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CarpeyBiggs
02-03-2008, 12:26 PM
I didn't do a very good job following up on the plans for the shootout at Farmington Bay, so only a couple of us made it. Waltny, Hallkc, and myself made an appearance.

The eagles were everywhere. I counted close to 85 from where we were on the dike road. About 15 or 20 were feeding right in front of us. Couldn't have asked for a better day, nice and warm and clear skies for some good light.

If anyone is interested, the next five days will be the best of the year, so if you want to see eagles, go now. If there is another good weather day, I'll drive up again as well. :2thumbs:

http://danransom.com/blog/images/20080203121053_eagle1.jpg
http://danransom.com/blog/images/20080203121421_eagle2.jpg
http://danransom.com/blog/images/20080203122056_eagle3.jpg
http://danransom.com/blog/images/20080203122827_eagle4.jpg
http://danransom.com/blog/images/20080203123122_eagle5.jpg
http://danransom.com/blog/images/20080203123457_eagle6.jpg
http://danransom.com/blog/images/20080203125002_eagle7.jpg

http://danransom.com/blog/images/20080203125028_eagle8.jpg
http://danransom.com/blog/images/20080203125104_eagle9.jpg
http://danransom.com/blog/images/20080203131551_eagle10.jpg
http://danransom.com/blog/images/20080203131646_eagle11.jpg
http://danransom.com/blog/images/20080203131719_eagle12.jpg
http://danransom.com/blog/images/20080203131737_eagle13.jpg
http://danransom.com/blog/images/20080203131802_eagle14.jpg
http://danransom.com/blog/images/20080203131846_eagle15.jpg

Scout Master
02-03-2008, 01:44 PM
INCREDABLE

RugerShooter
02-03-2008, 01:59 PM
Wow sweet pictures

accadacca
02-03-2008, 05:41 PM
:hail2thechief: :hail2thechief: :hail2thechief: :hail2thechief: :hail2thechief: :hail2thechief: :hail2thechief: :hail2thechief: :hail2thechief: :hail2thechief:

JP
02-03-2008, 08:50 PM
Outstanding shots :2thumbs: :2thumbs: :2thumbs:

Brewhaha
02-03-2008, 09:00 PM
Very Impressive. How about some details on your gear and technique?

Do you give lessons?

hallkc
02-03-2008, 09:12 PM
I'm glad to see that you got some amazing shots out there... especially the second to last one... the look on that eagles face... wow:)

I got some too... anyone interested should really make a trip out there.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/hallkchallkc/DSC_8337CropFixed.jpg

hallkc
02-03-2008, 09:15 PM
Another one... This one is almost straight out of the camera, only cropped and slight adjustment of levels in photoshop.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/hallkchallkc/DSC_8454Blue8x10.jpg

CarpeyBiggs
02-03-2008, 11:52 PM
Sweet stuff hallkc! Looks like that 300 did it's job, eh? :2thumbs:

I put up a gallery of a few more images I made, if anyone is interested.

http://www.danransom.com/TripReports/?p=145

CarpeyBiggs
02-03-2008, 11:55 PM
Very Impressive. How about some details on your gear and technique?

Do you give lessons?

Thanks Brew. I was using my 40D, with a 600 f4 lens, and a 1.4x extender for most of these. Mounted on a gymbal head to balance the lens, and a heavy tripod.

Hallkc and Waltny had a 300 2.8 with 2x I believe, also tripod mounted.

Lessons? Not really, but I've been out shooting with a handful of people from on here. Just holler if you'd like some company.
:2thumbs:

waltny
02-04-2008, 12:24 AM
Very Impressive. How about some details on your gear and technique?

Do you give lessons?

Thanks Brew. I was using my 40D, with a 600 f4 lens, and a 1.4x extender for most of these. Mounted on a gymbal head to balance the lens, and a heavy tripod.

Hallkc and Waltny had a 300 2.8 with 2x I believe, also tripod mounted.

Lessons? Not really, but I've been out shooting with a handful of people from on here. Just holler if you'd like some company.
:2thumbs:

Yes we did. The problem we had was manual focusing while spinning around the head and trying to fire off shots. I got a couple good ones, but in light of what has been posted mine are nothing special, but for only 80 some shots 15ish keepers arent too bad...

I got to say that those are some damn good shots Dan. The detail is impressive, glass and focal length are a big factor out there.

