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Todays Chough from Skomer

Discussion

11 replies
Posted by Vincent Jones on June 6, 2006 at 4:09 PM
Todays Chough from Skomer
Fair play these birds are very skitish & my attempts were narrowed down to just 3 shots as the bird flew past.

Due to the sun's position & how bright it was I decided to go for this species first as there are no whites to blow out. The eye is visible (just). very dark eyed & hard to get a decent catchlight.

Comments & critique welcome.

D2X - 400mm AFS F2.8 on tripod.
ISO 200, F4.8, 1/1500sec

Posted by Peter Barritt on June 6, 2006 at 4:29 PM
good work Vince, as usual.There's something about the eye. Is it closed? If not, perhaps cheat and stick a catchlight in. :eek: :eek:
Posted by Justin on June 6, 2006 at 5:26 PM
Hi Vince,
I think this is a very fine result,particularly the size and position of the bird in the frame.
A nice angle too which shows off those spread wings to good effect.
Works for me.
:toast:
Posted by David J Slater on June 6, 2006 at 5:42 PM
Respect. These birds are TOUGH in flight! Also not easy to get close. And not easy to find come to that! Good background - but is it sea or sky?

Dave
Forest of Dean, UK
Posted by John Varley on June 6, 2006 at 6:25 PM
Very good Vince. I think you handled the blacks very well. I always have trouble with crows in contrasty sunlight.

John
Posted by Clive_S on June 7, 2006 at 4:08 AM
Well done - bet you're well Choughed with this (sorry...) :toast:
Posted by Clive_S on June 7, 2006 at 4:41 AM
Well done - bet you're well Choughed with this (sorry...) :toast:
Posted by John Chapman on June 7, 2006 at 5:27 AM
Hi Vincent.
great flight shot.
John
Aberdeen :toast:
Posted by Clive_S on June 7, 2006 at 7:58 AM
Well done - bet you're well Choughed with this (sorry...) :toast:
Posted by Colin Pickett on June 7, 2006 at 4:43 PM
Very nice Vince, I spent many hours following these near Skomer.

Excellent :toast:
Posted by Jeremy on June 7, 2006 at 8:27 PM
Very jealous of this, as I`ve been trying for something similar for some time, with no luck. The autofocus of the 20D doesn`t help much.
An excellent shot; was it taken at The Wick?
Posted by Vincent Jones on June 8, 2006 at 12:40 PM
Thanks for the comments & critique, very much appreciated. :toast:

For the amount of seconds I had them in the view finder I am surprised I got what I did as they were very nervous of people.

Jeremy, In answer to where the choughs were, they weren't at the Wick they were on the coastal area where the Gannets fly past in the distance.