STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

I know this photo could/should have been better. How should my settings have been changed for this white bird?

Canon 60D; Sigma 150-500; manual mode; auto focus

1/1000; f/8; iso 200


1/1600; f/8; iso 200


1/1600; f/8; iso 200

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

My favorite settings for birding is Aperture Priority f/8 to f/9 ISO100 to ISO200 and let the shutter speed float only when enough light is available. Spot metering for all of my bird shots, this way either white or black my exposure on the subject will be correct. I think you photos look pretty good, a few hot spots in the bird, but with manual settings this is what you will get as your locked into the exposure. If you want to use manual both for DoF and Fast action/BIF maybe use spot metering as well and try auto ISO so this will float around giving the perfect exposure with DoF and freeze motion. Nothing wrong with what your doing it just takes practice to get the perfect exposure, Practice, Practice.

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

Thanks for your comments and your advise, fstop22. I usually do use spot metering when shooting birds and know I will be cropping a lot. I may have changed that for shooting some other subjects and failed to change it back -- I'll have to check my camera -- so much to remember! I'm trying to get in more practice and days as pleasant as yesterday really intensify the joy.