Hunting Washington Forum

Community => Photo & Video => Topic started by: Tom Reichner on May 01, 2009, 03:09:04 PM

Title: Ruffed Grouse: PHOTOS ADDED
Post by: Tom Reichner on May 01, 2009, 03:09:04 PM: I've been out quite a bit lately, attempting to photograph Ruffed Grouse drumming. I've found a drumming rock (usually it's a log), and have had some productive shoots.

I was wondering if anyone else is currently trying to get images of drumming Ruffed Grouse. If so, I'd like to know how it's going for you. If you have any images to share with us, I'd love to see them.

I'm brand new to this forum, so it may take me a bit to figure out how to add photos to my post, but once I know how to do it, I'll attach a few of the images I've taken over the past week or two.

-Tom
PS: Since I first started this post, I've figured out how to attach photos, so I've added a couple more images:
Title: Re: Ruffed Grouse opportunities abound!
Post by: walt on May 01, 2009, 03:28:11 PM: I have been hearing them but haven't taken a pic. Someone on here posted a good one a few weeks ago. I can't remember who or where but I remember seeing it somewhere.
Title: Re: Ruffed Grouse opportunities abound!
Post by: 509er on May 01, 2009, 03:32:28 PM: Here is as cose as I have come to getting a pic. All I had is a little point and shoot.
Title: Re: Ruffed Grouse opportunities abound!
Post by: Tom Reichner on May 01, 2009, 04:42:36 PM: I think I figured out how to attach a photo. I hope the photo really is attached. I made it small 'cause I wasn't sure how large a file this forum allows. This was taken last week, the only time I was able to get this close to the grouse without him leaving.
Title: Re: Ruffed Grouse opportunities abound!
Post by: tlbradford on May 01, 2009, 05:00:12 PM: Very nice.
Title: Re: Ruffed Grouse opportunities abound!
Post by: rainshadow1 on May 01, 2009, 05:07:48 PM: Quote from: tlbradford on May 01, 2009, 05:00:12 PM
Very nice.

Very, very, :yeah:
Title: Re: Ruffed Grouse opportunities abound!
Post by: WDFW-SUX on May 01, 2009, 05:08:45 PM: Thats a great pic :o
Title: Re: Ruffed Grouse opportunities abound!
Post by: Ray on May 01, 2009, 05:19:36 PM: Yeah that is neat.
Title: Re: Ruffed Grouse opportunities abound!
Post by: Timber on May 01, 2009, 05:28:12 PM: Welcome to the site Tom. Very nice grouse shot! I've checked out your personal site a few times, you have some very nice photos! Keep the shots coming.
Title: Re: Ruffed Grouse opportunities abound!
Post by: rasbo on May 01, 2009, 05:45:00 PM: nice pic,and welcome.
Title: Re: Ruffed Grouse opportunities abound!
Post by: Tom Reichner on May 02, 2009, 12:02:12 AM: Thank you, everyone, for your interest and comments. I hope some of you are able to get out in the woods soon and find some drumming grouse to photograph - or to simply enjoy watching - before the drumming season is over.
Title: Re: Ruffed Grouse opportunities abound!
Post by: bowhunterforever on May 02, 2009, 01:00:19 AM: Awsome pic! :tup:
Title: Re: Ruffed Grouse opportunities abound!
Post by: robb92 on May 02, 2009, 05:48:27 PM: Very nice pic!!!
Title: Re: Ruffed Grouse opportunities abound!
Post by: bobcat on May 02, 2009, 06:01:03 PM: I've been hearing them a lot lately. I never thought of trying to photograph them. Good idea though, maybe I'll give it a try.
Title: Re: Ruffed Grouse opportunities abound!
Post by: huntnphool on May 02, 2009, 06:51:48 PM: Outstanding pic Tom, welcome to the site. FWIW, I tend to keep my pics at 900X600 or so, there are still a lot of dial up guys on here and they have a hard time if they are much bigger. What are you shooting?
Title: Re: Ruffed Grouse opportunities abound!
Post by: boneaddict on May 02, 2009, 07:26:02 PM: I tried a couple this spring, but I always managed to spook them. I had an awesome one...it had just rained and the sky was black. the sun came out and had bright light on the bird and some wildflowers by him. They were sparkling with droplets of water. It was like God was shining a spotlight. I was at about 15 paces. I came up with the lens hit focus and I was on auto. It picked up on a stick towards me and then completely lost focus. Just as it came back to the critter, he flew. I was almost sick. Great shots Tom.
Title: Re: Ruffed Grouse opportunities abound!
Post by: Tom Reichner on May 02, 2009, 07:30:42 PM: Quote from: huntnphool on May 02, 2009, 06:51:48 PM
Outstanding pic Tom, welcome to the site. FWIW, I tend to keep my pics at 900X600 or so, there are still a lot of dial up guys on here and they have a hard time if they are much bigger. What are you shooting?
Hi, Phool!

Thanks for the comment.

I shot this with a Canon 5D, and a 400 f2.8 lens. It's a big, unwieldy lens to carry around, but I love the clarity & sharpness that are possible with it. I also have a 1D Mark II that I use sometimes, due to it's much faster 8.6 frames per second (especially good for birds in flight).

By the way, what does FWIW mean?

