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Flash in bird photography

Author	Post

Posted by Eric: Sun Feb 3rd, 2019 15:18

1^st Post

Rather than extend or divert discussion on the main bird thread......

Do you ever use flash when photographing birds? Even just a bit of fill in?

I was in a hide today with 2, rather loud Canon users with flash. Another guy came in and nearly started a fight telling them it wasn't necessary. After swearing at them he left...which enabled me to use his seat :lol:

next to these canon blokes, who started justifying their use of flash to each other .....rather than having it out with the dissenter while he was there......mind you he was a big bloke.

I watched as the bird flinched at their flash despite them not seeing it and thus affirming their belief they were right.

I've perhaps been dismissive of using flash believing with a 500mm lens all its likely to contribute is a highlight in the eye at the sort of subject distances we tend to work at. Not sure if I am right?

But I have to say in the situation today with a lot of backlighting, there were some instances where a bit of fill would have helped lift the bird.

Here's an example.

So what the thinking from you wildlife officienados?

____________________
Eric

Posted by Robert: Sun Feb 3rd, 2019 15:51

2^nd Post

Maybe not quite the situation you are thinking of but going back to the eighties I had a friend who used a Metz CT4 with a proper Metz fresnel snoot, he used it for photographing owls at night and had considerable success, several images published. His camera/lens was a Canon SLR with an f/8 500mm mirror lens.

I'm also aware of someone who uses a similar fresnel flash with a 500mm Nikkor tele lens for ducks and the like, the camera is mounted on a punt like flat bottomed boat with silent electric propulsion. He uses it on lakes, not the sea.

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Robert.

Posted by blackfox: Wed Feb 6th, 2019 12:36

3^rd Post

it can be done , the yanks use it a lot .. for whatever reasons its frowned on over here , I have tried it a couple of times but it can give double catch lights if not careful .. I have a super little gadget called a "rogue safari" which clips onto your hot shoe and has a fresnel built in to extend your onboard flash range .. for £20 its in my bag always ,,, in fact when I did use it I had to diffuse it a bit with the side of a plastic milk bottle .. works well in summer woodland

Posted by Graham Whistler: Tue Feb 19th, 2019 05:02

4^th Post

Super shot Eric no need for fill flash in Photoshop it's all there!

Attachment: Eric 2-1.jpg (Downloaded 25 times)

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Graham Whistler

Posted by Eric: Wed Feb 20th, 2019 08:27

5^th Post

Yes Graham. I've done some processing on it myself. Just wondered if some of the fraternity ever bothered with flash. It would clearly have mad the background less strident...but that also can be sorted by masking. Seems as though that he preferred route these days.

____________________
Eric

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