wotsmith Loc: Nashville TN

Hi Bama Texan,
In the spirit of improving your photos, I have a couple of comments. They are critical, but please don't take offense; I did not improve until others offered suggestions.

1. Inspire of numerous comments that had to be heart warming, that the photo was sharp; it is, in fact, fairly soft. Look at the edge of the eye and the little hairs that are around the bill, and you will see what I mean.
2. This photo could be improved if you had used fill flash. If you are not familiar with this for bird photograph, google "better beamer" This can give significant fill light up to a couple of hundred feet. It is only about $70 and goes on your existing flash.

Bird photography is very demanding and is not for the small budgets. I don't know what lens you were using or what f stop. I shoot mostly a 600mm f4 prime which is very expensive, but I am blessed to afford one.

So: reasons for soft photos, is not good enough lens, not micro focusing the lens to your camera. movement of the camera/too slow of shutter speed. Using F stop that is away from the lens "sweet spot". You should be attempting to place the focal spot on the eye of the bird. Hand holding for birds is not easy. It took me a year or more to start getting sharp photos from my 600 lens. Learning to "squeeze" off the shutter, rather than smashing the button helped. Using a shutter speed for the focal length of the lens. ( for 600mm I use at least 1/800 or faster - pushing the ISO if necessary. Almost all my shots are with a better beamer"

I will attach a couple of photos that were shot at Basque del Apache in NM; both were handheld with the 600mm lens and were with a better beamer and flash. Look at the area around the beak of the American Kestrel, and along the side of the head of the owl. You will see the tiny hairs in perfect focus. In each case my focus point was on the eye of the bird.

good luck and keep working to improve.
Bill Smith

(Download)


(Download)

BamaTexan Loc: Deep in the heart of Texas

Thank you very much for your critique Bill. This shot was taken when I happened to see the bird as I was driving by. I checked my rear view mirror and since the road was clear for at least half a mile I put the window down on my truck and shot the photo while the truck was running with my Tamron 150-600 shutter priority @ 1600 hand held. Again, thanks for the encouragement.

merrytexan Loc: georgia

Don't you just love it when they do that?
I love the hawk's pose and your great shot bt!

BamaTexan Loc: Deep in the heart of Texas

Thanks mt, I appreciate your compliment.