TommyBoy

I took this picture this morning using a Nikon D600, 1/640s @ f6.3 using a 24-85mm Zoom at 85mm, ISO 250. The bird took up about 10% of the frame so this is a crop. It was a tough shot as the bird was moving fast and I wasn't really ready for it. I would appreciate comments on whether the blurred wings, due to motion are a bad thing or whether a faster shutter speed would be more appealing. Other comment or suggestions are welcome. My first post so be gentle :)

Woodpecker

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Beauty!
:thumbup:

BigBear Loc: Northern CT

Really nice shot !!
Judging by the bird I would say you are in the west.

snails_pace Loc: Utah

Very nice picture of what I think is a Northern Flicker. Especially since it was a quick reflex photo.

Just a few personal thoughts -

The eye is in sharp focus ... the most important thing for a wildlife photo

The wing blur is probably coming from two things - speed of the wing tip and depth of field from getting the eye in focus .... by accident if I get the wing tip in focus then the head is blurred and it's not a good photo

Probably a preference where you'll get a variety of responses ... the wing tip blur can add to the photo and helps give a feeling of motion .... I try to get the head in focus and then I don't care much about wing tip blur

A lot of bird photo. try for 1/1250 or 1/1000 shutter speed - and try for a min of 1/800 for low light conditions

Your D600 will give good noise free pics at much higher ISO - I can almost always clean up noise from ISO 1600 - 3200 on my D7000 - suspect your D600 is somewhat better (I'm more impressed all the time with LR4 for noise removal)

If you do a lot of bird in flight photo. against a variety of backgrounds, you might consider auto-ISO; maybe set max ISO at 3200, f/6.3 depending on your lens, shutter speed at 1/1250 min ... then you can vary these based on your experience and light conditions

Hope there are a few helpful ideas here. If you can't tell, I really like bird photography and especially bird in flight.

Once again, well done on your photo.

Oh ... do you focus with your AE-L/AF-L button on the back of your camera? May have its own button on D600? Takes some getting used to but once you try it for birds you'll never go back to using the shutter release button to lock focus ... will give more details if you're interested

GrandmaJoy Loc: North Carolina

First post is a good one. I hope you will show us more of your work.

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Great catch!!
I don't think I can move that fast......

Welcome to the forum!!
Pat

tramsey Loc: Texas

WOW, that is a great shot. We have those birds here and they are very skittish. I hear them rapping on the siding of the house. I get my camera, crack open the door and he is gone. I've tried numerous time but all I get it tail feathers going away from me. This is a really great shot.

Welcome to the forum. So far you're doing everything right shooting and posting, can't ask for more then that.

MtnMan Loc: ID

Great shot!

The blurring might be due to DOF but it does give a sense of motion. I usually use 1/1000 on BIF just to remove the camera motion blur. I'd probably be a little less severe with the crop leaving some sky for the poor guy to fly into.

NoSocks Loc: quonochontaug, rhode island

a red bellied woodpecker, male I think. wonderful shot. the wingtip blur doesn't bother me a bit.

TommyBoy

I just wanted to thank everyone for the comments and suggestions on my photo. I had my camera setup expecting to take a picture of a Stellar's Jay on the fence when suddenly the Flicker took off over head. I am always happy when I can learn something from my photos, especially if the photo has turned out reasonably well. I agree I should crank up the ISO. The D600 handles higher ISOs very well. What focal length lens would be ideal for these types of photos? With the 85mm lens it was fairly easy to locate and track the bird but with a longer lens the image would be bigger but tracking would be more difficult. I didn't use the AE-L/AF-L button on the camera but thanks for the suggestion and I will look into it.

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

Darn good shot for such a short lens. As has been pointed out, the eye is in focus and that is the most important thing. I would bring up the underside of the bird in post processing some, if possible to show the details.

When you are suddenly confronted with a situation you were not prepared for you just have to go with what you've got set on the camera and hope for the best. If you were to be prepared to shoot BIF's then I would suggest a higher ISO, maybe 800, which would allow a higher shutter speed, perhaps 1/2000 at f/8 in bright sun. BIF's of this type benefit from a longer lens. At minimun 300 mm and up to 500. Yes it is difficult to get the bird in the viewfinder. It is a matter of practice and is easier done hand held. It is much like skeet shooting.

That indeed, is a Norther Flicker, Male, Red Shafted variety from the Western States. That red moustache is only seen on the Western Male, Eastern birds have a black stache, females have no moustache. The Red-bellied Woodpecker has no moustache and the belly is clear, not spotted, and has a red wash over the lower belly.

Priest Loc: Indiana

Nice Flicker shot-those buggers are fast. Thanks for sharing. Ron

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Definitely a Northern Flicker. Good catchlight in eye. An outstanding shot.

richardh76 Loc: VT, Central, Champlain Valley

I personally don't mind the blurr on the wings. As someone else mentioned, since the eye is in focus, the image is good. Since you have the red shafts showing on the ventral side of the primary wing feathers, the bird is a Western Northern Flicker, used to be called a Red-shafted Flicker. I'd be very happy with this shot, especially if it is my first. Welcome to UHH!
Richard

Carolina Wings Loc: Flew from North Carolina to Pennsylvania

Kudos...great capture of a Flicker in flight...they're not easy to get!!!