Steve'sDigicams

Norm in Fujino · Mar 9, 2004, 3:52 AM

Black Kites (Milvus migrans), called tonbi or tobi in Japanese, are common around Lake Sagami where I live. This afternoon a crowd of about 20 were wheeling around behind my house and the backyard mountain, I assume as part of some kind of rite of spring.
I caught these on the wing. Oly C-755, manual focus set on infinity, zoom at 10x. With programmed exposure, shutter speeds ranged around 1/400 and I panned to keep the birds in the viewfinder. I took eleven shots, but only about 3 were salvageable in PSP.

checklg · Mar 9, 2004, 7:23 AM

A very good result, getting a bird of prey in flight like that.

Regards,
Graham.

eric s · Mar 9, 2004, 7:49 AM

Dark birds on a light background (the sky) are not easy to get exposed correctly. Looks like you did a fairly good job of it.

I'm a huge raptor fan, so its nice to see some from other parts of the world.

Eric

Norm in Fujino · Mar 9, 2004, 3:28 PM

Thanks. Black kites are quite numerous around here so there are lots of chances to try taking them, and from previous experience I knew most of the photos would be underexposed; I tried to catch the birds when they were flying at an angle to the sun, and lightened them up a bit in PSP afterwards as well.

Black kites eat mostly dead fish, frogs, and snakes, although people of late seem to be putting out food for them in some places as well. At certain times of the year they gather in great groups (casts? committees? strings?) of upwards of thirty birds.

photosbyvito · Mar 9, 2004, 6:27 PM

great shots! that was only 10x zoom!? how low where they flying?
good job

Norm in Fujino · Mar 9, 2004, 6:40 PM

They were flying quite low, although I won't try to guess the altitude, circling over my house and the hill behind. For a while I almost wondered if they were eyeing my cat :roll:

photosbyvito · Mar 9, 2004, 6:43 PM

that is awesome (except for the cat part lol)

my g2 has 11x zoom but 3.6x is digital....so it isn't the greatest quality but i also have a 2x teleconverter so that works pretty well....

Mar 9, 2004, 3:52 AM	#1
Norm in Fujino Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 824	Black Kites on the Wing Black Kites (Milvus migrans), called tonbi or tobi in Japanese, are common around Lake Sagami where I live. This afternoon a crowd of about 20 were wheeling around behind my house and the backyard mountain, I assume as part of some kind of rite of spring. I caught these on the wing. Oly C-755, manual focus set on infinity, zoom at 10x. With programmed exposure, shutter speeds ranged around 1/400 and I panned to keep the birds in the viewfinder. I took eleven shots, but only about 3 were salvageable in PSP.

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Mar 9, 2004, 7:23 AM	#2
checklg Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 659	A very good result, getting a bird of prey in flight like that. Regards, Graham.

Mar 9, 2004, 7:49 AM	#3
eric s Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 5,803	Dark birds on a light background (the sky) are not easy to get exposed correctly. Looks like you did a fairly good job of it. I'm a huge raptor fan, so its nice to see some from other parts of the world. Eric

Mar 9, 2004, 3:28 PM	#4
Norm in Fujino Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 824	Thanks. Black kites are quite numerous around here so there are lots of chances to try taking them, and from previous experience I knew most of the photos would be underexposed; I tried to catch the birds when they were flying at an angle to the sun, and lightened them up a bit in PSP afterwards as well. Black kites eat mostly dead fish, frogs, and snakes, although people of late seem to be putting out food for them in some places as well. At certain times of the year they gather in great groups (casts? committees? strings?) of upwards of thirty birds.

Mar 9, 2004, 6:27 PM	#5
photosbyvito Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 5,710	great shots! that was only 10x zoom!? how low where they flying? good job

Mar 9, 2004, 6:40 PM	#6
Norm in Fujino Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 824	They were flying quite low, although I won't try to guess the altitude, circling over my house and the hill behind. For a while I almost wondered if they were eyeing my cat :roll:

Mar 9, 2004, 6:43 PM	#7
photosbyvito Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 5,710	that is awesome (except for the cat part lol) my g2 has 11x zoom but 3.6x is digital....so it isn't the greatest quality but i also have a 2x teleconverter so that works pretty well....