 27, 2009 at 7:57 PM
Agree, its not something I would do normally, but with a rare migrant... well, not a competitiion entry image but certainly becomes more commercial... great job on the pruning, hope it has been done on a full rez copy.....
Posted by Lewis Thomson on October 27, 2009 at 8:21 PM
I actually prefer the image with the branch across the bird, maybe I'm crazy ! I think it makes a more interesting comp. The oof branch in the bg bothers me more than that. Still a cracking shot Ian, super markings on these birds.
The last image is the best for me. Terrific clone job.
Robert
Posted by John Robinson on October 28, 2009 at 5:01 AM
Cracking clone job Ian.
You may find that everyone looks at your pictures with a magnifying glass in future !
It happened to someone I know very well .
Cheers
John
Posted by Ian Butler on October 28, 2009 at 7:10 AM
Hi all
It was just a bit of fun but they can look all they want John as thats the first clone job i've done with a wildlife image. I'm used to doing it with wedding photos so im getting pretty good at it now.. cloning out fire exit signs and extinguishers!! I'd prefer to go back out and get the photograph without the distractions (which obviously you can't do with weddings) !! I've got my secateurs now so hopefully the birds are still there!!
Thanks for looking.
Posted by David Sewell on October 28, 2009 at 7:42 AM
That is a superb cloning job. Hopefully we will see a few more ring ouzels from you in the near future.
Discussion
22 repliesI've been busy recently making the most of the Ring Ouzels that are in my local area. The tree that they are feeding on has been completely stripped bare now but unfortunately is a very 'straggly' rowan and was extremely hard to get individuals with a plain background. I spent five days under concealment trying to get these shots. It was great being so close to them and listening to their contact calls between each other.
This is the first time I've photographed Ring Ouzels so I was pleased to get some usable images. They weren't the shots I wanted to end up with but still a nice shot of the bird without any branches in the foreground....at least the camouflage works.
Does anybody have any ideas of how to entice birds into another area especially when working with migrants to get clear shots? I thought about pruning berries off certain parts of the tree and mounting them either side of the main tree to get them with a clear background. I'm not sure how succesful this would be? Any body had any success in the past?
Comments and crits welcome.
Regards
Ian
Shooting Mode Aperture-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/320
Av( Aperture Value ) 5.6
Metering Mode Evaluative Metering
Exposure Compensation 0
ISO Speed 320
Auto ISO Speed OFF
Lens EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x
Focal Length 700.0mm
Image Size 5184x3456
Image Quality RAW
White Balance Mode Auto
AF Mode AI Servo AF
AF area select mode Spot AF
Picture Style Faithful
Sharpness 0
Contrast 0
Saturation 0
Color tone 0
Color Space Adobe RGB
Long exposure noise reduction 0:Off
High ISO speed noise reduction 0:Standard
Highlight tone priority 0:Disable
Auto Lighting Optimizer 0:Standard
Peripheral illumination correction Enable
File Size 22455KB
Dust Delete Data No
Drive Mode High-speed continuous shooting
Live View Shooting OFF
Nice shot ! Surprised at the lack of comments but there you are.
I,ve done quite a lot with moving berries around, Holly and Hawthorn mainly. I did it with the Mistle Thrush on mistltoe berries that was in BBIrds also. You need a lot of time on your hands though.
You need to wait until most of the other fruit has gone. It usually works ok.
Cheers
JohnR
You just bet me to this one John, commenting patterns on UKNP can be quite strange and surprising at times
Andy...
Frederic
Hi Ian,
I had a feeling you would be on to these. Its a great shot! Difficult species, as you say getting a clear view of berry eating birds is a nightmare, I think you've done well. I would give your idea a try if they hang around.
Cheers,
Lewis.
Thanks for posting! Thought I'd offended someone when nobody was posting or that no-one liked the picture!
Glad everyone likes it. If the weather improves I might be tempted to go back and have another go with a few nicely selected cuttings off other rowan trees!
I've posted another shot that I really like and wish that the branch was not there. Like they say, patience is a virtue so hopefully time with these birds will pay off. Gutted springs to mind with this picture. Nice to see the patterning continues to the undertail coverts aswell!!
Cheers
Ian
Brett
David
Ian
Cheers,
Lewis.
Robert
You may find that everyone looks at your pictures with a magnifying glass in future !
It happened to someone I know very well .
Cheers
John
It was just a bit of fun but they can look all they want John as thats the first clone job i've done with a wildlife image. I'm used to doing it with wedding photos so im getting pretty good at it now.. cloning out fire exit signs and extinguishers!! I'd prefer to go back out and get the photograph without the distractions (which obviously you can't do with weddings) !! I've got my secateurs now so hopefully the birds are still there!!
Thanks for looking.
David