My OperaThe Ghost Bird
Friday, June 17, 2011 11:50:36 PM
Weather report: rain, rain and more rain. Welcome to a British Summer. The atrocious weather has put paid to any real opportunity to go out with the camera, but there are a few catch-up shots I've been meaning to post. For several nights now one of the local herring gulls has taken to patrolling the skies. When the cloud cover lifts, and the moonlight catches its wings, it's just possible to make out its ghostly night-flight.
I've attempted to photograph it. Not easy, as through the camera it's impossible (or as close as makes no difference) to see anything. Focusing is a no-go. I had to pump the ISO to anything between 3200 and 6400, set the manual focus to just below infinity; and hoped. I've achieved multiple shots of a pitch black night sky, and occasionally... very occasionally... a ghost bird.
But for the rest of the time we've had little else but rain. Constant rain. These poor mites were making the best they could of the limited shelter available.
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D. The first photo was taken with the EF 100mm f/2.8L macro IS USM lens, the second and third with the EF70-300mm 4.5-5.6 DO IS. I used the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS for the chicks.
I've attempted to photograph it. Not easy, as through the camera it's impossible (or as close as makes no difference) to see anything. Focusing is a no-go. I had to pump the ISO to anything between 3200 and 6400, set the manual focus to just below infinity; and hoped. I've achieved multiple shots of a pitch black night sky, and occasionally... very occasionally... a ghost bird.
But for the rest of the time we've had little else but rain. Constant rain. These poor mites were making the best they could of the limited shelter available.
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D. The first photo was taken with the EF 100mm f/2.8L macro IS USM lens, the second and third with the EF70-300mm 4.5-5.6 DO IS. I used the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS for the chicks.
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