DPR Forum
Welcome to the Friendly Aisles!
DPRF is a spin-off of dpreview. We are a photography forum with people from all over the world freely sharing their knowledge and love of photography. Everybody is welcome, from beginners to the experienced professional. From smartphone to Medium Format.
DPRF is a community for everybody, every brand and every sensor format. Digital and film.
Enjoy this modern, easy to use software. Look also at our Reviews & Gallery!
Kingfisher
- Thread starter Barbie Heid
- Start date
1971_M5
Well-Known Member
Nice. We have a Kingfisher that hangs around the yard every now and then. Beautiful bird. I will try to get a shot of him/her. But unless I have the camera ready to go with a long lens... it won't be easy! And even if I am prepared, it won't be easy... because "birds" are difficult to capture! At least they are for me; maybe not for you guys. I haven't had much luck. If something is standing still (landscape)... well then I have a chance!
Barbie Heid
Well-Known Member
You're lucky! I have to hunt for kingfishers around here; actually, this is the first one I've gotten. In my area at least, they prefer mudbanks that are almost inaccessible (and they're fast little Buggers). I've found birds are chance subjects. Some days I'll fire off 800 frames and not get squat, but the kingfisher shot? Got that in eight minutes and went back home (it was cold!).
1971_M5
Well-Known Member
Our beach is gravel/rocks, but I suppose there's enough food around for them to eat... small fish, critters, etc. My uncle, he'll set-up in a marsh somewhere and sit in a high-tech camo bird hide/blind ALL DAY LONG with a TOTL Canon body and an 800mm lens. LOL. He gets some great shots! But I am too short on patience. It's probably like the golf channel or American Sportsman in the old days... everyone whispers! LOL. I like being outdoors with the camera... getting some fun shots as I walk along and taking short photo breaks (my family teases me and says I'm slowing them down). But birders have more patience than I do... and I can also see/appreciate that the rewards are high when you take the time... and wait... and get something nice. Plus the difficulty to master the technique... focus point, tight framing, SS/DOF tradeoffs for stopping the action, anticipating movement, changing light as the target moves, etc. Thank goodness for the nice cameras we have nowadays and and free digital film. That means we can afford to experiment and quickly see the results (compared to "the good 'ol days" where you'd have to wait a week and PAY to see how badly you messed-up). 
Kudos on the duck shot.
Kudos on the duck shot.
Barbie Heid
Well-Known Member
Thanks again. And patience isn't my forte either, so I leave a lot to luck.Our beach is gravel/rocks, but I suppose there's enough food around for them to eat... small fish, critters, etc. My uncle, he'll set-up in a marsh somewhere and sit in a high-tech camo bird hide/blind ALL DAY LONG with a TOTL Canon body and an 800mm lens. LOL. He gets some great shots! But I am too short on patience. It's probably like the golf channel or American Sportsman in the old days... everyone whispers! LOL. I like being outdoors with the camera... getting some fun shots as I walk along and taking short photo breaks (my family teases me and says I'm slowing them down). But birders have more patience than I do... and I can also see/appreciate that the rewards are high when you take the time... and wait... and get something nice. Plus the difficulty to master the technique... focus point, tight framing, SS/DOF tradeoffs for stopping the action, anticipating movement, changing light as the target moves, etc. Thank goodness for the nice cameras we have nowadays and and free digital film. That means we can afford to experiment and quickly see the results (compared to "the good 'ol days" where you'd have to wait a week and PAY to see how badly you messed-up).