Lilac-breasted Roller Take-off

[Wild Images]

Lilac-breasted Roller, a common bushveld bird here in SA, but always a pleasure to behold. He entertained us at a small pan in Kruger National Park.
D200
200-400 F4 VRS
Wimberley head
From car window
Quite a crop
This is the type of photography that I am really trying for, and 1 in 1000 times or so, you hit it jsut about right. Shooting birds from take-off is the most difficult thing I have tried, and am still trying. Birds on the wing is so so, especislly the large ones, but the small perishers <30 cm are ectreamly difficult to nearly impossible.
Any suggestions for better success rate?

[Pops]

Re: Lilac-breasted Roller Take-off

Lilac-breasted Roller, a common bushveld bird here in SA, but always a pleasure to behold. He entertained us at a small pan in Kruger National Park.
D200
200-400 F4 VRS
Wimberley head
From car window
Quite a crop
This is the type of photography that I am really trying for, and 1 in 1000 times or so, you hit it jsut about right. Shooting birds from take-off is the most difficult thing I have tried, and am still trying. Birds on the wing is so so, especislly the large ones, but the small perishers <30 cm are ectreamly difficult to nearly impossible.
Any suggestions for better success rate?

Patience and anticipation should do it

Can't really imagine any single strategy working on the 'small perishers'. Chances can of course be improved by using burst mode along with good anicipation.
I have taken over 200 shots in one session and binned the lot but......just occasionally you get one that makes it all worthwhile.