Some Langkawi Raptors

[quix]

Hi all! Realized that there are quite alot of photography enthusiasts here in AQ. I myself like to do some bird photography during the weekends. Good healthy fun to get out into nature (although alot of times it's just in parks ), see the birdies and capture them in images. Here's some I just shot recently on a trip to Langkawi.

[hwchoy]

fantastic shots man!!! you need to stop posting these pix I can't affort 600mm lenses *cry*

[CK Yeo]

Wah! NICE! I can't tell if it actually caught anything.
Your aspect ratio is a bit odd. Or is it my eyes?

ck

[tcy81]

Wow, very nice...... very impressive.....

I think it caught something real small ?

[Aquaculture]

Oh nice... right place, right time.

[trident]

lovely series, I like #4 and #6 best
always wanted to shoot birds, but don't have the lens yet

[hwchoy]

trident, this is call nice bokeh

[trident]

Choy,
Thanks, got it. now must go and buy that lens

quix,
what lens were you using?

[tcy81]

trident, this is call nice bokeh

ya, the bokeh is nice !

[hwchoy]

hmmm I guessing 300mm with 1.4× TC?

[quix]

Thanks all for the kind comments! A few of the pics got a non-standard cropping ratio cos I sort of prefer them that way due to the pose of the bird, for eg. #3.
I was using 300mm 2.8 with and without a 1.4xTC.
Bird photography don't always mean the super long lens. There are quite a few guys I know who have produced really nice stuff using 300/400mm. Just need to pick which birds and situations to shoot.

[hwchoy]

I was using 300mm 2.8 with and without a 1.4xTC.

[benny]

WOAH!!!! These are of exceptional standard! You should tell these guys how long you've been into photography. I'm sure it will be something aspirational for the other guys just getting into the hobby.

And I love the last picture!

Cheers,

[benetay]

That is some amazing shots!

300 f/2.8

[celticfish]

SWEET!!!
We have another "birder" in the forum!

[luenny]

Nice shots. Keep them coming. Picture 1 would be very nice if the wings are not blurred. Can't believe you shot at 1/640 and the wings still blur. It's really moving that fast is it?

[quix]

WOAH!!!! These are of exceptional standard! You should tell these guys how long you've been into photography. I'm sure it will be something aspirational for the other guys just getting into the hobby.

And I love the last picture!

Cheers,

Thanks benny...too kind with your compliments. I've been in photography just a little over a year. Still have much much more to learn!

Oh and these raptors got really close..sometimes even within 5metres. They have been baited with chicken bits by the boatmen for a long long time. As such, once the boat appear and the engine is revved, they will automatically appear knowing food is coming. I don't know the long term effects of them feeding chicken to these birds, but there are estimated around 400+ of them in that area of mangrove alone. At any one time during feeding, one can see around 20-30 of them. So the challenge is not about focal length, it becomes a matter of reflex and picking out which bird to focus on, and of course, catching the moment. The thing I do not like about these photos is the lack of fish, making it unnatural. Oh regarding freezing of wings etc, I personally do like abit of motion blur in the wings sometimes, give some sense of motion.

If posting bird images is not out of place in an aquatic forum, I am happy to post more.

[trident]

post more post more
everyday eat fish.................

oh so this is an organized trip to shoot the eagles at langkawi, how interesting.

[CK Yeo]

Ah.... no wonder no fish caught. So the raptor was picking up the chicken bits from the water?

ck

[quix]

Yes chicken bits...but we did see them going for live fish when a school of fish which sometimes jumped above the water swam past.
Here's one bad image which shows the chicken clearly...too close..too cropped..


A couple more..