Pied Kingfisher hovering, EX3, slow motion
 

Hi all,

Here is a short clip of a Pied Kingfisher I shot in Israel last month. 720 25p, 60 fps, -3 gain, 180 degrees Shutter Speed, stock lens, Nikon 200-400 G VR, Nikon 600 ED f5.6. The Nikon lenses were mounted on the EX3 using Mike Tapa's adaptors. Mounts and Adaptors
Looks much nicer on my Mac.

Critique/comments/suggestions are very welcome.

Video Gallery

Cheers,
Ofer Levy Photography

Hi


Beautiful and really impressive, a feat with a 600 mm.

Gilles

Vary nice, Vary nice.

Mike B

you are one hell of a great bird photographer ! cant imagine how many hrs you have to wait to get your shots.

Lovely study Ofer and a pleasure to watch, thank you.

Your flight shot of the the bee-eater is marvellous ... after hundreds of attempts here's one of my better ones

Thanks for the kind words guys!
John, it took me 2x3 hours session/day for 4 days to get these shots. The hardest part is to find the birds in the viewfinder.

Cheers,
Ofer Levy Photography

Hi Ofer


You don't use a red/green point finder with the long lens?

Gilles

Hi Gilles, no I haven't trid this yet. The thing is that with BIF you don't have time to move your eye from this device to the viewfinder as you will lose the bird. Doing it the way I do you don't move your eye off the viewfinder.
For static shots I am sure the finder should be great.

The next week in Spain i try the "Vuzix AV920" and the red point in place of the viewfinder. You can see "red point" above the "iglass" and you dont have to go from the RP to the viewfinder.

Results in ten days.

Gilles

Thaat's great Gilles! Looking forward to see your report.

Thanks mate,
Regards,

Ofer

That’s a really interesting idea Gilles. I’m also looking forward to hearing about your experiences with it in the field.

Ofer- I’ve never used the green laser with flying birds but I have used a red one with goat-suckers at night with some success. The problem during the daytime is seeing the laser dot against the bright sky. When the target is against a dark enough background I don’t usually have to lift my eye from the viewfinder to reacquire it. I just use my free eye to steer the dot. I only have to look up when I’ve completely lost the bird. Once I’ve found it I’m steering with the laser at the same time I’m looking back to the viewfinder. It saves a bit of time. Hope that helps. For BIF I’m using one of those finders that project a red dot on to a reticle. I mount it right above the viewfinder and, even so, I have to move my eye back and forth. It’s a pain.

I should have told you both long ago how much I’m enjoying your posts. Great work guys!

Thanks for the input and kind words Mike!
I have tried to get the green laser but it was intercepted by the Australian custom as it is illegal to use it in here. I am happy with my technique though - it works for me just fine.

I just love this!

Ofer, that was incredable footage. How did you ever manage to hold steady on their heads for so long? Just outstanding. Bob

Thanks for the kind words guys!

Bob, the first thing you have to do in order to get this kind of shot is obviousely get the object in the frame....(-:
Please refer to my thread "Finding the object in the frame" or something like that from a few months ago. I still feel that my technique is working and I use it all the time with great success.
The other important factor in keeping the shot steady is using a rubber band rather than touching the fluid head's handle. This is especially true when working with ultra long lenses and a static subject. (the bird in this clip is reasonably static).
The last thing is that when shooting in slow motion, even if you only manage to get the bird in the frame for 4-5 seconds you end up with a nice 8-10 second clip....(-:
Hope that helps,

Cheers,
Ofer Levy Photography

Ofer - I watched the clip a few days ago, but got interrupted before commenting on how good it is. If only other kingfishers (and other species) would hover for long enough to find them in the viewfinder and get adequate footage. I've photographed them with a stills camera but not yet had the opportunity for video. Watching birds hover in slow motion is quite something - seeing the intricacies of movement that you can't see in real time.

Thanks Annie, I am currently working on a documentary featuring the ten Kingfisher species of Australia. It is going to be a long journey which will probably take me 2-3 years to complete but for me it's a dream come true to be able to film them. I am sure I will post quite a few clips in the coming few months...(-:

That is quite a project. Good luck with it.

What tripod and head did you use with the 600mm lens?

Miller Solo CF tripod, Miller Arrow 25 fluid head.

Ofer,

Looking forward to seeing your documentary on these kingfishers. This footage is really excellent - it provides an appreciation of these birds that is impossible with still footage.

Regards,

Jerry

wings and eye
 

Ofer,

Stellar! Exceptional skill in finding the focus on those shots. And, I might add, as to how the wings appear online -- they are right-on. We had that discussion about the bat wings and I don't recall what you shot those at, but for this little bird, you nailed it! Also, I particularly like and appreciate the second angle you grabbed with the bird at 45 degrees off camera line. Hovering birds are too often shot at 90 degrees -- which is fine, but it's become less engaging IMO since it's more common. You got something much more special.

Ramsey

Thanks for your comment Jonathan!
This was shot with the Sony PMW EX3 and Nikon Lenses - Nikon 200-400 f4 G VR and Nikon 600 f5.6 ED.
Camera was set to 720 25p at 60 fps, shutter at 180 degrees, -3 gain.
Cheers,
Ofer