2 January 2012

The flight of the birds. Images of Canberra

| johnboy
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bird flight

Andy has sent in these amazing pictures with this note:

While waiting for the NYE fireworks to start, I kept myself amused by taking long exposure photos of the gulls over the flags at Reconciliation Place.

Even the slight strobing of the lights is visible in the closest shot of the flightpaths.

gull flight flight paths

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Disinformation8:59 am 03 Jan 12

deye said :

Holditz said :

So where are the photos of the fireworks? 🙂

I have some from the 9pm fireworks taken from the roof of the Canberra Centre car park
http://www.flickr.com/photos/d-eye/sets/72157628648868069/

I was doing a bit of experimentation with focus blur so some of them will look a bit odd.

Er, no actually. They look sensational. Some of the most original firework shots that I’ve ever seen.

Holditz said :

So where are the photos of the fireworks? 🙂

I have some from the 9pm fireworks taken from the roof of the Canberra Centre car park
http://www.flickr.com/photos/d-eye/sets/72157628648868069/

I was doing a bit of experimentation with focus blur so some of them will look a bit odd.

Wow, very nice pics.

So where are the photos of the fireworks? 🙂

Waiting For Godot said :

Gee, what camera were you using? I’m yet to find a digital camera with a cable release socket or even an actual external control itself. Also a Bulb setting which is similar to those on the old film cameras. The fact you were able to get a shot like this is remarkable, I didn’t think it would have been possible with a digital camera.

pretty much any DSLR has that functionality, though it’s possible some of the entry level ones don’t, anything from the lower middle range up will.

Note cable releases can be expensive. Some DSLR’s will have a cheap IR button available that will do the same thing.

Disinformation9:36 pm 02 Jan 12

Very close. The D70s came out with a wired remote. The D70 only had infra red. However, neither are needed.
Every single DSLR I have ever seen has a bulb setting. Some of the upmarket point and shoots do too, but you’re talking the more expensive ones like the G (or S) series Canons. Some of the earlier Nikons could also be modified with a cable release.

I’ve never seen one without a self timer too. Select Bulb and self timer. Let rip. Count your appropriate seconds for experimentation and then black bag the lens, then trip the shutter release again to close. (Otherwise you can get star trail wobbles from pressing the shutter button again) If you’ve got manual shutter, then all you need to do is see how long it will go for. Most DSLR’s will do up to 30 seconds internally. Then you just use the self timer to ensure that there are no button pressing wobbles starting up. Digital makes experimentation so much easier. You can see within a few seconds if you screwed things up or not. Then you just have another go.

Waiting for Godot get yourself a Nikon D70. A few years old now but it came with a remote control. I’m sure newer Nikons have remotes too.

😀 Stunning photography, Andy! Thanks for sharing!

Waiting For Godot4:29 pm 02 Jan 12

Gee, what camera were you using? I’m yet to find a digital camera with a cable release socket or even an actual external control itself. Also a Bulb setting which is similar to those on the old film cameras. The fact you were able to get a shot like this is remarkable, I didn’t think it would have been possible with a digital camera.

Fascinating! Thanks

Wow. Nature’s own light show. I’m guessing the birds are attracted by the bugs and moths flocking to the lights..

It looks as if they are tying a knot in the air with their bodies. I wonder if the picture would be different on a night with fewer people around? Perhaps the smell of unattainable chips has driven them crazy.

These are much more interesting than fireworks.

Geoff_from_Lushpup_Images1:39 pm 02 Jan 12

Clever thinking … these are fantastic. Well done you 🙂

Phil_the_Printer12:34 pm 02 Jan 12

Brilliant! I like how you can see the wingbeats.

troll-sniffer12:29 pm 02 Jan 12

‘s cool bro

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