bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur

I have talked before about the "frame rate" of modern cameras; ie, the ability of the camera to take many pictures per second-in some cameras now up to 120 pictures per second. Usually this ability, "fps", is used to capture action, like birds flying. This image shows another advantage to a high fps rate. Deb took this picture of a Blonde-crested Woodpecker in SE Brazil this last summer. This species is often very wary and does not like people near. As a consequence, when this bird flew up and landed on a tree near Deb, she had to focus and shoot quickly. It was very dark-just after dawn, so her shutter speed was very slow. Ordinarily this would lead to blurry images, but she just held the shutter down and took about 25 images in just over one second. Only one of them was sharp and well focused; the others had "motion blur". Had she only shot one or two images the chances of a sharp one would have been low. Shot with a Canon R7, 100-500mm lens at 500 mm, SS 1/50, ISO 1000, f/7.1, EC of 0.3 (probably a mistake). Yes, she could have shot faster and raised her ISO, but this bird was on the side of tree only 2-3 seconds. Processed in PS, with about 50% crop.

(Download)

theaverlo Loc: Iowa

Beautiful bird! Great catch!

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Outstanding. I have often used the same technique to acquire a sharp image.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Your wife deserves the prize of the year!!! Outstanding photo!!!
I use high frame rate too sometimes, but rarely. With flighty birds, often! And birds in flight.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Looks like a wild morph Pileated ! Thanks for the tip and sharing - GREAT catch !

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Excellent result!

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

NMGal Loc: NE NM

Really nice capture.

Barn Owl

bajadreamer, Thanks for your post and the details on how the photos were taken. It was a good review for those times of low light. Sometimes it is not necessary to push the speed so high with the high level digital cameras. Plus, the key word was Quick.

cahale Loc: San Angelo, TX

First time I've seen a woodpecker that color. Thanks for the (excellent) post.

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Never, ever seen on of these - and you took a fantabulous shot

Sinewsworn Loc: Port Orchard, WA

Great shot! Spray and pray. Used that in Vietnam. Used that technique but got tired of buying back-up drives.

CCPhotoist Loc: Cape Cod

Great shot! I love the rapid fire option.

raymondh Loc: Walker, MI

Yes and yes!

DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

Beautiful shot! Excellent photography!