Cozad Ranch Set-Ups, BAA Bulletin #326

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This was my afternoon set-up at the Cozad Ranch on May 4. The image was created with the handheld Canon 24-105mm IS lens at 32mm.

Notice that each of the four tallest perches is set in front of a pure green background and that we have taken the time to clean the edges of the far side of the tiny pond of all pebbles, roots, and seeds and to wet and smooth the red mud.

As you look back at the images in previous blog posts from Texas and the images in BAA Bulletin #326 (link below) see if you can figure out which perch the birds were using in each photograph.

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This was my morning set-up at the Cozad Ranch on the morning of May 4. The image was created with the handheld Canon 24-105mm IS lens at 24mm.

Note here that the feeding table has been removed from the set to keep the birds from landing on the legs of the table. Again, the tip of each perch has been set against a background of pure color; that did not occur by accident. The orange on our right was impaled on a stake and placed just far enough from the perch so that the golden-fronteds would have to stretch to reach it. We placed a lichen-covered branch in the hollow handle of the tiny tripod so that small birds coming to water might land on it.

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This image was created on the morning of May 2 with the Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens, a 25mm Extension tube, and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 800. Evaluatve metering +2/3 stop: 1/80 sec. at f/5.6. Fill flash at -2 stops with Better Beamer.

Bronzed Cowbirds are stunning with their bright red eyes and Victorian ruffs.

BIRDS AS ART Bulletin #326 is on line and can be found here: http://www.birdsasart.com/2010/05/07/birds-as-art-bulletin-326

Here are the features:

HUNT’S DIGITAL DAYS SALE
THE COZAD RANCH, LINN, TX
2011 IPT DATE ANNOUNCEMENTS: SAN DIEGO & SW FLORIDA PRESIDENT’S WEEK
EOS-7D USER’S GUIDE INFO
EOS-1D MARK IV USER’S GUIDE INFO
POSSE NEWS/ROBERT O’TOOLE
IPT DATE UPDATES

M. Bruce

May 8, 2010 at 2:06 pm

Thanks for sharing your Cozad Ranch setup, it certainly shows what it takes to get the stunning images you regularly obtain. I suspect that I’m not the only one here that feels a not so healthy dose of envy over your equipment. 800-mm times 1.4? Now that’s reach!! You may not have noticed my earlier question but I would be curious to know if those Canon extension tubes maintain the AF on the 100-400 lens? I know AF is lost with the 1.4X Extender. It would be nice to get closer sometimes, but of course I don’t have the same reach either.

I also appreciate it when I see great pictures of birds that are often ignored such as your rather demure female Lark Bunting, and since you mention the “extensive clean-up efforts” on the mud I would simply add that the removal of anything that might be considered food does seem to confound her intense stare. The Bronzed Cowbird is without question “BIRDS AS ART”.