![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.larryditto.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Belted-Kingfisher_51U4564.jpg\" "\\"Belted")
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My “new” Canon 1D Mark IV has proved to be “as advertised” with its ability to lock on flying targets in a heartbeat.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Normally, I would select a shot with\u00a0full up or down wing positioning, but I liked this one because the folded wing provided a shadow to\u00a0highlight the brown pelican’t magnificant head.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n I was panning way too slow for the bullet-like redhead, but I liked the composition that includes a boardwalk photo blind in the background.\u00a0 Note the Laguna Madre in the background.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Most of the South Padre Island photos above were done with the Canon 1D Mark IV, 500 mm IS lens, Feisol carbon fiber tripod and Wimberley head.\u00a0 The shutter speed was never lower than 1\/1250 second and most of the time, it was 1\/2000 second or better to freeze the motion.<\/p>\n Below, I used a Canon 7D (with its 1.6 magnification factor), Canon 300 mm\u00a0f4\u00a0IS lens, Canon 1\/4 tele-extender or Canon 500 Close Up lens, Gitzo carbon fiber tripod and Feisol ball head for the butterflies.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The two shots above were done with the close-up lens screwed on the front of the Canon 300 mm f4 lens.\u00a0 In both shots, the insect was closer than one foot.\u00a0 I didn’t use enough depth of field for the butterfly but I was trying to keep the backgrounds blurred.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n I have one more photo for you, the now famous Flamulated Owl of South Padre Island.\u00a0 This bird has spent a month or two hiding in deep cover at the Convention Center.\u00a0 On this day, it decided to roost near the thicket’s edge and the birders located it.\u00a0 Thanks to the guy who told us… a Texas “Longhorn” no less!\u00a0 Good thing I wasn’t wearing my maroon and white that day.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Here’s wishing\u00a0you good days afield in the Lord’s creation,<\/p>\n Larry<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This past week, I finally got out to do some shooting at a couple of local parks, South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center and North American Butterfly Assoication’s National Butterfly Center.\u00a0 Spring in south Texas (yes, it’s spring here) may require a photographer to lean a little\u00a0into the wind,\u00a0but these\u00a0habitats\u00a0compensate with their abundant birds … Continue reading Some South Texas Parks<\/span> <\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>