Well I found his food source, and I had a fair idea of where his nest was. He'd steal food from the bird enclosure where he could fit through the chicken wire, but they couldn't. He'd then fly over to this fence and land, look around, and jump down into the bush where the nest was. He'd do this time after time. The whole family were doing it. Two males with breeding plumage and at least one female.
They were my favourites too, but we don't get them up here. There's a little black an red wren here, but they are much smaller and much more timid. I can't get close enough to get a clear shot.
These are beautiful photographs. I feel quite envious that you can see these pretty little birds in Victoria. I haven't seen a Blue Wren in my garden for 20 years - it is so sad.
What stunning shots! I'd be chuffed to bits if I managed to get photos like those of a SFW. Can you remember anything about the setup you used at the time? I'd love to know what sort of lens and camera settings you used.
Without going back and looking for the original RAW files, I can't tell you exactly what the settings were, but I can tell you they were all taken with a Sigma 50-500 on an APS-C Canon body. They would have all been shot at maximum aperture of F5.6 (6.3 actually), and with the camera set in AV mode. The lens was most probably set in manual focus mode too. The difference in the background blur is attributable to the distance from the subject. These are all cropped to some degree. I might have had a 2xTC on in the odd one of these, but it didn't take me long to work out the image quality with a TC on the Bigma was not good. These birds were quite used to human interaction. When I was sitting there taking pictures of the colourful males, I had a female land on my shoe and look up at me. Unfortunately, I'm shorter than the minimum focusing distance of the Bigma, so no pictures.
And aren't they photogenic little things? Not camera shy at all. Beautiful capture of detail and colour. Love the sharpness bringing out the details of each feather and their meal :P
CRW28017 by camersnoop, on Flickr
Top shots. Great work to catch it with a grub. They never sit still.
Cheers, Owen.
Well I found his food source, and I had a fair idea of where his nest was. He'd steal food from the bird enclosure where he could fit through the chicken wire, but they couldn't. He'd then fly over to this fence and land, look around, and jump down into the bush where the nest was. He'd do this time after time. The whole family were doing it. Two males with breeding plumage and at least one female.
That top one really is a stunning shot. So sharp and the grub makes it so much more than just a portrait. Well done!
My favourite species and I'd be very pleased if I got an image half as good as these..... one day. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers,
George
Melbourne, VIC
They were my favourites too, but we don't get them up here. There's a little black an red wren here, but they are much smaller and much more timid. I can't get close enough to get a clear shot.
CRW07418 by camersnoop, on Flickr
CRW07633 by camersnoop, on Flickr
CRW07476 by camersnoop, on Flickr
Just gorgeous, wrens are such dainty and pretty little birds and your photos are very sharp - a joy to look at.
Jeanne
Brisbane QLD
These are beautiful photographs. I feel quite envious that you can see these pretty little birds in Victoria. I haven't seen a Blue Wren in my garden for 20 years - it is so sad.
What stunning shots! I'd be chuffed to bits if I managed to get photos like those of a SFW. Can you remember anything about the setup you used at the time? I'd love to know what sort of lens and camera settings you used.
Without going back and looking for the original RAW files, I can't tell you exactly what the settings were, but I can tell you they were all taken with a Sigma 50-500 on an APS-C Canon body. They would have all been shot at maximum aperture of F5.6 (6.3 actually), and with the camera set in AV mode. The lens was most probably set in manual focus mode too. The difference in the background blur is attributable to the distance from the subject. These are all cropped to some degree. I might have had a 2xTC on in the odd one of these, but it didn't take me long to work out the image quality with a TC on the Bigma was not good. These birds were quite used to human interaction. When I was sitting there taking pictures of the colourful males, I had a female land on my shoe and look up at me. Unfortunately, I'm shorter than the minimum focusing distance of the Bigma, so no pictures.
And aren't they photogenic little things? Not camera shy at all. Beautiful capture of detail and colour. Love the sharpness bringing out the details of each feather and their meal :P
Taz