And still didn't get it ;-) Need to repeat my shooting again and again.
Here are some of the images but I am still not happy with the result.

Here the distance to the wall and the lighting are ok and but I don't like the pose.
Here I like the pose but the background is too close and too bright:

Here also the pose not so good but also not so bad:

Here is also not so bad but the the pose I mentioned in #2 is much better ;-) and the background is sill too close

Here the pose is nice but the background not so..




As you can see, I have an idea in my mind and strive to get the image with fighting bee-eaters, which are good lighted on the dark background and background must be relatively far away from the birds. It is not so easy because they don't fight often and I don't know the place where it happens and the timing and when it happens it goes very fast.
Each species of Bee-Eaters is different. For example, the Southern Carmine Bee-Eaters are displaying courtship in the air and it is easy to follow them. I didn't see it by other species. But I am in Europe and there are European Bee-Eaters and I need to learn their behaviour and try to get the right shot.
In between I take one or the other photo of flying birds as well:


Do you have any personal project you are working on? Any idea you have in mind and want to materialise it?

Wonderful

Lovely set of images, Elena. You did well!

I recently did a session with some European bee eaters as well. They're a right pain to photograph in action. I often couldn't quite predict their flightpaths (seemed to be all over the place) so it was challenging to keep them in the viewfinder. I came away with a few decent enough flight shots, but they sure do make you work for it.

Why are you not happy with these, Elena? They are all amazing images! 2, 3, 4, 5...all fantastic.

Those are some nice photos, Elena, but I understand your quest for "your" shot! I hope you get it, and many more.

They’re wonderful.

I get it! You have a vision and to date the images don't measure up. Keep at it! It's OK to set high expectations for yourself. That is how you improve!

Woodyg3 said:

Wonderful

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Thank you, Woody!

Jmaes said:

I recently did a session with some European bee eaters as well. They're a right pain to photograph in action. I often couldn't quite predict their flightpaths (seemed to be all over the place) so it was challenging to keep them in the viewfinder. I came away with a few decent enough flight shots, but they sure do make you work for it.

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Sometimes they have approach procedures ;-) But all birds are individuals, just like we are. Some of them are real aerial acrobats, they coming just straight to the hole independently on wind or something else. Some come and sit on the tree a while and then go down. Some like to argue and fight and some not. I need to watch them, find a fighter, figure our where he is living and keep him in eye. And yes, they are very difficult to photograph, more difficult than Carmine Bee-eaters.

MikeJ said:

Why are you not happy with these, Elena? They are all amazing images! 2, 3, 4, 5...all fantastic.

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Thank you, Mike! Very appreciated!

Whiskeyman said:

Those are some nice photos, Elena, but I understand your quest for "your" shot! I hope you get it, and many more.

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Thank you, Whiskeyman! When I get my shot I will post it ;-) saying - that is exactly what I wanted

Patrick M said:

They’re wonderful.

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Thank you, Patrick!

Butlerkid said:

get it! You have a vision and to date the images don't measure up. Keep at it! It's OK to set high expectations for yourself. That is how you improve!

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Yes, exactly! You've got it! I have a vision, an image in my mind and want to get it . And it is not impossible, it is very possible because I was often very close to it but some details didn't work (camera didn't focus, background was too close, pose was not nice, light didn't work, etc...) But it is possible that some time everything will play together

I have to say, I would be happy with any of these, and especially if I got them all.

These are great Elena, and I like and understand your ongoing self critique. Hope you can capture what you’re after. Me, I’d be delighted just to see the bee eaters!
I’ve seen them in Spain and France but not too many up here in Scotland So please enjoy them extra for me when you next encounter them!!

These are awesome! Just lower the highlights on the BG. 2,3, 4, and 6 are all great! I don't see how the pose is bad in number 3. It is the best pose of the entire series IMO, head on.
As for personal goals, I am trying to get a sharp, high quality photo of a raptor pursuing a songbird or duck. So far, all instances have happened too quickly, or too far away. Just 2 days ago I had a bald eagle hunting ducks in flight, but it was way too far away and in bad light.

I think they are fantastic!

Yeah, I can see how you don't like these....NOT!! They are excellent! Good luck on your quest though, I surly want to see it once you get what you're after!

Rick S said:

I have to say, I would be happy with any of these, and especially if I got them all.

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oh, thank you, Rick!

