My experience with wildlife photography

[MatH]

In the early spring (before the leaves grew) I've been lucky enought to find a nest of an eagle. Came back a couple of times to make sure the nest isn't abandoned and it wasn't. Next time I took my camera along, climbed the neares tree and took several shots.

Sigma 105/f2.8 macro

I wanted to take a picture of their mother as well. Luckily my father has a 1100mm/f10.5 M42 Russian mirror lens whitch seemed like apropriate tool for the job. On sathurday afternoon I put up a sort of tent made of military cammo sheets.

Sigma 18-50/f2.8

On sunady morning I went to wait in the tent. I seemed to be unnoticed and little ones (both of them) were quite "active" in the nest.

1100mm/f10.5 M42 Russian mirror lens

However I didn't catch their mother. It would require constant observation what wasn't humanly possible due to the uncomfortable tent. Anyway after 5 hours I got lucky.

1100mm/f10.5 M42 Russian mirror lens

As for the mirror lens I'll post a review later.

[toriaj]

Beautiful shots! And you were very dedicated, all the waiting and the cammo tent! You mentioned that you didn't catch their mother ... what is the other bird in the nest in the last photo?

[MatH]

Maybe I didn't tell it well enogh.
I was waiting for their mother for five hours with no luck, but then I got lucky and took only one shoot of it.
Due to the weight of the miror lens (weakness of tripod) I had to use cable and 2sec delay. When she flew in I pressed the release, after two seconds she was still there and in my camera. I pressed again. On the second picture she was already gone.

[rprii]

Very special and great pictures. Thanks for your perseverance and sharing!

[astro]

Wow that mirror lens looks surprisingly good!
Very nice colors and contrast. The donut bokeh rings doesn't look too bad either.

[Spot focus]

Hi MatH Very nice work I take it you were using an adapter ring with the 1100mm ?

[MatH]

To Spot focus:
Of course. M42 means a screw mount lens.