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Mad Aussie
03-26-2009, 05:20 AM
We spent a day in the rainforest in the mountains behind the Gold Coast today.
Here's a couple of the inhabitants ...

Eastern Yellow Robin
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3196/3387285444_fff5176d1c_o.jpg

Yellow Throated Scrubwren
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3438/3386472741_6374857f3d_o.jpg
AntZ
03-26-2009, 09:26 AM
I love the colour of the first pic. Great focus in tough conditions. Looks like wide aperture for low light has created a shallow DOF. Their little feet are soft, but on the flip side the background is beatifully blurred.
Mad Aussie
03-26-2009, 02:40 PM
You're not kidding Antz ... it was really dark in there. So tough to find flash settings that wouldn't cast big ugly shadows the birds.
Mad Aussie
03-26-2009, 03:04 PM
A couple more ...

A Logrunner scratching around in the forest floor
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3582/3387426837_e777b93b40_o.jpg

A Lewins Honeyeater
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3578/3388234186_a2ac7bcd91_o.jpg
kat
03-26-2009, 03:15 PM
Very cute!
AntZ
03-26-2009, 05:11 PM
You're not kidding Antz ... it was really dark in there. So tough to find flash settings that wouldn't cast big ugly shadows the birds.

Yes the flash is obvious, but not over the top. I can't imagine getting shots with anything less. I struggled to get similar shots with my f/2.8 in similar conditions at Mt Glorious. I think I saw some Logrunners up there. Do they tend to bounce around a lot?
Michaelaw
03-26-2009, 09:04 PM
Great shots MA, love the first one. You've got some cool looking birds down under!
Mad Aussie
03-26-2009, 11:40 PM
Thanks all.

AntZ ... I didn't see any bouncing around ... mostly just scratching away looking for grubs I guess.
Barefoot
03-27-2009, 12:33 AM
Great shots, MA.

Irregardless of the canopy above, you still managed to bring us the color. Wish I could do that.
Mad Aussie
03-27-2009, 12:51 AM
Thanks BF ... it sure wasn't easy ... ISO's of 400 - 640 mostly and some gentle flash ... as gentle as I could when the subject was several metres away. Love my speedlite.

Met an old guy in the forest with a Nikon 300D and Sigma 50 - 300 lens I think it was ... no ext flash and he was new to photography and obviously having all manner of trouble. It took me about 1 minute to convince him that it's worth spending money on a good flash. I guess there'll be a sale for a SB800 soon ... think that's the Nikon equivalent of my 580 flash?
Barefoot
03-27-2009, 01:14 AM
I guess there'll be a sale for a SB800 soon ... think that's the Nikon equivalent of my 580 flash?

It could be, I'm not sure. I have a pair of SB600s. My D90 has a built in commander mode so I really didn't need the '800.

Were you doing it off camera?
Mad Aussie
03-27-2009, 01:16 AM
It could be, I'm not sure. I have a pair of SB600s. My D90 has a built in commander mode so I really didn't need the '800.

Were you doing it off camera?
I ALWAYS do 'it' off camera :eek: but lets stick to photography here huh BF??? :wall-an:
Barefoot
03-27-2009, 01:27 AM
<shaking head> Oh, brother. <shaking head>
Mad Aussie
03-27-2009, 01:30 AM
:clown: Ok ... flash was on camera. I don't have a flash bracket or remote firing capabilities yet.
Gem
03-27-2009, 01:32 AM
I like the first two. The yellow really pops in the first! And the second, I just want to hold it and pet its little head :goodvibes
Mad Aussie
03-27-2009, 01:33 AM
I like the first two. The yellow really pops in the first! And the second, I just want to hold it and pet its little head :goodvibes
You could actually. I was standing nice and still and they came up and jumped on my boots!