Water fowl

[Reef Bass]

Got out at dawn the last couple mornings to take pictures of some water fowl at some local ponds. Took a different lens configuration each time to explore the advantages of each.

I was reminded of needing to slow down and to move without excited, focused or predatory energy in order to keep from making everything run, swim or fly away, especially those creatures with babies.

This morning I got there before the sun got over the horizon, and it was interesting watching things crank up and get going. And the light change in intensity and color.

Being there at dawn, I was rewarded with a glimpse of an elusive subspecies of the Canada goose, the rare Petaluma Headless goose. Scientists debate how it is able to ingest nutrients without a head. Recent theories revolve around direct nutrient absorption through the large webbed feet. The abundant piles of scat are evidence that it has no difficulty feeding. ;)
http://kenbullimaging.com/images/birds/Headless Goose wm.jpg


I find egrets to be very wary in general. Here is a Great Egret stalking prey before the sun hit the water.
http://kenbullimaging.com/images/birds/Great Egret wm.jpg


Mallards
http://kenbullimaging.com/images/birds/Mallards wm.jpg


A Snowy Egret and Canada goose warming in the early sun.
http://kenbullimaging.com/images/birds/Egret Goose wm.jpg


Coot
http://kenbullimaging.com/images/birds/Coot wm.jpg


Ten babies for this mom
http://kenbullimaging.com/images/birds/Ten Ducklings One Duck wm.jpg


Eight for her
http://kenbullimaging.com/images/birds/Eight Ducklings One Duck wm.jpg


Six for this honker
http://kenbullimaging.com/images/birds/Six Gooslings One Goose wm.jpg


Five for the swan
http://kenbullimaging.com/images/birds/Three One Two wm.jpg

[Reef Bass]

One cygnet clearly wants whatever the parent has.
http://kenbullimaging.com/images/birds/Five Cygnets One Begging One Swan wm.jpg


Little dude!
http://kenbullimaging.com/images/birds/One One wm.jpg


Mallard cuteness
http://kenbullimaging.com/images/birds/Duckling wm.jpg

[Misled]

Nice Ken!!! Love the headless goose!!! :lol:

[jroovers]

Nice shots Ken! Those mute swans are nice. A lot of people locally are anti-mute swan as I believe they are non-native to NA, but they are beautiful birds.

How is it going with the 400 5.6? You finding it needs quite a bit of light? I haven't really used it on my 6D as the extra reach of the 7D and higher fps shooting rate are critical. Also, I find the 6D really struggles focusing wise compared to the 7D (unless using the center point only on stationary targets, then I find it focuses equally well as the 7D on center point).

[Reef Bass]

Thanks Jesse and Jordan.

Yes, the mute is an introduced species to our lovely continent.

Many of these were taken with the 400 5.6. I'm enjoying it. Sharp. Maybe it's because I'm using it with a full frame sensor, but I haven't found myself wanting it to be faster. I can just crank up the iso with very little concern about introducing noise. The headless goose was taken with the 400 AND the 1.4x extender before the sun was up over the horizon with 1/160 at f8 at iso 320, which was plenty stable on my monopod.

I am impressed with how quickly the 400 auto focuses with my 6D, though that's probably because I haven't experienced the AF on the 7D. From reading I understand it's a significant improvement.

Using the 1.4x III extender on the 400, making it essentially a 560mm, definitely brings things closer. Visual quality is excellent, or extender doesn't noticeably degrade visual quality. I lose a stop of light and auto focus though and the depth of field is shallower. Not a problem when the focal plane is where I want it but it's more obvious if it's off a bit.

[jroovers]

Thanks Jesse and Jordan.

Yes, the mute is an introduced species to our lovely continent.

Many of these were taken with the 400 5.6. I'm enjoying it. Sharp. Maybe it's because I'm using it with a full frame sensor, but I haven't found myself wanting it to be faster. I can just crank up the iso with very little concern about introducing noise. The headless goose was taken with the 400 AND the 1.4x extender before the sun was up over the horizon with 1/160 at f8 at iso 320, which was plenty stable on my monopod.

I am impressed with how quickly the 400 auto focuses with my 6D, though that's probably because I haven't experienced the AF on the 7D. From reading I understand it's a significant improvement.

Using the 1.4x III extender on the 400, making it essentially a 560mm, definitely brings things closer. Visual quality is excellent, or extender doesn't noticeably degrade visual quality. I lose a stop of light and auto focus though and the depth of field is shallower. Not a problem when the focal plane is where I want it but it's more obvious if it's off a bit.

Which extender are you using, a Canon II or III? Definitely the noise is a bonus on the 6D, the 7D has a ton of noise relatively speaking. I guess each has their limitations... one of these days I'll be able to move to a 1DIV or 1DX and have the best of both worlds! (not anytime soon though lol). For stationary targets, the 6D will focus just fine. For BIF though versus the 7D, the 6D may lag behind quite a bit. I'll be curious to see how the 7DII does noise wise, one area I'm certain they will improve upon.

[Reef Bass]

Extender EF 1.4x III

Yeah I haven't done much BIF shooting. Sounds like the 7D AF would be desirable there.

For me it was the change from crop to full frame sensor that provided super low noise at higher isos. While minor enhancements in noise with crop sensors may be achievable, a fundamental improvement would necessitate a change in the sensor, IMHO.