vicksart Loc: Novato, CA -earthquake country

I took these this morning around 9:45. There was quite a variety of water birds at this location.

I tried a different setting on the camera, one that allowed me to set aperture and shutter speed but let the camera pick the ISO. It may have been a bad choice. These are also cropped quite a bit since I couldn't get as close as I would have liked with my 300mm lens.

Please let me know if you have any suggestions. Thanks -Vicki

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Parting Pano - just for fun

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

Hi Vicki! Auto ISO is a valuable addition to your tool box for use in certain situations. I use it when I have birds in Flight that may be moving in and out of the shadows or when the light is likely to change frequently like on a partly cloudy day. It allows you to fix an appropriate shutter speed and aperture and let the camera chose an ISO to achieve correct exposure.

In the case of the Pelican, you were dealing with backlighting with the light reflecting off the water. Here, any AUTO type setting is likely to be fooled. It was a situation that needed about 1 or 1 1/2 stops of + EV...Exposure compensation. But here's the rub, many cameras do not give you that option with auto ISO! it only works with Aperture priority, shutter priority and some of the "Creative" zone settings. Some of the other photos, like #5 and #6 would have benefitted from a little more exposure also but the light there was difficult and you have high contrast subjects. Getting the shadows right may have blown out the whites. Sometimes you just can't get everything in balance. It is also why I chose not to shoot in the middle of the day or if I can't get the sun behind me.

If you don't know the species, here they are: #1 American White Pelican, #2,3,4,5: Black-necked Stilt, #5, 6 American Avocet, #7 Is a Dowitcher (either short-billed or Long Billed. Too tough to tell apart), #8 Hard to tell but possibly Gadwall.

Great effort under tough conditions! Keep shooting and you will soon learn to recognize those lighting situations where you have to make special adjustments.

Ed

globetrekker Loc: Bend, OR

I especially like #3.

We all need to post as often as we can so we can keep getting these awesome mini-tutorials from birdpix. :D

Joe F.N. Loc: Oshawa, Ontario

Setting your camera that was NOT a bad choice, Vicki. As a matter of fact these are some of your best pictures, to date. Look how well your Dowitcher in flights turned out. Absolutely love #2 and #4. You've done very well here.

vicksart Loc: Novato, CA -earthquake country

You are extremely helpful and informative, and I appreciate it. I feel like I've learned more on the UHH forum in the last two months than in all of the years of owning a camera combined. A big thank you!!!

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

Joe, Thanks for piping in! I get lonely here in the BIF/BOW forum. We need a variety of viewpoints and you are an accomplished wildlife photographer who can really add to the discussion.

You're right, Vicki has been getting better and better with each post. Thanks again for commenting.

vicksart Loc: Novato, CA -earthquake country

You are so right. I think we all learn from the experts through each others mistakes (and successes). Sometimes it seems like a lot to comprehend - these cameras are so complex once you quit using auto for everything. :-)

Thank you for looking and commenting, too.

vicksart Loc: Novato, CA -earthquake country

You've made my day Joe. It's photographers like you who keep the bar raised and give the rest of us goals to shoot (quite literally) for. Thank you sooo much.

oldmalky Loc: West Midlands,England.

I am certainly no expert so i can only comment on what i like or dont like, your pictures i like very much thanks for posting.

vicksart Loc: Novato, CA -earthquake country

Thanks so much for the kind words. I have much to learn and have been taking many baby steps along the way.