CarpeyBiggs
02-04-2008, 06:36 AM
...problem we had was manual focusing while spinning around the head and trying to fire off shots... but for only 80 some shots 15ish keepers arent too bad...

I got to say that those are some damn good shots Dan. The detail is impressive, glass and focal length are a big factor out there.

You guys were manually focusing? That does tend to make it pretty hard. You're right about the gear though. Wildlife photography puts about as high of demands on your gear as anything.

waltny
02-04-2008, 08:42 AM
...problem we had was manual focusing while spinning around the head and trying to fire off shots... but for only 80 some shots 15ish keepers arent too bad...

I got to say that those are some damn good shots Dan. The detail is impressive, glass and focal length are a big factor out there.

You guys were manually focusing? That does tend to make it pretty hard. You're right about the gear though. Wildlife photography puts about as high of demands on your gear as anything.

Unforunately, yes we were manual focusing. 1 hand to work the head, 1 to focus and then got to make a quick jump with one to get to the trigger if you managed to get a decent lock on the subject, or try to focus and track with one hand and one on the trigger and vice versa if you left the head loose. The 2X converter Keith has didnt work with either lens we had :ne_nau: .

Sombeech
02-04-2008, 09:44 AM
Amazing freakin' pictures! Wow.

That's it, I've gotta start adding to the image bar again after seeing these photos.

Scott Card
02-04-2008, 09:46 AM
Very Very well done. WOW......... :2thumbs:

JP
02-04-2008, 12:57 PM
Good link Dan :2thumbs:

hallkc
02-04-2008, 02:32 PM
...problem we had was manual focusing while spinning around the head and trying to fire off shots... but for only 80 some shots 15ish keepers arent too bad...

I got to say that those are some damn good shots Dan. The detail is impressive, glass and focal length are a big factor out there.

You guys were manually focusing? That does tend to make it pretty hard. You're right about the gear though. Wildlife photography puts about as high of demands on your gear as anything.

Unforunately, yes we were manual focusing. 1 hand to work the head, 1 to focus and then got to make a quick jump with one to get to the trigger if you managed to get a decent lock on the subject, or try to focus and track with one hand and one on the trigger and vice versa if you left the head loose. The 2X converter Keith has didnt work with either lens we had :ne_nau: .

Walt,
I don't know why you had to manual focus with the 300mm... I didn't. The tele-converter worked like a charm for me... I know it doesn't work very well with the 70-200 though. The only setback I had was getting it to auto-focus on the birds and not the mountains in the background... maybe you had your camera set to manual focus mode. :ne_nau:

waltny
02-04-2008, 07:36 PM
...problem we had was manual focusing while spinning around the head and trying to fire off shots... but for only 80 some shots 15ish keepers arent too bad...

I got to say that those are some damn good shots Dan. The detail is impressive, glass and focal length are a big factor out there.

You guys were manually focusing? That does tend to make it pretty hard. You're right about the gear though. Wildlife photography puts about as high of demands on your gear as anything.

Unforunately, yes we were manual focusing. 1 hand to work the head, 1 to focus and then got to make a quick jump with one to get to the trigger if you managed to get a decent lock on the subject, or try to focus and track with one hand and one on the trigger and vice versa if you left the head loose. The 2X converter Keith has didnt work with either lens we had :ne_nau: .

Walt,
I don't know why you had to manual focus with the 300mm... I didn't. The tele-converter worked like a charm for me... I know it doesn't work very well with the 70-200 though. The only setback I had was getting it to auto-focus on the birds and not the mountains in the background... maybe you had your camera set to manual focus mode. :ne_nau:

I did set it to manual focus. I mainly use AF-C mode as the AF-S makes me mad when it refuses to focus on something. It was doing the in out thing on me so it was just easier to do it manual.

Randi
02-05-2008, 04:25 PM
I didn't do a very good job following up on the plans for the shootout at Farmington Bay, so only a couple of us made it. Waltny, Hallkc, and myself made an appearance.

The eagles were everywhere. I counted close to 85 from where we were on the dike road. About 15 or 20 were feeding right in front of us. Couldn't have asked for a better day, nice and warm and clear skies for some good light.

WOW Dan! What magnificent birds. Thanks for posting these beautiful pictures. You're lucky to live so close to such a spectacular happening! And the rest of those (not lucky enough to be able to witness that in person) are lucky to have you taking such great shots! :2thumbs:

~Randi

Joe Gardner
02-05-2008, 09:19 PM
WOW!!!! Amazing photos, once again. How long where you out there for?

