Not a great shot but for me the degree of difficulty makes it one I was happy to get. I’ve been trying for weeks to get a photo similar to this one, taken 6 days ago in the Wasatch Mountains.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
I suppose it could be said that about the only thing going for this image is that it’s a takeoff shot (almost a flight shot) of a blistering-fast little warbler. After all, the setting is busy, there’s out of focus greenery in the foreground at lower left, the bird isn’t particularly large in the frame and it also isn’t quite tack sharp. I wouldn’t argue with any of that but the image also has some redeeming qualities and for me one of them is a pretty big deal.
I know of very few birds that are faster and quirkier in their movements than these little warblers (there are a few, kinglets for example). Human reflexes just aren’t fast enough to keep them in the frame when they take off so you really have no chance unless you’re already firing a burst when it happens. Even then they’re usually out of frame in the 1/10 sec between shots in a burst with my camera. I’ve succeeded in keeping them in frame a few times but they’ve always been extremely soft, or they took off the wrong way, or they flew in front of a leaf or branch or the wing position sucked or I didn’t have a catch light in the eye or …. ad infinitum. For me with Yellow Warbler takeoff and flight shots Murphy’s Law rules.
But this time the bird is reasonably sharp, he took off at a good angle giving me eye contact and nice light on the bird, our view of the entire bird is unobstructed and the takeoff posture and wing positions are good ones. And to top it all off he has prey in his bill.
And I got lucky with something else. The wings of this species move so quickly that normally this shutter speed (1/2500) wouldn’t be fast enough to get them this sharp. I suspect they’re as sharp as they are because I caught them at or near their apex between going up and going down.
Yes, my Yellow Warbler flight/takeoff shots are still a work in progress but when I consider degree of difficulty I’ll celebrate this one as a minor victory.
Ron
Definitely take the (money) shot and run! What a fabulous little bird. I’m not sure if I’ve noticed the striping down the front of these guys before. I’ll have to go back and look through some of your other warbler posts.
Even though the shot may have some “bugs” in your mind, I’d still send it off to Dr. Tallamy. They still might be able to figure out the insect from clues we’d otherwise miss. BTW, I got his book from the library on Tuesday and am enjoying it — there are lots of gorgeous photographs!
Marty, when I get the chance I hope to have some time with that book too. Lots of folks recommend it.
Your minor victory would be a foot-stomping, cheering triumph for many of your commentators.
Love this. And at well before sparrow fart here, the patch of golden sunshine is welcome.
Now that’s one I’ve never heard before, EC. You do have a creative streak!
It is a fairly common phrase here. No creativity award for this one.
I always thought a sparrow could fart any time it damn well pleased! 😉
Boy do I GET your degree of difficulty. They move WAY faster than you think–amend that. They move way faster than you CAN think 😉 Raptors are like that with their feet. Before you realize that movement has happened, they’ve got you (assuming you’ve broken some of their rules). I know that because I’ve been there, done that, have the scars. Our eye-brain-hand coordination is woefully inadequate. Comparatively speaking, we’re pretty much the dullards around here.
To these eyes, this shot is perfectly lovely. And given your other degree of difficulty in where they choose to live, you’re mostly stuck with background clutter. Realistically, your choice is to embrace the clutter and be happy that otherwise, you nailed all the rest of your criteria. And yeah, I know about the pursuit of perfection 😉
Laura, I’ve noticed that “speed of foot” raptors have many times in the field, especially with fighting harriers but with other species too.
“Embrace clutter” is going to be my new mantra. 😉
I like the shot. The bird looks very pleased with its prize.
It was probably feeding nestlings so I imagine it was pleased, Jean.
I’ll take it too!! Anyone trying to get that shot, regardless, is going to have a high degree of difficulty. I think it is a great shot, congratulations.
Do you know what insect it is? Will you send this picture to the good Doctor?
Because of the good Doctor, will you be taking more images of birds feeding during nesting season?
I have to admit that I am looking for just those images lately – however due to the weather haven’t been successful.
Dick, I take those kind of images whenever I can, “good Doctor” or not. I’ll look for other imagers of that bird and if I have one where the insect is sharper I’ll send it to him.
This shot sure looks like a victory to me. The one time recently I’ve seen a Yellow Warbler, it was gone before I could even think about getting my camera going. I couldn’t even move fast enough when the bird was sitting on a branch! Looks to me like the prey in this shot is probably a beetle.
I wondered what it is, Susan. Looks to me like it had a “tail”…
Ron, what I saw looked like long antennae, and no tail.
Great shot Ron. Can’t image being able or lucky enough to get a quickly flying bird, tree branches, and greenery all in perfect sharp focus. Agreeing with Martha that I would be very happy with this result no matter the setting. Love Yellow Warblers too. Thanks.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
I’m glad you like it, Everett. Thanks.
If I had taken this shot, at ISO 800, and gotten this result, I would be very very satisfied.
Thanks, Martha.
Even when i am anticipating a bird’s takeoff, my shutter speed makes little difference as my reaction time far exceeds 1/10 of a second, not to mention shutter lag! Your shot has a certain 3D effect due to the sense of movement and the angle of the warbler’s approach. Very pleasing!
Thanks, Ken. Shooting these little birds makes me appreciate (and also despise) how very quick they are. As a biologist I often wonder how it’s done physiologically. Their neurotransmitters between synapses must be incredibly efficient and quick.
I’d cal it more than a “minor victory”. I doubt there are very few folks in the world who are capable of getting this good a shot of a quick little bird jumping around through thick vegetation. Its just tough enough to keep them in the frame. Great shot here Ron. .I would be ecstatic.
Thank you, Frank. I’m reasonably happy with it – progress is always a good thing. But as I always say, “If bird photography were easy anyone could do it well”. The quest continues…
Wonderful shot Ron!
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
I’ll take it! 🙂 They really don’t care what we think they should do! 😉 “Some day……….” 😉
I’ll take it too. Thanks, Judy.
Love the pose you captured him at! Those just leaping off shots are special. I agree with all you say about these speed demons…they have been my nemesis plus the kinglets also. I wish they wouldn’t prefer the ‘tangled up’ branches I always seem to find them in or the leaf clusters! So would love to get a photo on a nice single pine or spruce branch just once but then I don’t think they like those. 🙂
Yup, “cooperative” sure isn’t their middle name. Their preferred habitat coupled with their speed and frenetic movements make these kinds of shots very difficult. Thanks, Kathy.