Any advice on shooting swallows in barn please: I have a Nikon D300 and a 175 -500 lens I hope to use. The barn is open fronted and quite large and there are swallows there every year...

nanaval Loc: Cornwall

I have a Nikon D300 and a 175 -500 lens I hope to use. The barn is open fronted and quite large and there are swallows there every year and |I have permission to take pictures any time I like. Any advice on setting that I could try would be appreciated. Thanks

Papa Joe Loc: Midwest U.S.

nanaval wrote:

I have a Nikon D300 and a 175 -500 lens I hope to use. The barn is open fronted and quite large and there are swallows there every year and |I have permission to take pictures any time I like. Any advice on setting that I could try would be appreciated. Thanks

Val, if it were me, I'd shoot a few shots, study the results, then move in the direction necessary. Hard to say without knowing the lighting conditions, etc. Good luck.

Bill Houghton Loc: New York area

Papa Joe wrote:

Val, if it were me, I'd shoot a few shots, study the results, then move in the direction necessary. Hard to say without knowing the lighting conditions, etc. Good luck.

I would also want to know will I try to catch them in flight, or roosting, would they be flying towards the light, Open cracks in the wood.

I would be up there before the event, and start looking into what pictures you might want to be taking. Start with a off camera flash.

One thing you might want to keep in mind, they will fly towards the light. Meaning a light box or umbrella might confuse them in flight and cause injury.

lsaguy Loc: Udall, KS, USA

We have swallows all around our house and hangar every year. Others can give you photographic advice, but mine would be to allow plenty of time so they get used to you and talk to them keeping your voice low and steady. One year when I had to have the hangar open for most of the summer I could get within a few feet of their nest without making them fly and they would just watch as I changed covers so poop didn't stain the aircraft I was working on. It's all about getting them comfortable with your presence.

Rick

nanaval Loc: Cornwall

Papa Joe wrote:

Val, if it were me, I'd shoot a few shots, study the results, then move in the direction necessary. Hard to say without knowing the lighting conditions, etc. Good luck.

Thanks Papa Joe for your help. Appreciate it.

nanaval Loc: Cornwall

Bill Houghton wrote:

I would also want to know will I try to catch them in flight, or roosting, would they be flying towards the light, Open cracks in the wood.

I would be up there before the event, and start looking into what pictures you might want to be taking. Start with a off camera flash.

One thing you might want to keep in mind, they will fly towards the light. Meaning a light box or umbrella might confuse them in flight and cause injury.

Thanks Bill The barn is quite big and is in use, I hope to get them in flight and also try to get some of the nests with the chicks as they get older. I was hoping to get pictures without flash if there is enough light. Thanks for your help. Appreciate it

nanaval Loc: Cornwall

lsaguy wrote:

We have swallows all around our house and hangar e... (show quote)

Thanks Rick As the barn is in use and the front is open and the swallows come every year I am hoping that they will be used to people being around and not take too much notice of me. As I can go any time I thought of going a few times a week in hopes they will get used to me. Hope to get some good pictures to post. Thanks for your help. Appreciate it.