Strictly For The Birds

[Tony Britton]

Hello,

I'd like to share my favorite bird, and occasional duck, photographs with you. I prefer portrait style captures whenever possible and utilize side-lighting in the vast majority of my photos. I use a collection of superzoom cameras to photograph my subjects. All photos were taken hand-held and have not been cropped.

I hope you enjoy this collection.

Best regards,

Tony

1. Double-crested Cormorant

2. Great Blue Heron

3. Wood Duck

4. Black-crowned Night Heron

5. Green Heron

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Wow, great first post, Tony. Very impressive, especially as hand-held with a superzoom. Can you tell us what equipment you used?

 

[Tony Britton]

Wow, great first post, Tony. Very impressive, especially as hand-held with a superzoom. Can you tell us what equipment you used?

Thanks very much, Rob. Firstly, I really enjoyed the link to your photography. Superb!

The images in this first set were all taken with my Canon SX50 HS camera. It's my favorite of the three superzoom cameras I own. Once I discovered locations that allowed me reasonably close contact with my favorite subjects I purchased these cameras to specifically "fill the frame" with relatively close subjects rather than use the massive zoom capabilities to bring very distant subjects "closer." In this way I can capture fine detail and avoid the need to crop the image. As with any type of camera, proximity always helps.

Tony

 

[Tony Britton]

This next set features photos from my Canon SX40, Canon SX50 and Nikon Coolpix P610 superzoom cameras. I hope you enjoy them!

Tony

1. Snowy Egret Ballet (Canon SX40)

2. Double-crested Cormorant (Canon SX50)

3. Snowy Egret (Nikon Coolpix P610)

4. Great Blue Heron (Canon SX50)

5. Green Heron (Canon SX40)

6. Snowy Egret (Nikon Coolpix P610)

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Wow again. You are getting great results from what must be regarded as cheap cameras. Highly impressive. The first and last of this second collection are superb.

I had a Fuji XS-1, with its 26x zoom, but gave it to my daughter when she went to university. I never managed shots like this when I had it. Beautiful work.

Others will be along soon with their comments. Traffic is quite slow these days, but the quality is high!

 

[Dave Farnes]

Greetings Tony.

Wow! What a fantastic set of pictures; the quality of those images is seriously impressive, well done!

 

[Pete Askew]

Wonderful stuff, Tony. I especially like the shot of the Night Heron .

 

[Tony Britton]

Wow again. You are getting great results from what must be regarded as cheap cameras. Highly impressive. The first and last of this second collection are superb.

I had a Fuji XS-1, with its 26x zoom, but gave it to my daughter when she went to university. I never managed shots like this when I had it. Beautiful work.

Others will be along soon with their comments. Traffic is quite slow these days, but the quality is high!

Thanks again, Rob. It helps immensely that I've fully embraced a "look" or style I find appealing in my photography. I'm getting consistent results I'm very pleased with simply because I know how I want the image to appear well before I press the shutter. Each day I'm learning the profound difference between making a photograph and taking a photograph.

Tony

 

[Tony Britton]

Greetings Tony.

Wow! What a fantastic set of pictures; the quality of those images is seriously impressive, well done!

I appreciate your comments very much, Dave.

Tony

 

[Tony Britton]

Wonderful stuff, Tony. I especially like the shot of the Night Heron .

Thanks for taking the time to comment, Pete.

Tony

 

[Beth Carter]

some beautiful images. fantastic details in every shot. focus is spot on. great colors. excellent exposures.

 

[Tony Britton]

some beautiful images. fantastic details in every shot. focus is spot on. great colors. excellent exposures.

Thank you very much for your comments, Beth.

Tony

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Tony, I'm beginning to think you literally capture these birds at night, bring them home to you studio, and have them pose under studio lights. I won't go so far as to say you stuff them first Seriously good quality images.

 

[Tony Britton]

Tony, I'm beginning to think you literally capture these birds at night, bring them home to you studio, and have them pose under studio lights. I won't go so far as to say you stuff them first Seriously good quality images.

Well, my friends believe the reason I can get so close to these birds has something to do with my anchovy-scented cologne, but they're wrong. Wrong, I say!

As far as moving from a public environment to a private studio setting is concerned, I had to abandon this possibility due to their inability to sign a model release form. They certainly have no problem grasping a pen, they simply can't read or write. Who knew? "Great" Blue Heron, my foot!

I think it'd be hilarious in my forum Bio to list my occupation as "Taxidermist." Just a thought.

Tony

 

[Rob MacKillop]

 

[Pete Askew]

Well @Tony Britton, if you like, I can always change your New Member label to Chief Taxidermist!

 

[Tony Britton]

Well @Tony Britton, if you like, I can always change your New Member label to Chief Taxidermist!

Well, I'll certainly give that some deep consideration, Pete. In the meantime, I'm reminded of the joke about the veterinarian who decides to also become a taxidermist so he can reassure his clients that "either way, you'll get your dog back!"

Tony

 

[Ivar Dahl-Larsen]

As much as I like the comments here, for a change I must admit that I am truly impressed of how you've gone about it and captured these creatures in such a fine way, with such a great light and a super zoom. I must say you have been very inventive. Cheers Tony.

 

[Tony Britton]

As much as I like the comments here, for a change I must admit that I am truly impressed of how you've gone about it and captured these creatures in such a fine way, with such a great light and a super zoom. I must say you have been very inventive. Cheers Tony.

Thanks very much, Ivar. It's a real thrill and honor to be in the presence of these magnificent birds and I'm very pleased you like my photographs.

Tony

 

[Tony Britton]

I hope you'll enjoy this set.

1. Snowy Egret

2. Double-crested Cormorant

3. Green Heron

4. Black-crowned Night Heron

5. Great Egret