MikeBl Loc: USA

They are hard to resist in the spring!

Red-winged blackbird - male (Agelaius phoeniceus)
W. Kentucky, USA - 4/2/2018
Please view in full screen for best detail.

Red-winged blackbird

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WorldTraveler1204

I really love the colors and emotion shown from the bird. I believe that he has a grainyness to him that gives the picture quality.

Let me guess your settings
F stop 5.2
Shutter speed 1/250
ISO 1600?
Shot on a tripod?

Also, tell me if my critique is wrong ( I honestly am trying to learn and get better not trying to be harsh)

From what “composition” teaches us wouldn’t it have been a bit better to give the bird more space on the left side? Also, maybe waiting for the bird to eat a worm or interact with other birds might have lent him some more action in the shot?

I am quite new to photography, and I am trying to learn. I hope I haven’t offended you with my thoughts.

Thanks,
Stephen.

MikeBl Loc: USA

Thanks Stephen.

Canon 7d Mark II
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens

F 5.6
ISO 1250
Shutter speed 1/800 sec.
@340mm

The shot was made leaning against a tree for support, hand held. The bird was moving and the light was poor. Weather was dark, overcast, with a light rain.

Yes, you are probably correct if the over-all look is the objective. A failing most bird photographers have is making the photo all about the bird. True in this case as well.

WorldTraveler1204

Thanks for the reply!

I see that a lot of people shoot in 5.6 for bird shots why is this?

I am sure to freeze motion you picked 1/800 and the shot probably didn’t have the best lighting which is why the ISO was boosted up to 1250.

One more question. Do people who shoot birds often use photo editing software to bump up colors ect?

MikeBl Loc: USA

If I use 5.6, and I often do, it's to get a good bokeh. Again, it's all about the bird. Also, the widest setting on most 400 or larger lens, at distance, is even less. (smaller aperture)

Yes, with the 400 mm lens the effective focal length on a crop sensor camera is 640 mm or so. I really try not to go under that in shutter speed, if possible. Again, in this case the bird was moving, and it was effectively a hand-held shot.

Again, the dark weather conditions forced the higher ISO, which is common in daybreak shooting. If anything, it probably needed to be a bit higher.

Yes, there is noise, but I see that as the price of getting the shot. I do the best I can to work with it, and beyond that, I live with it.

Shooting a black bird can make it difficult to get texture.

All my pictures are edited in Adobe Lightroom cc, but not necessarily just for color.

PS - No offense taken at all. I'm still learning, like you!

Swamp-Cork Loc: Lanexa, Virginia

Excellent set, Mike and wondered how long it took you to get this one?

MikeBl Loc: USA

I spent most of a morning playing in the rain.... LOL

Thanks!

rrayr2002 Loc: New Jersey

Wildlife can be difficult to capture. Birds on the other hand can be 10x more difficult. They do not stay put very long so lots of times you have to just take what they give you.

MikeBl Loc: USA

So very true!

rrayr2002 Loc: New Jersey

If you use auto iso you can set your shutter speed and f stop where you want and the iso will adjust for the proper exposure. Sometimes what you see is not exactly what you get so a little pp is in order.

MikeBl Loc: USA

Thanks Ray.

I have been experimenting with Auto ISO, with mixed results. So far I'm not that impressed with it. Time will tell.