Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.
Faster than a bullet
‹ PreviousAvian GalleryNext ›

Faster than a bullet

by Geoffrey Baker

Gallery: AvianPosted January 21, 201157 views4 comments
Taken on Skomer Island last June.
They fly past so fast it's difficult to even keep them in the viewfinder.

Sony A350
Sigma 50-500
1/1250th
f8
ISO 200
200mm
-0.3 stop exposure compensation
Centre-weighted metering
Hand held
Taken as a single shot (not machine gunning)
Cropped a bit off the right and bottom as the bird was taken too centrally.

Comments

4 comments
Comment posted by Mia McPherson on January 21, 2011 at 6:21 PM
Geoffrey,

Love the background, OOF enough to not be distracting but still shows some of the habitat. I like the flight pose and the sandeels in the bill. One thing that may have made this better is a bit more of a head turn so we could see the eye better. I'd be tickled pink to have this in my files since I've never had the chance to photograph them.
Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments
Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on January 22, 2011 at 5:03 AM
This is grand. Hardly ever see a puffin in flight. I'll bet it was a challenge. Exciting you were up to it. :toast:
Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments
Comment posted by Rob Drummond on January 22, 2011 at 6:29 AM
The blurred background gives a real sense of speed - great shot Geoffrey

cheers
Rob
Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments
Comment posted by Geoffrey Baker on January 23, 2011 at 11:30 AM
Thanks everyone :smile:

Lol Alfred, the Sony had a burst speed of 2.5 fps, by the time the second frame was taken the bird was miles away :wink: so I knew I had to get it with the first shot or not at all.

I've now got a Nikon D3 and 200-400 lens so next Summer those puffins can watch out :wink:

Geoff.
Registered on August 20, 2010, 192 Posts, 980 Comments