Like most days in the field yesterday had its ups and downs. I was excited to photograph a phalarope chick but a glitch with my primary camera really threw me for a loop.
1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
This is an adult Wilson’s Phalarope, probably an adult female going into non-breeding plumage. She and several other adults were feeding in the alkaline mud on the edge of a small pond near the dam at Lower Red Rock Lake in the Centennial Valley. I include this image mostly as a comparison to the chick.
1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
This little guy was scurrying in and out of the mud and emerging vegetation. It was near the adult but the two birds completely ignored each other so I have no idea if the adult bird was the parent of the chick. This was the first time I’ve ever photographed a phalarope chick so I was pretty excited about that.
After a full morning of shooting I decided to check some of my images for sharpness by blowing them up on the camera screen of my 7D Mark II . None of them looked sharp! So I attached one of backup 7D’s to my 500mm and suddenly my images were sharp again. That explains why both of these images were taken with a 7D.
So I’ll probably be using the 7D for the rest of the trip and trying to figure it all out on my return. That’s just what I need – a malfunctioning primary camera while I’m far from home on a camping trip. NOT!
But things could be worse – what if I didn’t have a backup camera…
Ron
I am so glad that your inner boy scout insisted on the back-up camera.
Thank you – and have a heap of successful fun for the rest of the week.
Nice photos and usual despite camera difficulties. Hope it is something minor that can be resolved in the field.
That’s a scary thought not having a backup camera! Yikes!
Hi! Love the photo’s ! Great shooting! Have a very good day! Sybill
Great shots, Ron! Back ups are great things even if more “stuff” to haul around particularly when far from home!
Love both of these images…especially both bird and water in the first and intense juvenile hunter and reflection in the second…sorry about rotten timing of ornery gear, but glad you have such high quality backup available….I hope you have smooth sailing for the rest of your trip…
Guess that’s mud not water in the first….
That chick is really cute. I’m sorry you’re having camera problems, but glad that, as always, you are prepared for such emergencies. Happy shooting!
I love my 7D II and I hope you’re able to easily solve the problems and get back to using it. People always ask me why I carry two cameras and this is the perfect answer. Fortunately, I’ve never had a malfunction. (Touch wood.) I always enjoy your postings. Keep it up and have a great trip!
Wonderful shots, appreciate the Phalarope pictures. Last time we saw them nesting was in Northern North Dakota.
This must be the time of year for photographers having malfunctioning gear. I have a 50D that is my backup, come to find out it doesn’t function even with a new charged battery.
So, now do I spend the money to fix an outdated camera or buy a 7D? Now I’m not certain after the problems you have been having.
At least my 5DMK2 functions well, but I need a backup for my own peace of mind.
I feel your concern and wish you the best possible outcome.
Oh Ron, sorry to hear of the equipment malfunction… “Been there, done that.” I’ve had that problem, and have learned
to check my image sharpness after each series on the camera monitor with a Hoodman. Checking images on the monitor
does use up battery power, but it also helps identify any problems early, which can save headaches later. If any of your
followers don’t know what I’m talking about, check out Hoodman on the B&H website. It is a great little accessory that
allows one to check an image on the camera monitor, even in bright sunlight. I never leave home without mine. I sooo
agree with you, it always pays to have a backup body handy. In addition to my Nikons, I also have, and use a Canon
7D Mark II, with the Canon 100-400 f4.5-5.6 IS II lens… I would be interested to hear what the problem is with your
Mark II, once you figure it out. I hope the rest of your adventure is trouble free…. ;-)))
Hi Ron. My name is Frank Sheets and am new to your blog. Great stuff and I appreciate what you are doing. By coincidence, my wife and I are also in Montana, one mountain range away, in the Ruby Valley. We have been coming up for years from S. Cal to fish and chase birds. We will be here a couple more weeks before heading over to Darby. I spent some time with a immature red-tail yesterday with my 7DII, 600mm F/4 IS II and a 1.4x on a beanbag hanging on the door. Images look great in the camera viewer, but absolutely horrible on the computer. I feel your pain. Could be operator error, but have had success with this combo in the past.
Wonderful images!
And ain’t redundancy a very good thing?! 🙂
Ron – The perfect, wonderful 7D Mark II is supposed to be perfect and wonderful! Sad to hear. May the fix be easy. The 7D is pretty good.
Thanks for the photos – I’ve never been able to photograph a phalarope. I love your daily lessons.