Bird Portraits - Post Yours!

[pcs]

Real portrets:

 

[Jack Dawe]

A shot of one using its wings to see better.

249-studio-64 by Kirk Behymer, on Flickr

And a high key shot of the same on a bright, hazy morning.

198-studio2 by Kirk Behymer, on Flickr

These are superb!

 

[K9Kirk]

I was wondering about the wingspread. The reason is so obvious that I’m slapping my head for not realizing it.

Another terrific set of images, Kirk. The high key shot is extraordinary.

Don't ride off feeling like the Lone Ranger, I get the "fog-brain" every day being a type 2 diabetic and hypoglycemic. Yeah, it sucks! Thanks for commenting and the compliments, they're greatly appreciated.

 

[K9Kirk]

Wonderful shots, Kirk. I love the high key shot.
He looks positively cute in “bad hair day” mode!

Thank you, Levina! Cute is right! As you've probably guessed, I caught that when the wind slapped the back of his head. On windy days I'm always looking out for that to happen, it can produce some goofy looking birds. That one has the "Einstein" look, ha!

 

[fotoi]

Canada goose

 

[RichardB]

Canada goose

View attachment 1792

Amazing!

 

[fotoi]

Coot

 

[K9Kirk]

657-studio by Kirk Behymer, on Flickr

 

[K9Kirk]

934-studio by Kirk Behymer, on Flickr

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

657-studio by Kirk Behymer, on Flickr

934-studio by Kirk Behymer, on Flickr

Excellent shots, Kirk.

I like how you named them "studio"... The first shot especially is a studio-like portrait. And very nice indeed!

 

[Blackbird]

How do you get so close to them?

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

Two oldies. Taken with a Canon 5D classic and the EF 300/4L. I came from a 40D then and the files of the 5D just blew me away.

 

[K9Kirk]

Excellent shots, Kirk.

I like how you named them "studio"... The first shot especially is a studio-like portrait. And very nice indeed!

Thank you, Levina. My Topaz 2 program actually names every picture processed "studio" when it saves the edit, I just add numbers to them. I just leave the 'studio' there. I don't want to change that with every pic I do. That's too much like work.

 

[K9Kirk]

How do you get so close to them?

I often just lay further away in their path, sometimes in shallow water a couple inches deep and let them come to me. When you lay still, they get the sense you aren't a threat and walk right past you, sometimes too close to get focus on them. It's one of the reasons I bought my new Canon RF 100-500 lens, it can focus 3 ft. away vs 9 ft with my older 150-600 mm Tamron lens.

 

[K9Kirk]

Two oldies. Taken with a Canon 5D classic and the EF 300/4L. I came from a 40D then and the files of the 5D just blew me away.
View attachment 1895

View attachment 1897

Wonderful close-ups, Levina. You had a nice combo working for ya there. That 2nd portrait shot is a definite wall hanger.

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

Thank you, Levina. My Topaz 2 program actually names every picture processed "studio" when it saves the edit, I just add numbers to them. I just leave the 'studio' there. I don't want to change that with every pic I do. That's too much like work.

Oh, I see. It's not unusual to speak of studio-portraits when talking about very clean bird portraits and especially your first shot I could totally see that.

I often just lay further away in their path, sometimes in shallow water a couple inches deep and let them come to me.

That's the trick! I do that too. Herons too. You lie down and be still and let them come to you.

Wonderful close-ups, Levina. You had a nice combo working for ya there. That 2nd portrait shot is a definite wall hanger.

Thanks, Kirk! The 5D files were truly awesome. I shot birds with it for about 6 months. It was the clunky AF that made me switch to a 1DIIn, which also had great files.

 

[fotoi]

Wood duck

 

[K9Kirk]

A rare shot for me of a crested caracara since they are mostly found in Central and South America. I shot this one in Sarasota Florida. They are a bird of prey and are in the falcon family, falconidae. They are also known as the Mexican Eagle. I really like their looks.

036 cv-studio by Kirk Behymer, on Flickr

 

[K9Kirk]

A shot of a great blue heron fam. taken at the Audubon Rookery in Venice, FL. You can almost feel mom's frustration.

331cv-studio2 by Kirk Behymer, on Flickr

 

[K9Kirk]

Another real portrait. This one of an American wild turkey, taken at Myakka River State Park in Sarasota, FL. I can't wait till my skin is like that.

084-studio2 by Kirk Behymer, on Flickr