I made it out for an hour or so on Friday, the conditions (overcast and bland) sucked...

I snapped these with my new 100 - 400 IS L, all hand held. I think the next step is a tele-converter and spending more time behind my tripod. Bummed I missed Sat!

http://joe-and-heather.smugmug.com/photos/251444660-XL.jpg

http://joe-and-heather.smugmug.com/photos/251444744-XL.jpg

http://joe-and-heather.smugmug.com/photos/251444503-XL.jpg

http://joe-and-heather.smugmug.com/photos/251444356-XL.jpg[/img]

rwpontius
02-06-2008, 06:26 AM
I was there Saturday but didn't know anyone. I spent most of the time at the end of the road with the harriers.
RP

rwpontius
02-06-2008, 06:27 AM
Oops, I posted the same one twice, sorry!
RP

rwpontius
02-06-2008, 07:15 AM
Another harrier.

CarpeyBiggs
02-06-2008, 07:28 AM
RW, great stuff. I like that last one, looks like that bird is trying to stomp on the prey. Very cool.

Scott Card
02-06-2008, 09:26 AM
This thread has been very cool indeed. I had no idea this was going on each year in Utah, and just up the road. I must go there with my kids.... or not, but I must see all this in person and with a good pair of field glasses. Thanks all. :2thumbs:

Alex
02-06-2008, 10:41 AM
Hey could someone provide a map.google.com reference to where this is?

CarpeyBiggs
02-06-2008, 11:26 AM
Map is here (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=15492022061424207781,40.965123,-111.891000%3B7219154153402398258,40.989150,-111.906090&saddr=I-15+N+%4040.965123,+-111.891000&daddr=Park+Ln+%4040.989150,+-111.906090+to:40.960067,-111.916609&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=2&sz=14&via=1&sll=40.972835,-111.885881&sspn=0.046918,0.11467&ie=UTF8&ll=40.96441,-111.886654&spn=0.046924,0.11467&z=14&om=0)

Glover lane is usually the easiest access, but it is closed right now.

Alex
02-06-2008, 12:19 PM
Thanks Dan!

tanya
02-07-2008, 02:25 PM
:eek2: Those are truly amazing photographs!!!!!!

PhotoHound
02-08-2008, 10:28 AM
Simply seriously stupendous! :rockon: I think I'm going to try my hand at it this weekend...I would be happy with just one of the great shots that you got! :nod:

gonzo
02-11-2008, 08:49 AM
Hey Dan, a link to your gallery on your personal site showed up on a mailing list that I subscribe to, and it inspired me to come back here just to tell you how great those pictures are. I think I'm going to call in *cough* sick *cough* tomorrow. Hopefully a few birds will be left.

I wish I had known about this earlier. Oh well.

CarpeyBiggs
02-11-2008, 09:24 AM
Thanks Kris. Glad to see you are still alive. Where you been?

asdf
02-11-2008, 09:58 AM
Hes been out playing Contra.

Hows that baby doing?

hallkc
02-11-2008, 11:01 AM
Ok, These aren't Eagles, but this was at Farmington Bay...


"That's MY Duck!!!"
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/hallkchallkc/DSC_0250MyDuck.jpg

Who teaches harriers martial arts anyway....? :ne_nau:

gonzo
02-11-2008, 01:34 PM
Oh man, I wish I had been playing Contra. Instead, I've been working. Bleh. I'm also trying to get back into marathon shape, so a lot of my weekends are devoted to running, and then babysitting. Although, I just got clearance from my doctor to ski, so I've been out skiing the past few weekends, too.

Rosie is perfect! Thanks for asking. I can't wait for the weather to get a bit warmer so she can bag her first peak.

rooster32
02-12-2008, 06:13 PM
Great pics!

Are the eagles still pretty active and in numbers up there now?

fouristhenewone
02-12-2008, 07:21 PM
all I have to say is...well. I was up there on Thursday of last week, and Dan must have the PIMP lens, cause I wasn't able to get anywhere near that close of a picture.

waltny
02-12-2008, 08:42 PM
Ok, These aren't Eagles, but this was at Farmington Bay...


