Craig Brelsford
04-24-2011, 09:52 AM
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:UseFELayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id=ieooui></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> I know, I know, I got cement for my background. Welcome to eastern China, where birds are many but pristine landscapes are few. In any case, my barn swallows weren't minding. A nice flock of them were using the concrete embankment near the East China Sea as a rest stop as they migrated north. The swallows' spot was right along the road. Fellow BPN'er Asif Khan pulled his car up, and I waited in the back seat. I found I got my best results when I began shooting just before the swallows took to the air. The key was to read them carefully and start shooting at just the right moment. I took this shot today, Easter Sunday.
Device: Nikon D3S
Lens: VR 600mm F/4G
Focal Length: 600mm
Aperture: F/4.5
Shutter Speed: 1/3200
Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority
Exposure Comp.: +0.33
ISO Sensitivity: ISO 2000
Subject Distance: 8.9 m
Photoshoppery: As is my wont, substantial noise reduction on OOF BG. Sharpening of parts in focus. I coaxed out more light around the eye of the swallow and cooled down that spot on the flank.
Device: Nikon D3S
Lens: VR 600mm F/4G
Focal Length: 600mm
Aperture: F/4.5
Shutter Speed: 1/3200
Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority
Exposure Comp.: +0.33
ISO Sensitivity: ISO 2000
Subject Distance: 8.9 m
Photoshoppery: As is my wont, substantial noise reduction on OOF BG. Sharpening of parts in focus. I coaxed out more light around the eye of the swallow and cooled down that spot on the flank.