[Leica] Trip to L&D14 last Sunday

[grduprey at mchsi.com (grduprey at mchsi.com)]

Hi Howard,  Thanks for your comments.

For shooting Eagles I use 10fps, although I set the AF to Focus priority, 
which does slow it down at times, but does help in keeping the focus right 
on.  I used to use Release, which allows max fps, but you have more out of 
focus shots.  Yes, I do use a tripod, the Gitzo GT5542LS, which is needed 
with the AF-I 400/2.8, which comes in at 16 lbs, and not hand holdable.  I 
also used a 2x tele-converter for this sequence.  I use a Wimberly Gimbal 
head which gives very good motion freedom and also keeps everything stable.  
One of my shooting partners for the day, he drove down from Toronto, CA. by 
the way, was shooting hand held with his AF-S 600/4 lens.  The newer 
telephoto lenses are much lighter than my older 400, due to more composite 
materials used in the bodies of the lenses, where mine is all metal 
construction.  I think the newer lenses are about half the weight.  There 
were a few who used monopods though.  Yes, I have more to post later this 
week.  I took about 1400 images during the day, have thrown out about 300 
for framing/focus issues.  The D4 is a superb body for this kind of subject, 
although I miss using the R8DMR which has a bad motor these days so i do not 
use it for flying birds anymore.  I used it hand held when it was fully 
functioning, and got some very nice eagle shots.  It is used for static 
subjects these days.

Cheers,
Gene
 
----- Original Message -----
From: "H&ECummer" <cummer at netvigator.com>
To: lug at leica-users.org
Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2014 3:45:33 AM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central
Subject: [Leica] Trip to L&D14 last Sunday

Hi Gene,
A most powerful and interesting sequence. How many fps were you shooting? 
The D4 did a really good job of tracking judging from the sharpness of the 
photos.
I noted the presence of many tripods in the photographers shot. Did you use 
a tripod? In my eagle shooting experience on Pender Island I wouldn't use a 
tripod - it is too restrictive to fast movement. I use a mono pod instead. 
Any way great sequence. Have you more?
Cheers
Howard

Date: Fri, 24 Jan 2014 21:57:10 -0600 (CST)
From: grduprey at mchsi.com
Subject: [Leica] Trip to L&D14 last Sunday
To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org>

Last Sunday I was down on the Mississippi River, South of LeClaire, Iowa to 
photograph the Bald Eagles and took this series of an Immature Bald Eagle 
learning to fish.  

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/GRDuprey/untitled-0828a.jpg.html

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/GRDuprey/untitled-0829a.jpg.html

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/GRDuprey/untitled-0830a.jpg.html

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/GRDuprey/untitled-0831a.jpg.html

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/GRDuprey/untitled-0832a.jpg.html

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/GRDuprey/untitled-0833a.jpg.html

Here is a photo of the crowd on Sunday.  Quite a large crowd, over 180 
photographers, for such a warm day, 38F, as the Eagles are not usually as 
active on warm days.  They were actually quite active and teh shooting was 
very good in spite of the high temperature, but the river has a large fish 
population right now and that may be why they were out in the numbers we 
found on Sunday, about 150 birds.  Lock & Dam 14 is one of the best Bald 
Eagle sites in the Lower 48 to photograph these birds, as they fish fairly 
close to the bank of the river in Iowa.

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/GRDuprey/untitled-1016756a.jpg.html

Comments welcome, and please view large for best detail.

Gene


_______________________________________________
Leica Users Group.
See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information