Up Close and Personal
Uploaded: March 25, 2013
Monthly Challenge entry. This is up close, at least as close as you can get with a 300 mm lens on a crop sensor camera and very personal.
I had stopped at a wildlife viewing area pullout on Hwy 395 near Big Pine, CA. Large flocks of birds swirling above the desert floor are unusual and had caught my attention. Another couple had pulled over to watch the spectacle as well. They were traveling with their pet macaw. After the Air Show was over, I turned my 300 mm lens on the macaw and took a couple of quick candid shots. The brilliance of his orange feathers in the bright, desert sun was overwhelming.
Exif: F Number: 5.6, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/2500 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 640, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 300.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS 50D
Stephen Shoff March 25, 2013
Here's the "event" #1520840Stephen Shoff March 25, 2013
trying again... #10623227Dale Hardin March 25, 2013
Great image Stephen. Wish this had happened when I was with you. Nothing so eventful occurred on my trip home.You do have me confused though. How does this relate to the monthly challenge? #10623229
Stephen Shoff March 25, 2013
"candid and personal". This was a candid shot taken at an unexpected stop along the side of hte road. It looks like a pretty "personal" picture of the macaw to me.Trying again to associate the "event" #10623234
Dale Hardin March 25, 2013
That was last month's challenge. :o) #10623534Jeff E Jensen March 25, 2013
I have always wanted a macaw, unfortunately, I'm allergic to birds so it's not going to happen.I love the pelican shot! #10623572
Beth Spencer March 25, 2013
Stephen, great colors on this. I thought this might be your bird also. My friend has one and it is the nosiest creature I have ever been around!I love the pelican shots, especially the blue sky. I can't remember seeing a blue sky for a very long time! #10623617
Elaine Hessler March 25, 2013
Beautiful shot of a beautiful bird. The colors are brilliant and I like how the sun is making some of the feathers shiny. I also like how the sun falls on the birds eyes, feels like he is staring at me! I think I want your lens..... Really pretty. #10623736Stephen Shoff March 25, 2013
That was a beautiful bird. But I didn't try to get friendly with him. Just spoke to him a little. I don't have any pets. The other bird is my neighbor's cockatoo. She has several birds. I know her and the birds well enough that I can handle them and occasionally take of them when she is out of town. For a number of unusual reasons, it just seems like the last several weeks have a lot of bird opportunities.This lens, Elaine, is Canon's 300mm f/4L IS. When I bought my EOS 5D Mark II, I took the reviews seriously that the camera required top quality lenses. The sensor would show lens defects. Living in California's Central Valley with all the winter bird migrations I knew a long lens was going to be necessary if wanted to stay active photographically all year. It has become my favorite lens, along with a 17-40 f/4. I don't use it nearly often enough. It is great for getting full-frame images of close objects and either keeping a sharp background but increasing the apparent size of the distant object, or at keeping the close object sharp and getting great background blur (bokeh). I didn't consciously use this lens for this picture...I just wanted to take "candid" shots and didn't have time to change lenses and cameras.
The most amazing part of this experience...when I pulled up the couple were out of the car looking at the pelicans. It turned out after she saw me pull out my camera, that she decided to pull out her T3i and Canon 100-400 zoom. She had a set-up that would blow mine away and she had though it was too much trouble to get her camera out. It was packed in the suitcase. #10623929
Elaine Hessler March 26, 2013
That is crazy. Packed in the suitcase! Thanks for the info. One of these days I am going to invest in a nice lens. The question for me, though, is-do I ever want to upgrade to a full frame. I am hesitant to invest in lenses in case I change cameras. Maybe I'll get some insight from you all on our trip! Just bought my ticket and have my hotel reservations-can't wait to meet y'all! How's that Jeff? #10624113Peter W. Marks March 26, 2013
Spectacular Stephen! Isn't nature incredible! And I do appreciate the back-story that you have given us. Thank you. #10624117Sign up for an interactive online photography course to get critiques on your photos.
Discussions by Category: You can view photo discussions on various themes in the Community > Photo Discussions section of the site.
BetterPhoto Websites: If you see an orange website link directly under the photographer's name, it's totally okay. It's not spam. The reason: BetterPhoto is the one that offers these personal photography websites. We are supporting our clients with those links.
Unavailable EXIF: If there is no other information but 'Unavailable' in the EXIF (meaning no EXIF data exists with the photo), the 'Unavailable' blurb is not displayed. If there is any info, it shows. Many photos have the EXIF stripped out when people modify the image and resave it, before uploading.
The following truth is one of the core philosophies of BetterPhoto:
I hear, I forget.
I see, I remember.
I do, I understand.
You learn by doing. Take your next online photography class.
Copyright for this photo belongs solely to Stephen Shoff.
Images may not be copied, downloaded, or used in any way without the expressed, written permission of the photographer.
Log in to follow or message this photographer or report this photo.
I already have an account!