Pierre Williot
March 2025 - Canvasback ducks in flight over the Niagara River
About the Image(s)
Title: Canvasback ducks in flight over the Niagara River.
Equipment: Canon EOS R7, Canon RF 200-800 mm lens, Hand held
Set-up: 288 mm (461 mm full frame equivalent), ISO 400, 1/1000 sec, f/9, EV 0.67
Post processing: slight cropping and light adjustments using ON1 Raw 2025
This round’s discussion is now closed!
11 comments posted
Nice picture of birds in flight. The focus is good and the picture is sharp. The small maximum aperture (wide open) does not allow for a good out of focus background. Posted: 03/02/2025 12:55:21
Thanks Jaswant. I would have liked to decrease my f/stop, but this perfect situation of having all 4 birds in flight perfectly perpendicular to my lens caught me off guard - not much time to tweak my setting! Posted: 03/05/2025 12:24:47
Pierre,
Wow, you have a zoom that goes to 800 mm? It is a pleasant shot of these ducks in flight. The 1/1000 was sufficient to get clarity in the moving wings. Posted: 03/04/2025 17:42:05
Wow, you have a zoom that goes to 800 mm? It is a pleasant shot of these ducks in flight. The 1/1000 was sufficient to get clarity in the moving wings. Posted: 03/04/2025 17:42:05
Thanks Dean. 1/1000 sec was sufficiently rapid at this phase of their flight, but certainly not fast enough for a crisp take-off!
The Canon RF 200-800 is a nice lens. I am quite happy with it, especially for its range.
My only concerns are that this is not a "L" series lens, and as such, does not have great weatherproofing. Furthermore, as this is not an internal zoom lens, one needs to be careful in drying the lens barrel prior to reducing the zoom reach. It is not possible to perfectly balance this lens on a gimbal head either. Oh well.... Posted: 03/05/2025 12:32:59
The Canon RF 200-800 is a nice lens. I am quite happy with it, especially for its range.
My only concerns are that this is not a "L" series lens, and as such, does not have great weatherproofing. Furthermore, as this is not an internal zoom lens, one needs to be careful in drying the lens barrel prior to reducing the zoom reach. It is not possible to perfectly balance this lens on a gimbal head either. Oh well.... Posted: 03/05/2025 12:32:59
Well done on getting all 4 birds in perfect focus. The background does not bother me.
How difficult is it to hand hold such a large lens? I struggle with my 200-600! On safari one can always get support somewhere on the vehicle. At the local bird sanctuary I have started using my monopod. But then I have to sacrifice birds in flight. Choices, choices! Posted: 03/08/2025 10:47:57
How difficult is it to hand hold such a large lens? I struggle with my 200-600! On safari one can always get support somewhere on the vehicle. At the local bird sanctuary I have started using my monopod. But then I have to sacrifice birds in flight. Choices, choices! Posted: 03/08/2025 10:47:57
Thanks Mervyn. I was at the right place at the right time! This was by the shores of the Niagara River in Fort Erie, Ontario. Grand Island, NY, is in the background.
Lenses: I can handheld the 200-800 f 6.3-9 for short period of times - weight is 4.5 lbs. The Canon RF 150-500 f4.5-7.1 can be held for longer periods of time - weight: 3 lbs.
Posted: 03/11/2025 07:15:19
Lenses: I can handheld the 200-800 f 6.3-9 for short period of times - weight is 4.5 lbs. The Canon RF 150-500 f4.5-7.1 can be held for longer periods of time - weight: 3 lbs.
Posted: 03/11/2025 07:15:19
I like this! The composition of the ducks showing differing wing positions in flight makes it so interesting. Very nice. Posted: 03/10/2025 18:23:19
Thanks Cindy. Posted: 03/17/2025 15:22:25
The composition and placement are great. The background really makes the colors pop. Great photo. Posted: 03/15/2025 13:56:35
Thanks Jacob. I was at the right time, at the right place with the right equipment! Posted: 03/17/2025 15:23:02
I do like this & how you managed to shoot under testing conditions. A part of me is interested if in editing using AI what it would look like with the second duck from the right removed. With the colours & wing positions of the remaining ducks it would level up again. Posted: 03/22/2025 02:14:02