Moon with a 400 DO II at 1600 mm

Seeing conditions were not too bad over our islands early this morning of March 31st, so I dug out my doublers to try out the 400 DO II at mooning.

Live View CD AF on the 7D2 surprisingly works fairly fast even at f/16. The 1600 mm combo is still light enough to hand hold, but I used a tripod to allow me to shoot at a low ISO (and consequentially slow Tv) for better file processability.

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Shooting info - Bued River, La Union, northern Philippines, March 31, 2016 (4:10 am, local time), Canon 7D MII + EF 400 DO IS II + EF 2x TC II + EF 2x TC III, 1600 mm, f/16 (wide open), 1/30 sec, ISO 160, Live View AF, remote switch, 455B/UBH45 support, single RAW capture, near full frame resized to 800 x 533..

 High res 2400 x 1600 version

Flight feathers in a photogenic full spread

This good-looking little spitfire was flying in my general direction at La Trinidad (Benguet) when it suddenly banked in a tight radius. It presumably pulled several Gs in the process, not unlike what a fighter pilot experiences when his jet does a similar maneuver.

 

The bird had to open up all its flight feathers for maximum surface area, and braking efficiency, to do the quick aerial turn. By chance, the wind was coming from behind me, and from the same direction as the mid-afternoon sun. When the vectors of the wind and light source coincide, BIF shooting becomes ideal.

 

My light hand held combo of 7D II and a TC-less 400 DO II didn't disappoint as far as frame rate, focus speed and IQ are concerned.

 

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Striated Swallow (Hirundo striolata , resident)

Habitat - Gorges and canyons, may also be found in open country, even in towns. 

 

 

Shooting info - Elev. 1315 m ASL, La Trinidad, Benguet, March 6, 2016, Canon 7D MII + EF 400 f/4 DO IS II,
400 mm, f/5.0, ISO 320, 1/2500 sec, manual exposure in available light, hand held, major crop resized to 800 x 1000.

 

Siberian Rubythroat in Baguio, Striated Swallow in La Trinidad

I made a quick visit this weekend to the City of Pines to check out the strawberry festival at nearby La Trinidad. I brought my lightweight birding combo (7D II + 400 f/4 DO II + 1.4x TC III) just in case some feathered friends are in the mood for a photo session.

True enough, I saw a Siberian Rubythroat at Camp John Hay where I stopped for breakfast. I got only a few documentary shots, but I was lucky to capture the more colorful male.

Meantime, while I was enjoying a pile of succulent strawberries at La Trinidad a few hours later, I noticed a flock of Striated Swallows zipping above the parking lot. I quickly dismounted the 1.4x TC III to make acquisition more manageable and to speed up the AF of the combo, both helpful in catching these fast BIFs.

 

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Siberian Rubythroat (Luscinia calliope, migrant, male)

Habitat - uncommon in early second growth, open country and tall reeds. 

 

Shooting info - Elev. 1400 m ASL, Camp John Hay, Baguio City, March 6, 2016, Canon 7D MII + EF 400 f/4 DO IS II + EF 1.4x TC III,
560 mm, f/5.6, ISO 1600, 1/160 sec, manual exposure in available light, hand held, major crop resized to 800x533.

 High res 1500 x 1000 version

 

 

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Striated Swallow (Hirundo striolata , resident)

Habitat - Gorges and canyons, may also be found in open country, even in towns. 

 

Shooting info - Elev. 1315 m ASL, La Trinidad, Benguet, March 6, 2016, Canon 7D MII + EF 400 f/4 DO IS II,
400 mm, f/5.0, ISO 320, 1/2500 sec, manual exposure in available light, hand held, major crop resized to 800x533.

 High res 1500 x 1000 version