Shooting Soaring Birds- Lighting.
Mar 10, 2015 19:39:59 #
Mar 10, 2015 19:41:17 #
Strix wrote:
I always overexpose any BIF photo, as the much lighter sky background 'washes' out any reliable meter reading (reads - expose the sky properly, not the darker BIF). Set your exposure compensation to +1, shoot several shots, and adjust accordingly. Keep practicing!
Good Luck -
Strix.
Good Luck -
Strix.
Thanks, I hope to practice this weekend weather permitting...
Mar 10, 2015 19:44:27 #
Tracht3 wrote:
My guess is its a turkey vulture. My guess is that you are shooting on A or S mode when you should be on Manual. Shutter speed should be about 1000 to 1250 for this type of bird. Get aperture around 8. Next adjust iso accordingly. Play with iso to make the shot. Remember too open a shot can give you a soft dof. Too much iso leads to noise.
I've been shooting aperture priority a lot lately, but I was shooting manual that day. Thanks for the tips.
Mar 15, 2015 07:27:50 #
paulrph1
Loc: Washington, Utah
parsons1 wrote:
How do you get lighting on the underside of the bird when shooting up,
Is it just being in the right spot when you shoot or
Shooting when the light is behind you shining straight on the bird ?
I've shoot from the side and had good results, but every time I try shooting a soaring bird from underneath.. this is the results I get.
Thanks in advance for any and all comments and tips.
Is it just being in the right spot when you shoot or
Shooting when the light is behind you shining straight on the bird ?
I've shoot from the side and had good results, but every time I try shooting a soaring bird from underneath.. this is the results I get.
Thanks in advance for any and all comments and tips.
Check your camera setting. Look at the sky it is gray. Was it really that dark? Since you are photographing the bird the exposure should on the bird
Mar 16, 2015 22:32:15 #
As mentioned, up your exposure compensation to get more detail under the birds wings but the sky will likely blow out.
Another approach is if you use Lightroom, you can use you adjustment brush to increase the exposure of of just the birds underside to bring out the detail. Then you can open the color sider, click on the vibrance tool and bring down the vibrance of the sky until it is a rich blue. Sometimes it is difficult to get it right only in camera.
Another approach is if you use Lightroom, you can use you adjustment brush to increase the exposure of of just the birds underside to bring out the detail. Then you can open the color sider, click on the vibrance tool and bring down the vibrance of the sky until it is a rich blue. Sometimes it is difficult to get it right only in camera.
Mar 21, 2015 02:44:47 #
parsons1 wrote:
I've been shooting aperture priority a lot lately, but I was shooting manual that day. Thanks for the tips.
Manual exposure is the right thing. But expose for a grey card to get the bird properly exposed and accept the blown out sky.
Mar 31, 2015 19:14:16 #
[quote=parsons1]How do you get lighting on the underside of the bird when shooting up,
In general, if the bird is going to be dark against the background (sky) I set Exposure Compensation [EV on a Nikon] on +2. Try +1 and view the results; it looks to me like +2 will be good for you. Shoot using Aperture Preferred [I use f8 or 11]. This will force the camera to adjust the shutter speed. If this becomes too slow - up the ISO. If you have any questions, send me a PM.
In general, if the bird is going to be dark against the background (sky) I set Exposure Compensation [EV on a Nikon] on +2. Try +1 and view the results; it looks to me like +2 will be good for you. Shoot using Aperture Preferred [I use f8 or 11]. This will force the camera to adjust the shutter speed. If this becomes too slow - up the ISO. If you have any questions, send me a PM.
Apr 1, 2015 09:33:21 #
Expose the sky, then set exp comp to +2 or +3. That usually does the trick. If more is needed reduce shadow in post.
Here's an example against a clear noon sky.
Here's an example against a clear noon sky.
Apr 1, 2015 10:36:35 #
PaulRPH1 had it right. I should have noticed. Your (the camera's focus) was somewhere on the sky. This gave you the classic Gray - your meter worked perfectly. TIP: try to wait for the bird to get larger in your viewfinder ... I KNOW,I KNOW, it may never happen. The fact is, the smaller the bird in the finder, the harder it will be to get a properly exposed shot. As an example I posted two photos w/o any cropping. The birds were large enough for me to focus on. The Osprey has no compensation and because the Eagle has an essentially dark body I use +2 when photographing them. The Eagle was much farther away than the Osprey. Notice the sky in both photos.
Apr 1, 2015 15:55:05 #
Howard5252 wrote:
Your (the camera's focus) was somewhere on the sky. This gave you the classic Gray - your meter worked perfectly. photos.
Sorry, I slipped into B/W mode there.
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.