"That's MY Duck!!!"
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/hallkchallkc/DSC_0250MyDuck.jpg

Who teaches harriers martial arts anyway....? :ne_nau:

This one is awesome. I really dig the explosion of feathers, must have been quite the battle for life from the duck.
So is this dinner and dancing date that was promised to the pissed off harrier? I cry fowl! :haha: :haha:

waltny
02-15-2008, 06:38 PM
To all those that want to know, I have it on good authority from a reliable source that the eagles were out in force tonight. The rumor is that that the fresh water inlet at the first bridge melted a bit of the ice and opened up some fresh water along shore and the eagles were actually on the shore and were just swarming. So I know that Keith(my reliable source, I waited to give him time to post....) and I will be out there for the better part of the afternoon. Red Celica(sp?) and black Nissian Frontier.

CarpeyBiggs
02-15-2008, 06:50 PM
Sweet, thanks for the update. Perhaps I will make another appearance as well. :2thumbs:

hallkc
02-16-2008, 06:55 AM
Guys,
This is a terrible photo, but it's just to give you an idea of how many eagles are actually out at the bay. I count over 20 eagles just hanging out! Today should be great:)

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/hallkchallkc/_D300445.jpg

James_B_Wads2000
02-16-2008, 08:04 AM
Oh man, I wish I had been playing Contra

Me too!

Up-Up-Down-Down-Left-Right-Left-Right-B-A-B-A-Select-Start

http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/30/1b/fb7a92c008a0334767f05010._AA280_.L.jpg



James

waltny
02-16-2008, 11:28 PM
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u25/waltny/eagle1.jpg

waltny
02-16-2008, 11:29 PM
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u25/waltny/eagle.jpg

waltny
02-16-2008, 11:30 PM
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u25/waltny/DSC_3594.jpg

waltny
02-16-2008, 11:30 PM
Artistic try for today

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u25/waltny/DSC_3594vinla.jpg

waltny
02-16-2008, 11:33 PM
Lastly, I coulnt help myself, a inspirational one.

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u25/waltny/DSC_3594blacktext.jpg

I got more to follow, I took almost 1000 shots today :ne_nau:

CarpeyBiggs
02-16-2008, 11:48 PM
Nice stuff waltny :2thumbs: I had my car all loaded up and ready to go, looked at the crappy overcast skies in Utah County, and decided to do some hiking down here instead. About 3, all the clouds had burned off, blue skies all around, and I wished I was up there... Crap. How was the light today? I might try and get up there Sunday if I can. I just don't want to drive up there if there isn't going to be blue skies... I know, I'm weak. :haha:

Also, how did the opportunities compare to last time I was up there? The eagles still pretty close?

waltny
02-17-2008, 02:01 AM
The ligthing wasnt that bad at all today, IM sure even as you know with it being slightly over cast your still in the F8ish range and still at 1/2000 with all the snow out there. The mistake I made was wearing the cheap sunglasses I bought at the one of the bizzars overseas. They were too dark, as were most of my shots.
Anyhow, the sky opened up around 3ish and things got really good. The eagles were everywhere. Had Keith stuck around to bail me out if anything happened I would have ventured out on the ice even further than I did today....
Its looking like tomorrow will be more of the same and from what Ive heard its nearing the end of this years run.
Another shot...
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u25/waltny/4eagles.jpg

hallkc
02-17-2008, 05:28 AM
Yes, I was starting to get excited about the light improving... I wanted to stay until sunset... but it was not meant to be.

Here is a shot with a blue vignette... let me know what you think.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/hallkchallkc/_D300990BlueVignette.jpg

gonzo
02-17-2008, 06:30 AM
My wife and I made it up yesterday, too. I rented a big ol' lens from Pictureline, but my crappy little tripod couldn't handle the weight of the lens, so I ended up shooting handheld. (400mm + Handheld == blur).

I managed to get a few decent shots, but nothing as good as you guys are getting.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2201/2269982263_4fa6b2e173_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kris247/2269982263/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2093/2270774328_46a9d211e9_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kris247/2270774328/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2090/2270774706_84615006bd_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kris247/2270774706/)

waltny
02-17-2008, 07:05 AM
Kieth you would be hard pressed to make me believe that the 300 didnt have something to do with the crispness and detail of that shot, or are you going to tell me it was shot with the 40X? :ne_nau:

:2thumbs:
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u25/waltny/eaglefish1.jpg

waltny
02-17-2008, 07:06 AM
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u25/waltny/eaglesfish2.jpg

CarpeyBiggs
02-17-2008, 08:15 AM
Alright, I'm convinced. I'm coming up there this afternoon. I'll be there around 2. Green Xterra, if anyone wants to hang. :2thumbs:

Great stuff guys.

waltny
02-17-2008, 01:07 PM
IM hoping to head out there in the next hour or so myself.

