Ugly Hedgehog - Photography Forum
Home Active Topics Newest Pictures Search Login Register
Photo Analysis
Help with fast flying birds
Page <<first <prev 3 of 3
Jul 28, 2015 19:08:06   #
Howard5252 Loc: New York / Florida (now)
 
lindystearns1 wrote:
Thanks for your help. I am looking into getting a better lens.

Stay with the lens you have. Based upon these photos, you haven't come anywhere near the capability of the lens. Looking for another lens is not the answer. LEARNING is the answer.

Reply
Oct 1, 2015 10:52:17   #
wotsmith Loc: Nashville TN
 
Welcome to perhaps the most demanding subset of photography: Birds in Flight!

Lots of issues: we always need a bigger (more mm) faster (lower f stop) lens than we have. Unfortunately, this calls for really high end equipment. One of your replies mentions BBF - and then servo focusing, I use the center focus point and the surrounding 8 or 9 points. That gives me a better chance of hitting the bird. I shoot a lot at high ISO; interestingly, noise on many birds does not show up much against the feathers, only bad on the background. In those, I mask the bird, denoise the background heavily and put them together.
What fun! Keep at it, your skills will improve dramatically. I would suggest a photo seminar at Bosque del Apache if you can do it. See Dougbrownphotography.com
When I do mask out a bird, I usually darken and blur the background as well
Photos shot with Canon 1DX 600mm f4.0 ISO 1200 -3200

bird masked out, background denoised darkened, blurred
bird masked out, background denoised darkened, blu...
(Download)

as shot
as shot...
(Download)

bird masked out, background denoised darkened, blurred
bird masked out, background denoised darkened, blu...
(Download)

Reply
Oct 1, 2015 11:38:40   #
Howard5252 Loc: New York / Florida (now)
 
Sometimes when you come across a bird fishing you may notice that the bird will either sit in a tree and scan the lake or do fly overs of the lake. If the bird is doing fly overs, you may notice that it flies into the wind so as to be able to fly more slowly. Take advantage of this situation. In the photo, the Osprey is practically hovering. I was able to snap off several of my best shots. I always am aware of which way the wind is blowing when I go to this lake ... always be prepared.

Osprey checking a lake for fish
Osprey checking a lake for fish...
(Download)

Reply
 
 
Oct 5, 2015 15:42:45   #
Tony.mustang
 
I'am sure you are getting a lot of input. I have a nikon d90 and if I recall to shoot something in motion and keep the image sharp you first point at the bird while it is still and half press your shutter which will focus the subject. The next step is to follow the bird in flight holding the shutter half way which will continue to focus until u press the shutter full.

Reply
Oct 25, 2015 23:50:12   #
smith934 Loc: Huntsville, Alabama
 
Tony.mustang wrote:
Hi I have a nikon d90 and I read somewhere to take birds in flight is to press your shutter half way and focus on the bird and once it goes into flight follow it which will keep the lense in focus then press the shutter button the remaining way down to take the picture. You should also use aperature priority.
You'll find that using Back Button Focusing (BBF), if the D90 can be set up for it, is much simpler and faster.

Reply
Dec 28, 2015 11:30:36   #
bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.
 
Someone above posted your metadata , Those numbers are way off for shooting birds.

Reply
Page <<first <prev 3 of 3
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.
Photo Analysis
UglyHedgehog.com - Forum
Copyright 2011-2024 Ugly Hedgehog, Inc.