Quick Practise Session

After being cooped up for a while I took advantage of a small break in my schedule to fit in a quick practise session photographing birds-in-flight at our local harbour.

NOTE: Click on images to enlarge.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 140 mm, efov 280 mm, f/7.1, 1/1600, ISO-640, Bird Detection AI, cropped to 2580 pixels on the height, subject distance 8.6 metres

As I pulled into the parking lot at the harbour I immediately saw that the ice had melted significantly. I knew this likely meant that the majority of the birds had moved on.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 560 mm, efov 1120 mm, f/9, 1/1600, ISO-640, Bird Detection AI, cropped to 4344 pixels on the width, subject distance 33.7 metres

Sure enough, all I found were a couple of dozen Canada geese, a handful of ducks and a few gulls. Determined to make the best of what Mother Nature offered, I grabbed my camera and headed off to the shoreline.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 560 mm, efov 1120 mm, f/9, 1/1600, ISO-1000, Bird Detection AI, full frame capture, subject distance 37.5 metres

After a small group of ducks landed there wasn’t much airborne other than some gulls, so I concentrated on them.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 560 mm, efov 1120 mm, f/8.6, 1/1600, ISO-640, Bird Detection AI, cropped to 4025 pixels on the width, subject distance 19.2 metres

The wind picked up noticeably as a cold front was moving in today… so much for the ‘balmy’ weather we’ve had for the past few days!

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 334 mm, efov 668 mm, f/8.6, 1/1600, ISO-500, Bird Detection AI, cropped to 4359 pixels on the width, subject distance 18.5 metres

The strong wind gusts made the flight paths of the gulls a bit more erratic than usual which was a positive addition to my short practise session.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 334 mm, efov 668 mm, f/8.6, 1/1600, ISO-640, Bird Detection AI, cropped to 3639 pixels on the width, subject distance 17.5 metres

After capturing a number of pretty standard image runs of the gulls flying past, I focused my efforts on capturing more dramatic wing positions.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 334 mm, efov 668 mm, f/8.6, 1/1600, ISO-500, Bird Detection AI, cropped to 4240 pixels on the width, subject distance 22.9 metres
OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 334 mm, efov 668 mm, f/8.6, 1/1600, ISO-500, Bird Detection AI, cropped to 4240 pixels on the width, subject distance 22.6 metres
OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 560 mm, efov 1120 mm, f/9, 1/1600, ISO-800, Bird Detection AI, cropped to 3712 pixels on the width, subject distance 60.6 metres
OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 334 mm, efov 668 mm, f/8.6, 1/1600, ISO-400, Bird Detection AI, cropped to 4216 pixels on the width, subject distance 21.2 metres

Even though I didn’t have that many photographic opportunities during my 40 minutes at the harbour, it was still a great experience to get out with my gear in the fresh air.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 560 mm, efov 1120 mm, f/9, 1/1600, ISO-1000, Bird Detection AI, cropped to 3039 pixels on the width, subject distance 62.2 metres

There’s something about photographing nature that is life affirming. It reminds us that regardless of the challenges faced, life finds a way of moving forward.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 280 mm, efov 560 mm, f/8.4, 1/1600, ISO-1000, Bird Detection AI, cropped to 3643 pixels on the width, subject distance 29.3 metres

I saw my first egret this afternoon when I was out with my wife. Unfortunately I didn’t have my birding kit with me as we were photographing some local architecture. Still, it was great to see an early arrival. Hopefully that bodes well for the spring birding season.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 334 mm, efov 668 mm, f/8.6, 1/1600, ISO-640, Bird Detection AI, cropped to 4043 pixels on the width, subject distance 17.1 metres

Technical Note

Photographs were captured hand-held using camera gear as noted in the EXIF data. Images were produced from RAW files using my standard process. Cropping is noted where applicable with each image.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 280 mm, efov 560 mm, f/8.4, 1/1600, ISO-400, Bird Detection AI, full frame capture, subject distance 13.7 metres

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2 thoughts on “Quick Practise Session”

  1. Hi Tom,
    It looks like a very fruitful session to me, one question: how do you determine the distance to subject so accurately?
    I remember seeing a number in the exif but it didn’t seem to change.
    Thanks & Regards,
    Mauro

    1. Hi Mauro,

      The distance to subject measurements are estimates done by my E-M1X. For me, these are visible after I process an image and save my files in Windows Explorer. I right click on a jpeg, then left click on properties, then left click on details. Not all cameras provide this information. For example, none of my Nikon 1 cameras provide this. If my memory serves for quite distant subjects the number doesn’t change, but I don’t remember that exact distance… it could be 128 metres or something like that.

      Tom

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