-Tom
Title: Re: Ruffed Grouse opportunities abound!
Post by: popeshawnpaul on May 02, 2009, 07:31:14 PM: Great picture Tom. That's pro quality there. :hello:
Title: Re: Ruffed Grouse opportunities abound!
Post by: boneaddict on May 02, 2009, 07:32:20 PM: So there are at least two of us with back problems....... :chuckle: (the big white lens)
Title: Re: Ruffed Grouse opportunities abound!
Post by: Curly on May 02, 2009, 07:35:47 PM: Tom, great picture.

FWIW is short for .......for what it's worth

another one you will see is BTW......by the way
Title: Re: Ruffed Grouse opportunities abound!
Post by: popeshawnpaul on May 03, 2009, 10:33:08 AM: I was going to say, I smell a pro. In exif I saw that you were using a full frame 5D. Nice camera. You slowed your shutter speed down to 1/200th so you could get the movement of the wing and not the head. Nice call on that speed. You really know your photography. I look forward to seeing more of your photos.
Title: Re: Ruffed Grouse opportunities abound!
Post by: popeshawnpaul on May 03, 2009, 10:48:11 AM: I went out shooting grouse last year and got some good ones with Mountainwalk. Where did he go by the way?

(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10250/In_your_face.jpg)

(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10250/grousy.jpg)
Title: Re: Ruffed Grouse opportunities abound!
Post by: Tom Reichner on May 04, 2009, 04:18:45 PM: Shawn, that 2nd shot is excellent. I don't see many game bird photos featuring wildflowers; that's unique. I'm sure focusing on the eye was a challenge - did you have alot of deletions from this event, where your AF kept locking in on a piece of vegetation?
Title: Re: Ruffed Grouse opportunities abound!
Post by: popeshawnpaul on May 04, 2009, 06:16:27 PM: Lately I've been using the center point, putting it on the eye, locking focus, then recomposing the shot and snapping it. It takes a lot of work but that's the most successful way I've figured out how to do it. If I'm shooting an animal that is constantly in the same position I'll change my focus point so that I don't have to recompose so much.

On that first shot it was diffucult. I got focus on the front of the eye and not the back of the eye. I had others with the nose in focus but not the eye. I took quite a few shots just to get a few. Mostly because they constantly move and I had to keep up and recompose, etc.
Title: Re: Ruffed Grouse: PHOTOS ADDED
Post by: Hillbilly270 on May 06, 2009, 07:21:41 PM: these are excellent photos.
you experts have any nice photos of some blues?
Title: Re: Ruffed Grouse: PHOTOS ADDED
Post by: popeshawnpaul on May 06, 2009, 07:27:21 PM: I think the ones I took are blue grouse. If they aren't, they are spruce grouse. It was way up high on a ridge with no trees around...
Title: Re: Ruffed Grouse: PHOTOS ADDED
Post by: Slider on May 07, 2009, 07:32:09 AM: 8)
Title: Re: Ruffed Grouse: PHOTOS ADDED
Post by: boneaddict on May 08, 2009, 06:24:17 AM: I'd go Blue though it does have some Franklin Characteristics.. ALmost in the middle of a molt or color change. I'd sure like to get some good pics of a male Spruce. Haven't seen any for awhile down in the states. I used to see them alot up on Starvation. Not sure now after the big burn.
Title: Re: Ruffed Grouse: PHOTOS ADDED
Post by: boneaddict on May 08, 2009, 06:25:58 AM: a little different color phase
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv47%2Fboneaddict%2Fblue-1.jpg&hash=4248e1e3388689e0d65bebcc59c72d2119f7c77e)
Title: Re: Ruffed Grouse: PHOTOS ADDED
Post by: ratherhunt on May 10, 2009, 05:11:46 PM: Great Grouse pictures, I can not take pictures at all I shake to much, I guess but these are great, Thanks
Title: Re: Ruffed Grouse: PHOTOS ADDED
Post by: yelp on May 11, 2009, 07:19:03 AM: Quote from: ratherhunt on May 10, 2009, 05:11:46 PM
Great Grouse pictures, I can not take pictures at all I shake to much, I guess but these are great, Thanks

I hear ya there...I am shakey too...especially those charging grizzly pics...LOL
Title: Re: Ruffed Grouse: PHOTOS ADDED
Post by: fc2038 on May 11, 2009, 11:45:53 AM: Nice pics!
Title: Re: Ruffed Grouse: PHOTOS ADDED
Post by: arees on May 11, 2009, 12:40:37 PM: Here is one I posted over in the bear hunting forum. I came across him up on top of a clear cut where I was going to glass. He really couldn't care less about me.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tgfoitwoods.com%2Fimages%2FBearStuff%2FGrouse.jpg&hash=e4bb58c0b284091ca6444b53609676c61b334770)
Title: Re: Ruffed Grouse: PHOTOS ADDED
Post by: Tom Reichner on May 11, 2009, 12:58:49 PM: Quote from: arees on May 11, 2009, 12:40:37 PM
Here is one I posted over in the bear hunting forum. I came across him up on top of a clear cut where I was going to glass. He really couldn't care less about me.

How cool! Is this where he was drumming?
Title: Re: Ruffed Grouse: PHOTOS ADDED
Post by: arees on May 12, 2009, 10:41:44 AM: He was drumming on the stump and on a log near by. I eventually left to keep looking for bears and he kept drumming.