BorderBirder said:

These are great Elena, and I like and understand your ongoing self critique. Hope you can capture what you’re after. Me, I’d be delighted just to see the bee eaters!
I’ve seen them in Spain and France but not too many up here in Scotland So please enjoy them extra for me when you next encounter them!!

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Thank you, Bruce! Sure, I will enjoy them! I will have a stop in taking pictures and think about those who cannot see them. But I hope, you can see the other birds in Scotland!

raptor photo said:

These are awesome! Just over the highlights on the BG. 2,3, 4, and 6 are all great! I don't see how the pose is bad in number 3. It is the best pose of the entire series IMO, head on.
As for personal goals, I am trying to get a sharp, high quality photo of a raptor pursuing a songbird or duck. So far, all instances have happened too quickly, or too far away. Just 2 days ago I had a bald eagle hunting ducks in flight, but it was way too far away and in bad light.

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Thank you, @raptor photo ! You are right #3 is the best in the series. I can see, you have also a personal project ;-) So, I wish you a lot of luck to have a raptor close next time!

gnpToday said:

I think they are fantastic!

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Thank you, Greg!

gdecamp said:

Yeah, I can see how you don't like these....NOT!! They are excellent! Good luck on your quest though, I surly want to see it once you get what you're after!

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Thank you, George! Sure, I will post it if I get it !

A very nice looking set. And funnily enough, I am looking for a similar shot as you are, with the European Bee-eaters "kissing" in mid flight.

And since I've been shooting them for a few years now, perhaps this idea helps:

Try to spot one with an insect in it's beak. Track it as it is flying around as it is highly likely another one will try to steal it's pray in the air and this will lead to a struggle that might net the shot you want .

very nice shots Elena - all are great - my favourite is #7 out of the 8.
I'm currently trying to get pictures of badgers - started only a couple of days ago with this idea/project and now regularly getting to an active den areal i know of since many years .
You are much farther with your bee eater project than I'm with my badgers - i haven't even managed to spot any badgers yet
So far no luck, can be frustrating to sit 1.5h on the same spot, while getting eaten up by mosquitos on not taking a single shot at all
But today I had a very close encounter with a fox while looking out for the badgers. which was also very nice experience - apparently it didn't spot me as it was just 4-5 m away..
light was at the limits for the 400/f4.5 lens and Z9....

StefanSC said:

A very nice looking set. And funnily enough, I am looking for a similar shot as you are, with the European Bee-eaters "kissing" in mid flight.

And since I've been shooting them for a few years now, perhaps this idea helps:

Try to spot one with an insect in it's beak. Track it as it is flying around as it is highly likely another one will try to steal it's pray in the air and this will lead to a struggle that might net the shot you want

Click to expand...

Wow! It is very interesting! You do also taking pictures of European Bee-eaters! in which country?
I do watch them and yes, now they are coming with prey and fighting for it. Earlier they were fighting for the hole (the nesting place) and probably for the female. When one male approach the female which is already taken then he will be attacked. But some individuals are more aggressiv than tthe others.

12markus12 said:

very nice shots Elena - all are great - my favourite is #7 out of the 8.

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thank you, Markus!
For the badgers - perhaps to put wildcameras in some places to get the behaviuor pattern or the ways where they can pass. I did it in Africa. There animals take a road or an elephant path. In any case a way which is already prepared, they would not go through the bush normally.

Now we have already three memebers who have personal projects. I think I will open a thread in General Discussion about personal projects becasue there more people looking at. Just interesting what people are doing and perhaps somebody can give a good advice.

Nice set, Elena. I get where you're coming from, I'm always a little disappointed with how my pictures look after having to down size and losing resolution. I hate losing the sharpness.

K9Kirk said:

Nice set, Elena. I get where you're coming from, I'm always a little disappointed with how my pictures look after having to down size and losing resolution. I hate losing the sharpness.

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oh, yes, especially if you need to crop in post!

