Birds in flight

[Ákos]

Originally Posted by snake

Hi Geoff F,

Thanks for the information it is very interesting.
One thing puzzles me, I understand the need for the fast shutter speed to freeze any action but I dont understand how the fast shutter speed allows for any good definition in the bird. Am I wrong in thinking that the faster shutter speed reduces the amount of light getting to the sensor and therfore would reduces the detail recorded from the subject showing little more than a silhouette.

I have an awfull lot to learn.

You compensate fast shutter speed by opening up your aperture, hence why you would need a relatively fast lens. fast lens = big aperture EG f/2.8 or f/4 as a minimum. Don't even expect to get any decent results with a typical kit lens, sorry, those are just not up to scratch at all.

If you are shooting into the light also overexpose and use flash fill, though a flash may not recycle fast enough (actually it will not) but will illuminate the subject nicely. It is easier to not use a flash at all, and in good light when the sun is behind you illuminating your subject nicely you will get some cracking images.

I personally always overexpose by at least a stop into light and use fill flash at even +1 stop.

AI-Servo focus and center AF point locked right onto the subject will work best. But I think most of this has already been covered.

[Steve S]

Several posters here have mentioned the problem with getting the correct exposure when photographing a bird that may be against the sky and then a different background a moment later. Adjusting exposure compensation under these conditions is very difficult to achieve, and I would suggest that it is the wrong way to go.

When photographing birds in flight against a changing background set your exposure mode to manual. Once you have set the correct exposure for your subject then it won't matter what background it is against, it will be exposed correctly. Of course nothing is ever as simple as we would like it to be and for this to work lighting conditions have to be steady.

You can get the correct settings by taking a few test shots and checking your histogram.

As a general rule of thumb:-

Background changing with steady lighting = manual mode
Background steady with changing lighting = auto mode (with any required compensation)
Background and lighting changing = auto mode and a bit of luck.


Steve.

[Ákos]

For example a clear blue sky I use zero comp in Av mode and evaluative metering.

You could use spot if the subject is big enough to fill most of the frame (you'd hope so) and still use Av mode. Histogram is your best friend. Use it! Totally agree there.

I have read that manual mode is also great, never bothered with it though.

[manc]

some great advice hear. I wouldn't say there is a right or a wrong way, Av, Tv, Man as long as you understand what you are changing at the effect those changes will have on your photo.

The key thing is practise and get comfortable with you camera operation and changing settings whilst "in action", its fine sat at home changing settings but when your out there and the pressure is on, thats the key! most of all enjoy! Look forward to seeing more of your shots!

Ian