First Attempt to "stop that bird"
Feb 4, 2018 22:38:26 #
SheilaG
Loc: Central Arkansas
Today was a strange day, heavy clouds most of the day and occasional filtered sun and plenty of wind to keep my sock feeder swinging. Well that and these silly Gold Finches (don't have their spring color yet) and Pine Siskins, flitting around.
I wanted to figure out how to stop them in flight, didn't quite get there but had fun trying.
Funny thing was to see the positions these birds get into just before landing, sometimes with their wings closed and feet pulled in. And they were fighting like a bunch of hummingbirds!! Too much fun.
One picture has a Gold Finch that i thought was sitting on a perch, but no perch there he was about to land on a Pine Siskin!
I did not know how to lighten them up w/o making it look worse.
I wanted to figure out how to stop them in flight, didn't quite get there but had fun trying.
Funny thing was to see the positions these birds get into just before landing, sometimes with their wings closed and feet pulled in. And they were fighting like a bunch of hummingbirds!! Too much fun.
One picture has a Gold Finch that i thought was sitting on a perch, but no perch there he was about to land on a Pine Siskin!
I did not know how to lighten them up w/o making it look worse.
Feb 4, 2018 22:44:35 #
Feb 4, 2018 22:45:50 #
Feb 4, 2018 23:15:40 #
You did capture some of them in flight. Did you have the camera in continuous mode in order in capture multiple images of them in flight? You said that you would like to lighten them up w/o making it look worse. I don't know what you mean by that.
Feb 4, 2018 23:21:34 #
SheilaG
Loc: Central Arkansas
CO wrote:
You did capture some of them in flight. Did you have the camera in continuous mode in order in capture multiple images of them in flight? You said that you would like to lighten them up w/o making it look worse. I don't know what you mean by that.
I did have it set in continuous mode to catch them flying. My first images the wings were really blurry, had my ISO set too low. After adjusting it a couple of times, I was able to get the motion stopped a little better.
I just thought the ones taken while really cloudy were a bit dark, but when the sun peeked thru the clouds there was a little more lite, so those came out with a bit more color in the backgroud. When I tried to lighten the dark ones it seemed to make the white blow out in the bird markings. I have Lightroom but not well versed in it. I use it for basic things.
So much to learn, so little time!!
Feb 4, 2018 23:29:55 #
Feb 4, 2018 23:32:34 #
Very nice, Sheila. I'm sure, with a foundation such as you've shown, you'll be posting envious photos additional to these.
--Bob
--Bob
SheilaG wrote:
Today was a strange day, heavy clouds most of the ... (show quote)
Feb 4, 2018 23:38:20 #
jnurm99
Loc: Clarkston, Michigan
What about using shutter priority with the shutter speed set to the max and iso set to auto?
Feb 4, 2018 23:40:33 #
SheilaG
Loc: Central Arkansas
rmalarz wrote:
Very nice, Sheila. I'm sure, with a foundation such as you've shown, you'll be posting envious photos additional to these.
--Bob
--Bob
Thank you for the encouragement Bob. Oh, I see so many pictures here that I just love, not to mention getting to visit all the awesome places they come from. I'll be here in Arkansas for a while, so woodland animals, landscapes, waterfalls and some of my Quilts of Valor award ceremonies will be plenty to keep me busy and learning different techniques.
There is a couple of bobcats that I keep hearing about that live on the creek and when it warms up I want to try to catch them out of one of the deer stands out there... Just too cold at the moment and I need a little longer lens... but we will get there.
Feb 5, 2018 00:53:43 #
Shoot in manual mode. Must be in continuous focus priority. Shutter speed minimum 1/1000, faster if still any blur. Lense wide open. ISO auto with a high maximum limit i.e., 6400. You want to shoot a fast as possible, with your camera, burst. (Great pics with single shots are almost impossible, and you will delete more than you keep). Idea here is you are controlling shutter speed and aperture and letting auto ISO control exposure. If you are in bright light you will have to increase shutter speed and/or go higher on f stop to balance exposure. Always try to keep the ISO as low as practical by adjusting aperture while maintaining shutter speed at least high enough to freeze the subjects. With practice you will get understanding and the best results your camera will allow. Have fun!
Feb 5, 2018 03:50:15 #
Feb 5, 2018 07:21:16 #
That's a strange looking feeder. It looks like those holes are really small.
Feb 5, 2018 09:18:06 #
SheilaG
Loc: Central Arkansas
fourg1b2006 wrote:
That's a strange looking feeder. It looks like those holes are really small.
Yes, it is made to feed Thistle or Niger seeds to Finches. Very tiny and slim seeds.
The birds are so funny at these feeders. The Gold Finches and Pine Siskins can/will feed upside down. A few other small birds can feed upside down. But the Thistle seed is one that the Finches and Pine Siskin really love. They make tube feeders with the perch above the feeding hole, so that only birds that can hang upside down to eat will use the feeder (no starlings).
I have other feeders where a few bigger birds can eat, we get Mourning Doves, Cardinals, Blue Jays, different Woodpeckers. Their habits are different, usually eat a seed or two then pick one up and fly into the trees to eat in cover and then come back.
It is a pretty good buffet for them. But, the local hawks look at the entire situation as a pretty good buffet as well.... Only not for seeds.
Feb 5, 2018 09:31:59 #
SheilaG
Loc: Central Arkansas
sholland98 wrote:
Shoot in manual mode. Must be in continuous focus ... (show quote)
Thank you for such precise settings to use. I hope there is some sun out today and I will be out there trying this out! Have a page set up in OneNote on my phone for cliff notes! It's put in there for easy reference!
I'll let you know how it works out for me!
Feb 5, 2018 11:42:44 #
I use manual when shooting birds at the feeder - 1/1000 - 1/1250 shutter speed, f/8 for adequate depth, and an ISO which gives a couple stops above the middle line for enough brightness, and continuous burst. Out of 100 pictures I keep about a dozen or so that are interesting - I shoot through the kitchen window and keep my camera close at hand. Your shots are very nice, BTW.
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