Great Egret

[RobAmy]

With breeding plumage

[Shortie]

cool

that is a portrait

good stuff

Shortie

[cedric_r]

This is way too frustrating: I don't know how you make all these nice bird shots, and that's not fair. Granted you have 600mmx2 at hand, but how can you get close enough to the birds to make these shots that look full frame? Please give me a clue because I'm desesperate. And how do you find all these birds? Do you have a massive zoo in your garden?

[RobAmy]

Originally Posted by cedric_r

This is way too frustrating: I don't know how you make all these nice bird shots, and that's not fair. Granted you have 600mmx2 at hand, but how can you get close enough to the birds to make these shots that look full frame? Please give me a clue because I'm desesperate. And how do you find all these birds? Do you have a massive zoo in your garden?

Thanks for the kind words, I spend a lot of time waiting for the bird to come to me instead of vice versa. Granted it is easier with a 600mm, but I also get nice results from 300mm and up. Under 300mm I do not have much luck. I also do not try to take 100 shots of something, I have learned to miss a few shots is okay to try to get the one you want more. I have missed birds doing something before and in doing so they move closer to me. I do not know if you saw my wood duck shots, but these birds I have a tough time with, but I sat still for about 2hrs letting them get comfortable with me there, then I make slow movements. I also like to be by myself for the quietness of it. Usually people are just noisy even if they do not think so. I tend not to shoot in burst also, sometimes the multiple burst will scare them off, unless you want that flight shot. I also have better luck when I use a tripod to set it up low to the ground and I am bent over a bit. I look like a clump instead of a 6ft human. I have never used a blind. The most important thing is I do not show you all the bad ones.

[cedric_r]

Thanks for that information. I admire your patience. I usually give up after 15 minutes when I don't get what I want. I guess I'm going to have to learn to be more patient.