Along the canal with a telephoto lens

[Ian]

My personal challenge to catch some waterfowl coming in to land on the Grand Union canal that flows past our office here in Apsley has not been blessed with, well, any flying waterfowl, so far, but here are some less spectacular images from the canal instead - all taken with a lens equivalent to a 600mm f/2.8 (and all hand-held!):


Never noticed those before...


All dressed-up.


Juvenile swan (still with a grey beak) dribbling.


Moorhen.


Another swan strutting its stuff.


These two were keeping each other company - an oddball couple.


These two were on the far side of the canal, but not too far for a 600mm lens!


A welcome change to the very common Canada geese, a Greylag goose.


Greylag goose on the march!


Another close up of the Greylag.


Feeding time on the towpath!


Greylag scratching.

Now how do I get this lot to fly?

Ian

[Mike Parr]

Re: Along the canal with a telephoto lens

May I suggest A starting pistol Nice clear images

[Ian]

Re: Along the canal with a telephoto lens

May I suggest A starting pistol Nice clear images

Good idea

Ian

[Autumn]

Re: Along the canal with a telephoto lens

You have some fine pictures there Ian. Very much like the type that can be captured in Clumber Park.

I said to Roy yesterday, if we sat at the right time and were prepared to wait, the possibilities are endless but of course we haven't the equipment that you have.

The fact is we just go for a walk when everyone else is there, when we should be up at day break or there at sunset when they are foraging for food.

Well done. Swans aren't that easy to capture well. I like the second one, it has a lot of detail and a catchlight in its eye, but you've cropped it a bit tight.

[Ian]

Re: Along the canal with a telephoto lens

You have some fine pictures there Ian. Very much like the type that can be captured in Clumber Park.

I said to Roy yesterday, if we sat at the right time and were prepared to wait, the possibilities are endless but of course we haven't the equipment that you have.

The fact is we just go for a walk when everyone else is there, when we should be up at day break or there at sunset when they are foraging for food.

Well done. Swans aren't that easy to capture well. I like the second one, it has a lot of detail and a catchlight in its eye, but you've cropped it a bit tight.

Thanks Audrey. Yes I was using a very special lens (Olympus Zuiko Digital 300mm f/2.8 - 600mm equivalent) and the I did chop off that swan's tail. He was going at a rate of knots and of course I wasn't using a zoom, but it was too nice not to include

Ian

[Pol]

Re: Along the canal with a telephoto lens

My personal challenge to catch some waterfowl coming in to land on the Grand Union canal that flows past our office here in Apsley has not been blessed with, well, any flying waterfowl, so far, but here are some less spectacular images from the canal instead - all taken with a lens equivalent to a 600mm f/2.8 (and all hand-held!):


Ian

Ok I know it's the togfa behind the camera that does the business but OMG that lens really delivers the goods!

Wonderful selection of pictures. I love them all but I especially like the last two because they're typical of your unique style of everyday life 'decisive moment' shots ... observed and captured with a subtle touch of humour.

Pol

[Ian]

Re: Along the canal with a telephoto lens

Ok I know it's the togfa behind the camera that does the business but OMG that lens really delivers the goods!

Wonderful selection of pictures. I love them all but I especially like the last two because they're typical of your unique style of everyday life 'decisive moment' shots ... observed and captured a subtle touch of humour.

Pol

Oooer - praised indeed

I think I have always been better at the capture-a-moment kind of shot. I wish I could do the kind of artistic shots that, for example, Andrew (Thatcher) is so brilliant at. Sounds like another challenge to myself!

Ian

[Pol]

Re: Along the canal with a telephoto lens

Oooer - praised indeed

I think I have always been better at the capture-a-moment kind of shot. I wish I could do the kind of artistic shots that, for example, Andrew (Thatcher) is so brilliant at. Sounds like another challenge to myself!

Ian

Yer candid and everyday life pics often raise smile this end.

I know exactly what you mean about Andrew's shots. I've been a lurking fan of his work for quite a while. He just keeps getting better and better - not just at getting the shots but also at processing them.

Pol

[Ian]

Re: Along the canal with a telephoto lens

Yer candid and everyday life pics often raise smile this end.

I know exactly what you mean about Andrew's shots. I've been a lurking fan of his work for quite a while. He just keeps getting better and better - not just at getting the shots but also at processing them.

Pol

Absolutely - I was delighted to see him back here

Ian

[ekkl]

Re: Along the canal with a telephoto lens

May I suggest A starting pistol

I like the swan pictures Ian. Last year I tried swans at Hever Castle in Kent but they are no where near as good as these. I might venture out tomorrow over to Lewes where I know there are a few knocking about and try and get some decent pics.

[Caz]

Re: Along the canal with a telephoto lens

Love the swans - particularly the dribbling juvenile.

Since being transferred to Milton Keynes I'm really missing being able to go down the park and watch the birds. Ok the shopping's great, but...

[Ian]

Re: Along the canal with a telephoto lens

Love the swans - particularly the dribbling juvenile.

Since being transferred to Milton Keynes I'm really missing being able to go down the park and watch the birds. Ok the shopping's great, but...

Yes we're very fortunate to have the canal so close to us. There is always something to photpgraph there!

Ian

[Jocelyn Walker]

Re: Along the canal with a telephoto lens

Your second shot is brilliant! Some hi-struttin' geese you have there! Never heard of Greylags...Canadian Geese, do they look similar?

[Ian]

Re: Along the canal with a telephoto lens

Your second shot is brilliant! Some hi-struttin' geese you have there! Never heard of Greylags...Canadian Geese, do they look similar?

Down your way you get black swans don't you?

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The Greylag is on the right and tha Canada goose is on the left. Canada geese used to migrate, but a lot now over-winter in the UK.

Apparently Greylags are distantly related to many domestic geese.

And I have been informed that Greylags can mate with Canada geese and produce viable offspring.

Ian

[Mike Parr]

Re: Along the canal with a telephoto lens

Apart from the mating habits of geese I think the quality of the Olympus Lens shows through again especially with the marching grey goose, which body did you have it on out of curiosity.