Here is one I like to call the farmington bay stomp

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u25/waltny/eaglestomp.jpg

JP
02-17-2008, 02:07 PM
Oh God, please make sure this stuff isn't slippery :haha:

waltny
02-17-2008, 09:12 PM
The uninvited guest....

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u25/waltny/partycrasher1.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u25/waltny/partycrasher.jpg

CarpeyBiggs
02-17-2008, 09:56 PM
Good shootin' with y'all. Today Tim, Keith, Kris, and myself enjoyed the eagles. Not as active as last time I was up there, but definitely another beautiful day. I ventured down to the owl lot as well, here is an appeteaser.

http://danransom.com/blog/images/20080217225238_barnowl.jpg

JP
02-17-2008, 10:46 PM
Great shot :2thumbs:

hallkc
02-18-2008, 05:43 AM
Nice shot of the owl Dan. I'm glad he came out for you:) Here are a couple from yesterday, just cropped and slight levels adjustment. Let me know what you all think :cool2:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/hallkchallkc/_D30311310x20FixedSmall.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/hallkchallkc/_D302865Crop10x20Small.jpg

gonzo
02-18-2008, 06:52 AM
I am sure glad I went up again on Sunday with my tripod. I got much better shot. And since I accidentally setup next to Carpey I got to meet a few people.

Here's some of the better shots:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2187/2272948113_84356c6a11.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kris247/2272948113/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2063/2273745762_30bb94c87e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kris247/2273745762/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2128/2273741030_a7ec326e99.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kris247/2273741030/)

This is only barn owl shot I managed to grab. Those suckers move fast!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2248/2273746222_b60877193d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kris247/2273746222/)

waltny
02-18-2008, 10:24 AM
Keith and Kris I love the shots of them fighting. :2thumbs: I tried so hard to capture that I tracked them evertime a few got close and they were screaming at each other. I just dont have the frame per seconds in RAW....

That barn owl shot of Dan's looks fake, the lighting is surreal. :2thumbs:

Anyhow good job to all, Ive still got a few more to look through and hopefully get up.

CarpeyBiggs
02-18-2008, 10:36 AM
That barn owl shot of Dan's looks fake, the lighting is surreal. :2thumbs:

Thank god for digital! Photoshopped the whole thing. Glad you like it. I tried to put a moon in behind it as well, but... :lol8:

All kidding aside, the owls are awesome. Fast buggers though.

Uncle Rico
02-18-2008, 11:15 AM
I went out Saturday and had a blast. It was a lot cooler then I expected. Now I just need to learn to take pictures like some of you.

PhotoHound
02-18-2008, 11:48 AM
Hey, great captures guys. :2thumbs: I stopped by Sunday afternoon too, and mainly just shot from the cab of my truck because my back was bugging me. I think I did see some of you guys grouped together around some serious artillery :assault: on the south side of the bridge. I would have :cripple: hobbled over and said hello :wavey:, but unfortunately I had suddenly developed a severe case of lens-size...envy...? :ne_nau:

:naughty:

It was a nice enough show; I think I got some fairly decent eagle-catching-fish shots. I'll have to post some once I finish going through them. I would love to go again today (which is looking pretty good as far as lighting goes), but my back won't let me go again for a while. Besides, it may be even more crowded today due to the holiday than it was with yesterday's Sunday crowd... :popcorn:

Anyway, great shots everyone, I look forward to seeing some more!

gonzo
02-18-2008, 04:08 PM
PhotoHound: you have some great Alaska pics on your site - I loved all of the Northern Lights pics. Someday I will make it up to Alaska before it all melts...hopefully.

That was probably us on the south end of the bridge. You should have come over and said "hi". I can't vouch for Carpey, hallkc, or waltny, but I don't bite. And don't worry about the lens envy, most of us had to rent those things. It was a like a Farmington Bay reunion at Pictureline this morning.

CarpeyBiggs
02-18-2008, 08:23 PM
Here's a few of mine. I tried to get different behaviors than last time, but I eventually gave up and headed down to the barn owls.

