Flying grouse pic..

[Chenango Dave]

These things are fast - I mean real fast. I'm surprised I even got him in the viewfinder of the camera. A little out of focus - not sure if its from the movement or that I was out of focus. Any ideas? I was using 1/1250 and ISO 400 if I remember right. Neat pic anyway.

Then I saw a redtail looking for lunch on my way home.

 

[clutchkiller]

Nice catch with both of these! The grouse doesn't look too bad... tree branches will play some nasty tricks with your AF when you are trying to focus on a small object like a bird.

I got a red-tail the day before yesterday, yours turned out much nicer.

 

[Hideandwatch]

Nice shots dave.I can never get close enough to a hawk.

 

[clutchkiller]

Hey Dave, something I think I have forgotten to mention... On all of the photography boards that I check out, the really good bird photographers always say to focus on the birds eye... and if it's possible, focus on the eye-ring (the fleshy ring that circles their eye's). It's not possible to do with birds that are moving around, but it really works good on getting birds in focus that are sitting still.

 

[Chenango Dave]

Thanks Hideandwatch and Clutchkiller,

I know what your talkin about Paul, but with both of these pics I barely had enough time to get the camera pointed at them, let alone concentrate on where I would focus. Thanks for the tip - I'll have to remember that when I do get the rare opportunity.

Another question for you - on all your flying duck pics - whats your highest shutter speed and ISO setting?
I'm just curious cause I've taken quite a few flying bird pics so far and they never seem to come out frozen - always blurred. Fastest shutter I've used is 1/1250 - and ISO 800 .Is that too slow? I just trying to whittle out if its my settings that are causing this or is it poor focus / camera holding technique. ( or combo of em all). Your duck pics are comming out great.

 

[clutchkiller]

Dave, this is what I usually do for ducks (The lens I use is a f/4, with the 1.4X TC it's a f/5.6). I will usually start shooting with my aperture at f/5.6 and my ISO speed at 400, I will adjust my shutter speed according to my exposure meter. If the shutter speed is high enough, I will lower my ISO, and if I'm still getting good speed I will set my aperture to f/6.3 so my lens is not wide open. Shooting over water DOF is not too big of an issue. With ducks, I've found that a shutter speed of 1/1600th of a sec is fast enough to stop motion blur. Sometimes I have to raise my ISO, but not too often shooting like this.

With small birds in tree's or on land, DOF becomes a bigger issue. I will usually start with my aperture at f/8 and my ISO at 400, most of the time I will have to increase my ISO to get a higher shutter speed (the higher aperture number, the less light your lens will allow in). With a busy background you will want a shallow DOF, so it's going to be harder to get faster shutter speeds because your aperture should be somewhere between f/8 and f/11. With small birds you are probably going to need a shutter speed closer to 1/2000th of a sec or faster to completely stop motion blur.

If I remember correctly, your lens is a f/2.8. I don't have a lens that fast so I'm only guessing that the next stop is something like f/3.5. Try starting with your aperture one stop from f/2.8 (f/3.5) and your ISO at 400, and this should allow you to shoot with a pretty fast shutter speed. If your images are overexposed increase your shutter speed some more... and lower your ISO if you can. If they are still coming out overexposed, raise your aperture number one stop at a time until you get a nice even exposure. You will have to play around to get the settings you will be comfortable with.

It can be frustrating learning, and it can also be a whole lot of fun. Two weeks ago, I couldn't tell the difference between an oldsquaw hen or drake when they came rocketing up the river... I would just point my camera in their direction and start shooting hoping for the best... now I pass on the hens unless I know I'll get a pretty good shot.

If anyone wants to correct anything I've typed here... PLEASE DO! I'm still learning myself.

 

[Chenango Dave]

Thank you very much Paul for taking the time to explain to me your process. It makes total sense to me now. So far all I have been using is Shutter priority and letting the camera pic the aperature. You have given me some new ideas and I very much appreciate it. Now to get out there and give it a try. Good Pics to follow I hope.