Now that I have a Nikon 600mm f/4 lens, I am
interested in expanding my nature photographic interests to include
songbirds. There are several reasons for this. One -- I don't have
to drive nearly as far to areas to photograph birds. Two --
songbird photography is extremely difficult, and I love a good
challenge. It's not just photographing the bird and trying to get
the sharpest image possible, but you have to take into account other
elements of an image to make it truly a good image. I have a LOT to
learn. Three -- this also allows me an excellent opportunity to
become more familiar and comfortable handling such a heavy and
intimidating lens. Repetition and practice in long lens technique
(both on the tripod AND handheld) is crucial to attaining the best
images. I did say handheld. Yes, using the 600mm f/4 is possible,
I've found. I have the Vibration Reduction (VR) version of this
lens, as well as using a camera, Nikon D3, that allows higher ISO
yet still very clean images so I can maintain a higher shutter speed
even at the focal length AND reduced light in the woods.
Ford County State Park, only 5 miles from my
house, has a fairly nice wooded area with dirt trails south of the
small lake and is a perfect local place to photograph songbirds in
their natural environment. Unfortunately since fall migration has
passed, only wintering birds are around to photograph, and there
aren't a lot of them around. Yesterday (October 31), I went on my
first small hike with the 600mm using the carry strap that came with
the lens, and I hiked with the lens without a tripod. I think there
is an advantage to doing this, because I like to be able to enjoy a
hike even if there aren't any subjects to photograph, and if an
opportunity arises, I can set up quickly without having to lug the
tripod around. Plus, the hike is a little more enjoyable while
carrying less. Granted, I probably won't be making this a regular
practice, and will probably only hike with a 600mm lens at Ford
County State Park since it's so close to home, but at the same time,
it does open up the gamut of things to shoot with the "quick draw"
mindset while on a hike .
Okay enough rambling. Very early in the hike
yesterday, a pair of Dark-eyed Juncos were perched close to ground
level on some small branches about 20 feet away next to the trail.
Fortunately, the birds were close to ground level so I could steady
the lens on my knee as I sat to shoot. I focused on the nearest
bird and after achieving initial camera focus with auto-focus, I
turned AF off and just tweaked focus with the huge focus ring. I
love the enormous focus ring on the 600mm. Despite the heavy
cropping, I was very pleased with how sharp the bird came out.
Attached to this post are the three best images from this shoot.
That was my only good opportunity on the 40 or so minute hike this
day.
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