Figure 1 – Ruffed Grouse, Madison, WI. (c) DE Wolf 2014.
I have not yet figured out all of the unofficial legitimacy rules concerning bird photography. But hey, a photograph’s a photograph in the end. I took Figure 1 of a Ruffed Grouse, Bonasa umbellus, with my EF70-200mm f/4L USM lens at 200 mm and handheld (1/40th sec f/6.3) ISO 1600 at the Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison, WI. The bird was free to wander off, but seduced by a bowl of bird seed, and the conditions were really quite dark and challenging. Also my lens kept fogging over. Despite its relatively short maximum focal length and lack of IS capabilities. I am finding this lens really convenient for stalking birds. I was very pleased with how it came out. The eye is in good sharpness and I like the catch-light. The image captures the grouse in a very natural and well camouflaged surrounding.