Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.
Avocet in Flight
‹ PreviousAvian GalleryNext ›

Avocet in Flight

by SandyRichardsBrown

Gallery: AvianPosted July 7, 2012296 views10 comments
Another fast and erratic bird I've had difficulty getting a clean in-flight image of.
The 800's 3-d tracking with auto-focus on the closest subject helps, but it's still far from easy.

D800
500mm
Subject dist: 25m
1/1250 sec, f/8
Mode: Av
Metering: Spot
ISO: 250
White balance: Auto
Flash: Off

Comments

10 comments
Comment posted by Steve Balke on July 7, 2012 at 1:08 PM
You're tackling tough subjects, Sandy. Maybe this could be a little bit sharper but overall it looks fine to me, right down to the muddy feet.
Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments
Comment posted by Nate Chappell on July 7, 2012 at 2:52 PM
Very nice flight shot Sandy, with that body I'd bump the iso up a bit more to get more shutter speed when doing flight photography. :toast:
Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments
Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on July 7, 2012 at 4:11 PM
I agree with both Steve and Nate. A tough catch.
Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments
Comment posted by Mike Ramy on July 7, 2012 at 10:48 PM
Sandy,
Tough shot with the angle of the sun you had at the time, fantastic you were able to capture the positioning of the subject. It looks like the head and the body are on two different flight plans. Very unique.
Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments
Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on July 8, 2012 at 1:55 PM
Wonderful shot. Keep up the good work.
Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments
Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on July 8, 2012 at 2:06 PM
A tough bird to properly expose. I agree with Steve that a tough more sharpening might bring out some more detail, but it's very good as posted.
Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on July 8, 2012 at 2:33 PM
A bit more "structure" from Viveza, and more sharpening:
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on July 8, 2012 at 2:34 PM
A bit more "structure" from Viveza, and more sharpening:
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by Howard Cheek on July 8, 2012 at 6:02 PM
Good job on this "far from easy" type of shooting Sandy, but everyone's looking for a higher degree of sharpness in these flight shots.
In all candor, I would not attempt this shot with the settings you used.
It will not matter how well you're AF system's working for you, if the settings are not optimized of course.
Overall I do like this, well done :wavey:

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments
Comment posted by May Haga on July 9, 2012 at 4:05 PM
Lovely flight shot Sandy.
May
Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments