Osprey flying with a stick

Ofer Levy · July 28th, 2009, 02:52 AM

Hi all,
Got this a few days ago about two hours drive from Sydney. For the last few weeks I have been filming a pair of Ospreys building their nest and mating. Awesome experience - well worth the trouble of getting up 3am and driving 2 hours in each direction almost every day. I am a bit exhausted though..)-:

This is one of my first attempts in getting them inflight. I got it in normal speed but it just doesn't look as nice and it is far more difficult to get the smooth movement. (Not that this one is prefect but I am working on it....(-: )

Video Gallery

Thanks in advance for watching and commenting,
Cheers,
Ofer Levy Photography

Tony Davies-Patrick · July 28th, 2009, 11:22 AM

Very nice work, Ofer. I really like it!

It is often difficult to prevent the 'wave syndrome' of up & down movement of the lens during a smooth pan at extreme distance when aimed at a bird in flight, and this footage also shows it in the 7-9 second section; but it doesn't detract enough to be bothersome and the lovely landing sequence at the nest really makes it worthwhile watching.

What was the original shutter speed set at for this footage before slowing it down in post?

Ofer, I've just taken a quick surf over to your website. Wow! That is truly fabulous in-flight stills photography and well worth a second visit for a complete look at all the images.

Ofer Levy · July 28th, 2009, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony Davies-Patrick

Very nice work, Ofer. I really like it!

It is often difficult to prevent the 'wave syndrome' of up & down movement of the lens during a smooth pan at extreme distance when aimed at a bird in flight, and this footage also shows it in the 7-9 second section; but it doesn't detract enough to be bothersome and the lovely landing sequence at the nest really makes it worthwhile watching.

What was the original shutter speed set at for this footage before slowing it down in post?

Ofer, I've just taken a quick surf over to your website. Wow! That is truly fabulous in-flight stills photography and well worth a second visit for a complete look at all the images.

Thanks for your comment and kind words Tony!
Nothing was done in post - all in camera as the Sony PMW EX3 can do slow motion in camera. The shutter speed was set to 180 degrees.
I agree with you regarding the "wave syndrom" and will work to improve it. It's 3:41 am here in Sydney and I am off to visit the Ospreys....(-:
Cheers,
Ofer

Tony Davies-Patrick · July 28th, 2009, 12:42 PM

Good luck! I look forward to viewing the results. :)

Caleb Royer · July 28th, 2009, 09:52 PM

Beautiful shot, love the slow-mo!

Mick Jenner · July 29th, 2009, 05:21 AM

Well recorded, as is all your work.

Like Tony looking forward to seeing the end results.

Mick

Ofer Levy · July 29th, 2009, 05:56 AM

Thanks for your comments guys! I actually had a successful morning with them today as I managed to get them mating just before sunrise. I have been watching and filming them for the last three weeks and saw them mating a couple of times when I wasn't ready - either too early when it was still too dark or just when I was all packed up. Today everything fell into place.
Just a nice story related to this - when I bought the Nikon 200-400 f4 G VR I thought I should sell the Nikon 300 ED f2.8 but decided to leave it because of the wider aperture. Today this lens saved me as I shot the mating footage with it at f2.8....(-:
It was too dark and there was no way I could shoot this with the 200-400. (Setting the gain to more than 0 for me is not an option due to the grain).
Will post the mating footage in a few days.
Cheers,
Ofer

Jerry Merrell · July 30th, 2009, 09:00 AM

This is great stuff, Ofer.

Just a few questions. How slow did you shoot this? Are you shooting your normal footage 1080p, 30fps? Is there any way you could get a higher vantage point?

Looking forward to seeing more.

Jerry

Ofer Levy · July 30th, 2009, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry Merrell

This is great stuff, Ofer.

Just a few questions. How slow did you shoot this? Are you shooting your normal footage 1080p, 30fps? Is there any way you could get a higher vantage point?

Looking forward to seeing more.

Jerry

Thanks Jerry!
This was shot in the slow motion mode of the EX3 - 720 25p, set to 60 fps.
I am afraid there is no higher vantage point so I won't be able to shoot into the nest....)-:

Cheers,
Ofer

July 28th, 2009, 02:52 AM	#1
Ofer Levy Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Sydney-Australia Posts: 443	Osprey flying with a stick - slow motion Hi all, Got this a few days ago about two hours drive from Sydney. For the last few weeks I have been filming a pair of Ospreys building their nest and mating. Awesome experience - well worth the trouble of getting up 3am and driving 2 hours in each direction almost every day. I am a bit exhausted though..)-: This is one of my first attempts in getting them inflight. I got it in normal speed but it just doesn't look as nice and it is far more difficult to get the smooth movement. (Not that this one is prefect but I am working on it....(-: ) Video Gallery Thanks in advance for watching and commenting, Cheers, Ofer Levy Photography

July 28th, 2009, 11:22 AM	#2
Tony Davies-Patrick Trustee Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Worldwide Posts: 1,589	Very nice work, Ofer. I really like it! It is often difficult to prevent the 'wave syndrome' of up & down movement of the lens during a smooth pan at extreme distance when aimed at a bird in flight, and this footage also shows it in the 7-9 second section; but it doesn't detract enough to be bothersome and the lovely landing sequence at the nest really makes it worthwhile watching. What was the original shutter speed set at for this footage before slowing it down in post? Ofer, I've just taken a quick surf over to your website. Wow! That is truly fabulous in-flight stills photography and well worth a second visit for a complete look at all the images. __________________ www.WILDCARP.com www.NIKON.me.uk

July 28th, 2009, 12:42 PM	#4
Tony Davies-Patrick Trustee Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Worldwide Posts: 1,589	Good luck! I look forward to viewing the results. :) __________________ www.WILDCARP.com www.NIKON.me.uk

July 28th, 2009, 09:52 PM	#5
Caleb Royer Regular Crew Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ozarks, Missouri, USA Posts: 109	Beautiful shot, love the slow-mo!

July 29th, 2009, 05:21 AM	#6
Mick Jenner Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: West Sussex England Posts: 843	Well recorded, as is all your work. Like Tony looking forward to seeing the end results. Mick

July 29th, 2009, 05:56 AM	#7
Ofer Levy Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Sydney-Australia Posts: 443	Thanks for your comments guys! I actually had a successful morning with them today as I managed to get them mating just before sunrise. I have been watching and filming them for the last three weeks and saw them mating a couple of times when I wasn't ready - either too early when it was still too dark or just when I was all packed up. Today everything fell into place. Just a nice story related to this - when I bought the Nikon 200-400 f4 G VR I thought I should sell the Nikon 300 ED f2.8 but decided to leave it because of the wider aperture. Today this lens saved me as I shot the mating footage with it at f2.8....(-: It was too dark and there was no way I could shoot this with the 200-400. (Setting the gain to more than 0 for me is not an option due to the grain). Will post the mating footage in a few days. Cheers, Ofer

July 30th, 2009, 09:00 AM	#8
Jerry Merrell New Boot Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Winter Park Florida Posts: 23	This is great stuff, Ofer. Just a few questions. How slow did you shoot this? Are you shooting your normal footage 1080p, 30fps? Is there any way you could get a higher vantage point? Looking forward to seeing more. Jerry