Posted by Barry Southon on February 27, 2009 at 7:46 AM
Spring is in the air. Just prior to departing the UK for four months visited Cuckmere Haven E Sussex.
Gulls and Egrets provided flight shots which I used the advice given previously on the forum and the results show distinct improvement and I'm really encouraged.
We encountered a number of aerobatic Skylarks enjoying the spring air. The speed and change of direction was amazing I locked on and took a few shots handheld no choice it was either grab or miss.
Very small bird flight shots are maybe a challenge too far although its a starting point to work from.
1D3 50mm-500mm 1/320 sec f/9.0 ISO400 500mm HH RAW just resized to post. Autofocus Cloudy.
If you intended for sharp shots then I’m sorry, but a mixture of being handheld and shutter speed defeated you. If your intention was for a “mood” shot, then you have done well here, and I would only suggest removing the far right bird.
Skylarks are exceptionally difficult to capture in flight, so any recognisable shot is to be commended. The speed of wing movement can be equated to that of a Hummingbird, when hovering.
When your in the states, try and find someone who has done hide/feeding station work before, I would start at the local camera club. Try and tack along and look and learn, and try and resist getting absorbed in taking photographs, believe it or not you will learn a lot more that way. If you do meet up and work with another photographer, don’t be afraid to ask WHY. For example, WHY put the feeding station there, as against over there ???
If you end up working on your own, then try and get a copy of LL Rue’s videos/DVD’s on bird photography, I think they will be a great source of information for you. Any problems let me know as I have copies, DVD’s, but they are for the European zone (2), America is zone 1.
Pity your going when you are, as I’ve just been granted permission to a prime local patch, and will be putting up a number of feeding stations and pools, assuming I can arrange for a local water supply.
If I can help in any way, just contact me, and we’ll see what we can do.
Posted by Dave Courtenay on February 27, 2009 at 11:05 AM
For birds this size you need at least 1/1000 and above if you want sharp images,F9 wont help-Go for speed so shoot wide open and use a high ISO,Your lens here may be a factor as well and a faster lens would help but dont worry as i had plenty of shots like this when i had a MK3
Discussion
2 repliesGulls and Egrets provided flight shots which I used the advice given previously on the forum and the results show distinct improvement and I'm really encouraged.
We encountered a number of aerobatic Skylarks enjoying the spring air. The speed and change of direction was amazing I locked on and took a few shots handheld no choice it was either grab or miss.
Very small bird flight shots are maybe a challenge too far although its a starting point to work from.
1D3 50mm-500mm 1/320 sec f/9.0 ISO400 500mm HH RAW just resized to post. Autofocus Cloudy.
Should my settings be elsewhere?
Advice Comment Critique most welcome
Thanks for looking
Barry
If you intended for sharp shots then I’m sorry, but a mixture of being handheld and shutter speed defeated you. If your intention was for a “mood” shot, then you have done well here, and I would only suggest removing the far right bird.
Skylarks are exceptionally difficult to capture in flight, so any recognisable shot is to be commended. The speed of wing movement can be equated to that of a Hummingbird, when hovering.
When your in the states, try and find someone who has done hide/feeding station work before, I would start at the local camera club. Try and tack along and look and learn, and try and resist getting absorbed in taking photographs, believe it or not you will learn a lot more that way. If you do meet up and work with another photographer, don’t be afraid to ask WHY. For example, WHY put the feeding station there, as against over there ???
If you end up working on your own, then try and get a copy of LL Rue’s videos/DVD’s on bird photography, I think they will be a great source of information for you. Any problems let me know as I have copies, DVD’s, but they are for the European zone (2), America is zone 1.
Pity your going when you are, as I’ve just been granted permission to a prime local patch, and will be putting up a number of feeding stations and pools, assuming I can arrange for a local water supply.
If I can help in any way, just contact me, and we’ll see what we can do.
Dave