Full galleries are here:

Barn Owls: http://www.danransom.com/TripReports/?p=149

Eagles: http://www.danransom.com/TripReports/?p=148

And now the pics. Eagles:

http://www.danransom.com/slideshows/eagles2/gallery/album1/large/07.jpg

http://www.danransom.com/slideshows/eagles2/gallery/album1/large/08.jpg

http://www.danransom.com/slideshows/eagles2/gallery/album1/large/15.jpg

http://www.danransom.com/slideshows/eagles2/gallery/album1/large/19.jpg

Barn Owls

http://www.danransom.com/slideshows/barnowls/gallery/album1/large/05.jpg

http://www.danransom.com/slideshows/barnowls/gallery/album1/large/07.jpg

http://www.danransom.com/slideshows/barnowls/gallery/album1/large/11.jpg

http://www.danransom.com/slideshows/barnowls/gallery/album1/large/12.jpg

http://www.danransom.com/slideshows/barnowls/gallery/album1/large/14.jpg

asdf
02-18-2008, 08:25 PM
Nice pics Carpet Biter.

LJ
02-18-2008, 09:02 PM
I am just blown away by the barn owl pics!

waltny
02-19-2008, 09:01 AM
Somehow I sense slight sarcasm on that photoshop comment Dan, buts its ok either way we all must make do with what we got.... :ne_nau:

Anyhow nice captures once again, I like the one you got of the eagle mucking through the mire. Those barn owls are fast and are twice as hard to track as the eagles. :2thumbs: for catching any.

Here is the best one I got of them fighting
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u25/waltny/eaglescuffle.jpg


and a OH :eek2: moment. As a side note on this, I left the gulls in the back of this crop to show depth.
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u25/waltny/eagleslip.jpg

I might have only a few more unique ones left.

gonzo
02-19-2008, 09:07 AM
I think I have the follow-up to your "Oh" moment:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2224/2272945415_1e8255fd8d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kris247/2272945415/)

Keith and Dan: your shots are so crisp. Am I seeing the difference between a fixed length lens and the telezoom that I was using? Or is it more likely a shutter speed/aperture setting? I've tried my best to sharpen in post-processing, but I'm guessing Picasa isn't the tool of choice for that.

waltny
02-19-2008, 09:12 AM
Good call on that :2thumbs:

BTW Kris what are you shooting with? I have a older model that really isnt suited for that shooting we were doing out there. My AF is softer and takes a bit longer than Keith's. He let me use his for a while after he left early after you guys left. I was FLOORED at how much of a difference there was. IM sure if your using an older model like myself your going to see a huge gap in yours and Dan's like I do in Keith's and mine. Its one of those :ne_nau: , what you going to do but upgrade things....

CarpeyBiggs
02-19-2008, 09:12 AM
I think I have the follow-up to your "Oh" moment:

Keith and Dan: your shots are so crisp. Am I seeing the difference between a fixed length lens and the telezoom that I was using? Or is it more likely a shutter speed/aperture setting? I've tried my best to sharpen in post-processing, but I'm guessing Picasa isn't the tool of choice for that.

I thought yours looked pretty good for that lens, actually. The lens has something to do with it, but when they are resized so small for the web, they should sharpen up pretty nice.

Chances are though, it is more that our pictures are a little larger, and that they are sharpened one more time before posting on the web. I batch process all mine, so some actually are too sharpened, some not enough. I haven't used picasa much, but I'd say yours look pretty good.

gonzo
02-19-2008, 10:02 AM
...BTW Kris what are you shooting with?

I'm shooting with an older Canon Rebel XT (EOS 350). I know it's certainly not a pro level camera, but it's light, manageable, and most importantly: what I could afford. I rented a Canon 100-400 telezoom for the weekend. But, in retrospect I should have gotten the 400mm fixed length lens. (Although, that would have cost more than twice as much as the 100-400).


...if your using an older model like myself your going to see a huge gap in yours and Dan's like I do in Keith's and mine. Its one of those :ne_nau: , what you going to do but upgrade things....

Yeah, good luck selling that idea to my wife. :)

In reality, I'm sure the reason my images aren't as sharp is as much inexperience as it is equipment. I'm just starting to learn how to use a "real" camera, and what I don't know about photography could fill a book. (A little secret: when Dan let me look through his lens I noted his aperture and exposure time settings and copied them on my camera!)

waltny
02-19-2008, 12:04 PM
...BTW Kris what are you shooting with?

I'm shooting with an older Canon Rebel XT (EOS 350). I know it's certainly not a pro level camera, but it's light, manageable, and most importantly: what I could afford. I rented a Canon 100-400 telezoom for the weekend. But, in retrospect I should have gotten the 400mm fixed length lens. (Although, that would have cost more than twice as much as the 100-400).


...if your using an older model like myself your going to see a huge gap in yours and Dan's like I do in Keith's and mine. Its one of those :ne_nau: , what you going to do but upgrade things....

Yeah, good luck selling that idea to my wife. :)

In reality, I'm sure the reason my images aren't as sharp is as much inexperience as it is equipment. I'm just starting to learn how to use a "real" camera, and what I don't know about photography could fill a book. (A little secret: when Dan let me look through his lens I noted his aperture and exposure time settings and copied them on my camera!)

I hear you about being on the cheap, I got a deal on my body, a D70s(camera of the year 2005, buts its 2008.....) and everytime I bring up camera stuff the wife goes :frustrated: almost immediately.

I think I got the fundenmentals down fairly well, but I think but it is amazing that you learn something new every time out(to include digial workflow). I also have learned to shoot to my cameras strengths and know its weakness which makes the digail workflow(ViewNX>CaptureNX>CS2) so much more smoother.

tmartenst
02-22-2008, 11:17 PM
Are they pretty well gone for the year? I know we have a few days of overcast skies coming anyways.

gonzo
02-23-2008, 10:39 AM
Yup, my buddy went up on Wednesday and only saw about 20 eagles. (Last Saturday my wife counted over 120). I think the ice is melting, so the birds that are still there are more spread out, too.

tanya
02-23-2008, 11:01 AM
The photos on this thread are so incredible. I would love to go there next year!

trackrunner
02-23-2008, 01:17 PM
I don't know if this is true, but I heard on the news that at its peak over 1/3 of the bald eagles in North America come to the bay.

CarpeyBiggs
02-23-2008, 01:48 PM
I don't know if this is true, but I heard on the news that at its peak over 1/3 of the bald eagles in North America come to the bay.

Interesting thought, but I doubt it's true. Perhaps this was true years ago, when balds were nearly extinct, but nowadays, balds are flourishing all over the continent. There are something like 40,000 in just Alaska. Easily over 100,000 birds on the entire continent. There are maybe 1,000 eagles at Farmington Bay and it's environs at it's peak. This year, the most I counted was just upward of 100. Granted, there are a lot more that aren't visible, but not that many.

trackrunner
02-23-2008, 02:04 PM
I don't know if this is true, but I heard on the news that at its peak over 1/3 of the bald eagles in North America come to the bay.

Interesting thought, but I doubt it's true. Perhaps this was true years ago, when balds were nearly extinct, but nowadays, balds are flourishing all over the continent. There are something like 40,000 in just Alaska. Easily over 100,000 birds on the entire continent. There are maybe 1,000 eagles at Farmington Bay and it's environs at it's peak. This year, the most I counted was just upward of 100. Granted, there are a lot more that aren't visible, but not that many.
Yes, I thought it would have to be a large number. Maybe I heard it wrong; maybe it

1Aussie
02-23-2008, 05:15 PM
Great eagle pic's, post more :nod:

wader
02-25-2008, 06:59 PM
"Delurk"...There are some excellent photos here, I really enjoyed the post. I recently moved from Salt Lake so I don't have any photos of Farmington Bay this year. But here is one that I like from a few years back.

JP
02-26-2008, 01:23 AM
Awesome pic :2thumbs: :2thumbs: :2thumbs:

jiffers
02-26-2008, 09:07 PM
Looking at these posts has made me sick to my stomach (and I'm afraid I have to single out Carpey). I was only able to make it out twice, the first time was just before the eagles arrived, and the second time there were about 15, but they were too far out on the ice. You guys have some uber-amazing pics, and it makes me jealous :frustrated: :hail2thechief: :hail2thechief: .
\
You guys are awesome!! I need to come to a photo shoot to learn from the pros




:hail2thechief: :2thumbs:

TreeHugger
04-05-2008, 11:39 AM
I am absolutely speechless. These photos are breathtaking.

Carpy - do you do this for a living? Or do you sell or photos? Just curious, because you definately could - Some of the best photography I've seen anywhere.