Greylag Geese in various lights

[Tordan58]

Greylag Geese, often overlooked subjects. When depicted from a favorable angle I believe they make an interesting motif, also demonstrating what an important factor light is on these otherwise dull, grey objects.

All with the EM-5 and Skywatcher 600mm
Thanks for looking
Tord

#1


#2


#3


#4


#5


#6


#7

[cliff]

Re: Greylag Geese in various lights

These look great Tord, especially the last one, what eye piece are you using is it a prime or can you zoom?

regards Cliff

[tomphotofx]

Re: Greylag Geese in various lights

I like the last one, nice detail and lighting.

Tom

[Hemlockwood]

Re: Greylag Geese in various lights

Fabulous set. You are right about the light. I really like the first and last. Please keep posting your bird pics I look forward to more soon. I am especially interested in the lens you use!

[David Morison]

Re: Greylag Geese in various lights

We have Greylags noisily flying around our area every day and I find them one of the most attractive of the Grey Geese species. I love the way you can walk down the side of a field with at least 300 birds in and they just move slowly away to a safe distance cackling gently. Only if a dog appears do they all launch skywards as noisily as a Typhoon taking off and circle for some time constantly shouting until eventually settling down again. Nice images capture the true wildness of the birds.

David

[Tordan58]

Re: Greylag Geese in various lights

These look great Tord, especially the last one, what eye piece are you using is it a prime or can you zoom?

regards Cliff

Hi Cliff,

I am not using any eyepiece, nor any m4/3 lens.

The image is projected directly on the camera sensor without any glass between the front lens elements of the scope and the sensor. To achieve this you need to add extension to position the sensor on the focal plane. On my scope it means 600mm from front lens, when focusing at infinity.

The method is quite often referred to as "prime focusing". It is gaining popularity as it provides a tool capable of delivering high quality results, very sharp pictures at a moderate price tag.

The downside is the length of the setup and hence the challenge operating it handheld, so a tripod is almost a must, a monopod could work too.

Since there are no advanced no electronics/no AF motors... involved the major cost driver is the glass and that is where the money goes. Potentially you could pick a temperature compensated tube (carbon), double speed high precision rack and pinion focusers but these would drive costs further and for terrestrial photography/bird photography there is no real point in these features. (For astrophotography they come in handy)

The EM5 is a very popular camera for this method body thanks to the EVF that renders a bright image regardless of light conditions, EVF magnification for accurate focusing, effective IBIS, its sensor with good high ISO performance that enable exposure times short enough, the sensor size (4/3 sensor means you can use 2" diameter focuser without vignetting) and not least the low weight meaning low stress exercised on the focuser.

Pictures of setup are available here: http://e-group.uk.net/forum/showthread.php?t=27149

/Tord

[Tordan58]

Re: Greylag Geese in various lights

Fabulous set. You are right about the light. I really like the first and last. Please keep posting your bird pics I look forward to more soon. I am especially interested in the lens you use!

Hi,

Please see my previous post in the thread.

/Tord

[timmypreston]

Re: Greylag Geese in various lights

Excellent results again Tordan with that set up, I particularly like the light in the last.

[Tordan58]

Re: Greylag Geese in various lights

We have Greylags noisily flying around our area every day and I find them one of the most attractive of the Grey Geese species. I love the way you can walk down the side of a field with at least 300 birds in and they just move slowly away to a safe distance cackling gently. Only if a dog appears do they all launch skywards as noisily as a Typhoon taking off and circle for some time constantly shouting until eventually settling down again. Nice images capture the true wildness of the birds.

David

Hi David,

Greylag Geese and also, at least locally, Barnacle Geese, are numerous here in southernmost Sweden. They tend to follow daily motion patterns, feeding daytime on fields and as evening comes they will gather by the coast/lakes and spend night on water or islets, out of reach from terrestrial predators, but not from aerial predators. Whenever a Sea Eagle or Peregrine Falcon comes into view they will take off, a spectacular sight that I will try to capture at a coming occasion (usually wintertime).

They are wary and avoid human (they are hunted to keep the numbers in control) and will take off immediately when approached closer than 200 meters or so. I will pick a location where I blend into the background, and let them come back which they will do if you stay still.

[deckitout]

Re: Greylag Geese in various lights

Really like number 7

[Olybirder]

Re: Greylag Geese in various lights

Terrific shots of these noisy geese Tord. The lighting and detail in the last one are superb.

Ron

[Falk]

Re: Greylag Geese in various lights

Great set again. The change in lighting has produced some amazing differences in underwing colour in No's 6+7.

I always liked the Grey Goose, and actually had some for a time. Out of initially five animals I got, emerged one couple, which I kept. I got them with clipped right wings, unfortunately. It was their right hand feathers I was after in the first place - to go onto my arrows. Anyway, the pair hatched some young the following years - and all of them I've let loose! I lost my breeding pair to Mr. Fox one day But I hope the offsprings are still out there somewhere.

[Magus]

Re: Greylag Geese in various lights

#7 is superb - unbelievably, you even have catch-lights in the eyes