Those are some beautiful birds. I can understand your interest. My bride can't fathom why I continue to take photos of the same animals over and over again. I guess it is hard for non-photographers to see the point. I don't have anything that I pursue as what I'd call a project. But for several species I do have the "holy grail" image in my mind. And for one or two species for which I have achieved those perfect shots now the goal is to repeat them with higher resolution, better lens, etc. IOW there is no end to this journey of photography

ElenaH said:

And still didn't get it ;-) Need to repeat my shooting again and again.
Here are some of the images but I am still not happy with the result.
View attachment 63123
Here the distance to the wall and the lighting are ok and but I don't like the pose.
Here I like the pose but the background is too close and too bright:
View attachment 63124
Here also the pose not so good but also not so bad:
View attachment 63125
Here is also not so bad but the the pose I mentioned in #2 is much better ;-) and the background is sill too close
View attachment 63126
Here the pose is nice but the background not so..
View attachment 63127

View attachment 63128

As you can see, I have an idea in my mind and strive to get the image with fighting bee-eaters, which are good lighted on the dark background and background must be relatively far away from the birds. It is not so easy because they don't fight often and I don't know the place where it happens and the timing and when it happens it goes very fast.
Each species of Bee-Eaters is different. For example, the Southern Carmine Bee-Eaters are displaying courtship in the air and it is easy to follow them. I didn't see it by other species. But I am in Europe and there are European Bee-Eaters and I need to learn their behaviour and try to get the right shot.
In between I take one or the other photo of flying birds as well:
View attachment 63129

Do you have any personal project you are working on? Any idea you have in mind and want to materialise it?

View attachment 63130

Click to expand...

Those are beautiful pics Elena! Must be a lost in translation thing, but I see at least eight out of 4,000 that I would be thrilled with!!!! What gorgeous birds.
Kurt

ElenaH said:

Thank you, Bruce! Sure, I will enjoy them! I will have a stop in taking pictures and think about those who cannot see them. But I hope, you can see the other birds in Scotland!

Click to expand...

Yes, indeed, Elena, plenty wee friends at our local river to be cherished, and you’ve encouraged me to apply the ‘project’ approach to nearest shorebirds with my frying pan tripod, when I’m able to drive again

Nice series, but I can understand that you are looking for that one star image you are envisioning. But, with respect to image #2, have you tired to bring down the background exposure a bit in post processing? If that was the only thing holding that image back, I think that it might be possible to push it a bit closer to your goal, albeit it may be "the one".

Good luck,

--Ken

Great shots, but you darn perfectionists just never are happy! I would be ecstatic to get shots anywhere near as good as these. What I am though, is very envious that you have (and have made) the opportunity to fire away 4000 times at these gorgeous birds.
Noticed just a little wing tip motion blur but impressed that 1/2500th got as much sharp as it did. Must be magic in your hands.

NorthernFocus said:

Those are some beautiful birds. I can understand your interest. My bride can't fathom why I continue to take photos of the same animals over and over again. I guess it is hard for non-photographers to see the point. I don't have anything that I pursue as what I'd call a project. But for several species I do have the "holy grail" image in my mind. And for one or two species for which I have achieved those perfect shots now the goal is to repeat them with higher resolution, better lens, etc. IOW there is no end to this journey of photography

Click to expand...

That's true! I must grin reading about photographing a subject again and again how true is that

KurtT said:

Those are beautiful pics Elena! Must be a lost in translation thing, but I see at least eight out of 4,000 that I would be thrilled with!!!! What gorgeous birds.
Kurt

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Thank you, kurt!

BorderBirder said:

Yes, indeed, Elena, plenty wee friends at our local river to be cherished, and you’ve encouraged me to apply the ‘project’ approach to nearest shorebirds with my frying pan tripod, when I’m able to drive again

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great! Just do it!!

Replytoken said:

Nice series, but I can understand that you are looking for that one star image you are envisioning. But, with respect to image #2, have you tired to bring down the background exposure a bit in post processing? If that was the only thing holding that image back, I think that it might be possible to push it a bit closer to your goal, albeit it may be "the one".

Click to expand...

Thank you, Ken. I did darken background a bit in #1 and #3 . with #2 is not so easy because the birds are very close to background and the birds are bark and backgound is light wih some very highlighted parts. It is very easy to overkill it in post and it will be unnatural. But i will give it a try ;-)

NWGuy said:

Great shots, but you darn perfectionists just never are happy! I would be ecstatic to get shots anywhere near as good as these. What I am though, is very envious that you have (and have made) the opportunity to fire away 4000 times at these gorgeous birds.
Noticed just a little wing tip motion blur but impressed that 1/2500th got as much sharp as it did. Must be magic in your hands.

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THank you very much, @NWGuy ! And you are right - oerfecionism is a desease (well, almost) or at least an obsession. But it gives a kick for development!