Astroscope + DSLR = Gallery! (2 Viewers)

[DanC.Licks]

AA was definitely a darkroom genius. He would sometimes spend as much as one month trying to make a single print come out the way he wanted.
I always felt that half of photography took place in the darkroom, and I was fortunate to have been able to learn good darkroom technique at an early age from a pro who was working for the ski area my father ran. That was in the late '50s, early '60s. Everything black and white of course. I remember also spending a lot of time in the darkroom, trying to get the most out of a picture, (still do, but in the Lightroom ) but that was all small time compared to a real photographic artist like AA. He wasn't the only one with superb darkroom technique, but he was the best and I would say he had darkroom artistry. Went so far beyond just technique.

 

[Tord]

Red Crossbills

Unusual encounter where I am since their typical habitat is coniferous forests. Sometimes seen in autumn when the Rowan supply is ample.

[email protected]
TS102 700mm

 

[Tord]

Black headed Gulls

Ordinary, yet elegant. Pity they are on the decline here, for some unknown reason.

[email protected]
TS102 700mm

 

[DanC.Licks]

Really like the first one with the focus on the bird in the lower left center. Right on the money!

For lack of featherd subjects, more fall color out our window:



(Couple more on the setup thread.)

 

[FineArt]

Unusual encounter where I am since their typical habitat is coniferous forests. Sometimes seen in autumn when the Rowan supply is ample.

[email protected]
TS102 700mm

Very nice detail.

 

[FineArt]

10" dob 1200mm fl

I got the scope for all wildlife shots not just birds. I have the range to let the animal feel comfortable. Often they are curious at you in the distance so you get good direct looks. Donuts only show up at small background offsets.

 

[DanC.Licks]

That is a nice shot. I like it, in spite of the fact that there is very little detail in it. Hard to get any detail at such distances, no mater what your glass. At least you won't have to worry about donuts in such shots.
Now how is this for detail? Typical October air in the Vienna Woods.:-C

Distance, all of 40 meters. Sigh....

 

[JGobeil]

The magnificient Wood Duck

The Wood Duck is probably the most beautiful duck we have here in the Province of Quebec.

I had fun with 2 of them, a female and a male, that were somewhat used to human presence. I was able to get as close as 7 meters without disturbing them seriously. They were perched on low branches over water.

The background was not the best and serious Photoshop was in order... The result is far from perfect but it shows how beautiful this bird is.

The photo shown here was taken with the Oly OM-D and SW80ED, distance was 10-15 meters. See 5 other photos taken with the Panasonic 100-300mm on my Web site here:
http://julesgobeil.com/photo/2013-10-21-canards-branchus/?lang=en

 

[cango]

The Wood Duck is probably the most beautiful duck we have here in the Province of Quebec.

beautiful model and great feather details you captured. Good work!

 

[JGobeil]

beautiful model and great feather details you captured. Good work!

Thanks Carlos,

It was a tough one ! The ducks were on the low branches of a large shrub and it was difficult to have a clear view. Also, the BG was horrible, branches, leaves and some water. I corrected it as well as I could in PS but it is very far from perfect.

The bird has indeed a nice posture, the light was great and the focus is correct. It would have been a great photo if it had a nice BG. Well... I decided to post it anyway because of the nice colours and the detail in the feathers.

The other photos on my Web site are much better. Using the 100-300mm without a tripod, I was able to easily move around and come closer to take more pictures. I really like the 2 photos of the female.

Thanks for your comment.
Jules

 

[DanC.Licks]

One bird we had hoped to see on our five trips down over the Hungarian border, is the Black Woodpecker. We got a glimpse of him once, and heard his very distinct call a number of times, but I was never able to get a shot of him. This morning, in a small clearing in the woods not 500 meters from out house we saw this!




He was pretty hard to get, 50 meters away and against the light. Also not really clear. Wish he had stayed around a bit longer. There were other trees much better lit.....oh well...

 

[cango]

One bird we had hoped to see on our five trips down over the Hungarian border, is the Black Woodpecker.

Not easy to get, are they Nice catch!

 

[JGobeil]

One bird we had hoped to see on our five trips down over the Hungarian border, is the Black Woodpecker. We got a glimpse of him once, and heard his very distinct call a number of times, but I was never able to get a shot of him. This morning, in a small clearing in the woods not 500 meters from out house we saw this!

He was pretty hard to get, 50 meters away and against the light. Also not really clear. Wish he had stayed around a bit longer. There were other trees much better lit.....oh well...

Nice bird !

 

[DanC.Licks]

http://www.xeno-canto.org/130424

They have fascinated me from the first time I heard this, without having any idea what it was. I described what I heard on the ID Q&A forum, and was able to get a positive ID. Unique call and it caries a long way.
Funny, we have lived here for 35 years and taken countless walks in the woods nearby, and never heard him. Then yesterday he showed up completely unexpected and called about 8 or 10 times before disappearing back into the trees. We intend to go looking for him again today if the sun comes out.

 

[Tord]

http://www.xeno-canto.org/130424

They have fascinated me from the first time I heard this, without having any idea what it was. I described what I heard on the ID Q&A forum, and was able to get a positive ID. Unique call and it caries a long way.
Funny, we have lived here for 35 years and taken countless walks in the woods nearby, and never heard him. Then yesterday he showed up completely unexpected and called about 8 or 10 times before disappearing back into the trees. We intend to go looking for him again today if the sun comes out.

We have them in old forested areas, hear them on occasion (and sometimes a short visual observation) but no photo opportunity given yet. one species yet to be captured on my camera.

Good pictures considering the distance and light!

 

[DanC.Licks]

We went back again today to see if we could see him again. Nothing for two hours then his Mrs. showed up.oo


I rechecked the distance and the male was more like 100 meters away. She was only about 70 meters. I used the TN on him but I was worried about the light so I left it off for her.

 

[Tord]

These are great pictures. Well done!

 

[DanC.Licks]

Thanks, Tord. 'Twas a thrill, to say the least! Gave Elaine an extra kick because we just bought her a spotting scope a couple of weeks back, and without it, she would have seen practically nothing.

 

[Tord]

Northern Lapwings

Northern Lapwings have gathered by the hundreds, in preparation of the migration. They tend to follow this erratic flight pattern and it's hard to nail down focus on a specific individual in the flock. It's easier when they make a short stop to have a bath.

Pictures taken last weekend, before the storm that struck on Monday.

TS102 F6.8, [email protected] ISO

 

[DanC.Licks]

Lapwings are fun birds. I love their plaintive call.

They can be pretty brave too. We had one dive-bomb us on Harris a couple of years back. We were near where she had her chicks out for a walk and she didn't like it! Up at the north Sea we have seen a single Lapwing attack a White Tailed Eagle and drive him off!