Trials & Tribulations

[Chrissy]

I was reading Alan's review of the D40 and was interested to hear that he sometimes puts his camera onto sport mode to get some good results. I confess to having done so too, especially when a big buzzard flew over my head and I didn't want to miss a series of shots.
An excellent photographer also talked me through spot light metering which really seems to have helped my shots in the trees.
I purchased my camera a couple of months ago and am I am using manual mode a lot more lately and I am gradually getting more confident with it but I do think bird photography can be very challenging.
Lesson 1
The one that miffed me the most was I set my camera up and was taking photographs of all the geese and ducks down the river when the Mandarin swam past. But, to get a good shot I needed to go to the other side of the bridge. I didn't even notice that the other side was in shadow and all my close ups came out uselessly dark, doh! First lesson learnt, look at the viewer every so often!!

[iclyne]

That's easy done in all the excitement. Check the histogram after the first shot and that will give you an idea, it should be to the right of centre. Shooting in raw can help as there is the chance of pulling something back in the software after but this means more work at the PC.
If you can get it right in camera that's best.
Iain.

[alanjns]

That's what has been my problem too, forgetting that I've set the camera for such and such, and then moving on to a different environment and getting terrible photo's because I haven't changed the camera settings. It's usually the exposure compensation for me, as I'm trying to get detail of birds way up in the trees against the light.

I started off using the programmed auto settings and just tweaking things a little here and there. This was 'ok' for the majority of the time, but I needed faster shutter speed for birds in flight. Then I began to use the camera in sports mode and I'm happier with the results.

I think for my bird watching, this is best for me, I've lost too many opportunities by fiddling about with the camera.

[iclyne]

The main thing Alan is that you are happy with the shots you get and if you find sports mode works then use it.
Iain

[clydebirder]

Originally Posted by Chrissy

I was reading Alan's review of the D40 and was interested to hear that he sometimes puts his camera onto sport mode to get some good results. I confess to having done so too, especially when a big buzzard flew over my head and I didn't want to miss a series of shots.
An excellent photographer also talked me through spot light metering which really seems to have helped my shots in the trees.
I purchased my camera a couple of months ago and am I am using manual mode a lot more lately and I am gradually getting more confident with it but I do think bird photography can be very challenging.
Lesson 1
The one that miffed me the most was I set my camera up and was taking photographs of all the geese and ducks down the river when the Mandarin swam past. But, to get a good shot I needed to go to the other side of the bridge. I didn't even notice that the other side was in shadow and all my close ups came out uselessly dark, doh! First lesson learnt, look at the viewer every so often!!

I often put my camera in Av mode and set the f stop I want to use and the camera adjusts the shutter speed. This saves any problems with taking photos in different lighting situations. The problem with sports mode is that the camera often selects a high ISO setting which brings with it noise problems in the images. I very rarely use higher than 200 ISO to ensure I get the best quality shots I can
A tripod also is a great asset, they can be cumbersome to carry around but they realy do make a difference

cheers, John

[alanjns]

Has anyone got any tips or advice for photographing birds against the sun.

I'm often out in bright, sunny conditions and find that I have a photo opportunity, but shooting into the light. My picture of the Long tailed tit at Mere Sands Wood for example.

I've tried dropping the exposure compensation before, but it doesn't always give great results.

Best wishes,

Alan

[clydebirder]

Originally Posted by alanjns

Has anyone got any tips or advice for photographing birds against the sun.

I'm often out in bright, sunny conditions and find that I have a photo opportunity, but shooting into the light. My picture of the Long tailed tit at Mere Sands Wood for example.

I've tried dropping the exposure compensation before, but it doesn't always give great results.

Best wishes,

Alan

Hi Alan

the best tip is, don't shoot in to the sun. It will mean missing some opportunities but will also help stop you getting shots you are not happy with.
If you do take photo's of backlit subjects then spot metering mode is essential, this will only work well if you are very close to the subject though. The only other way is by using exposure compensation which takes a lot of trial and error to get right though.
I very rarely even try to take images of birds if they are backlit as they are very frustrating and I never really get usable images

Cheers, John

[alanjns]

Thanks John,

I'd guessed as much at the answer, but I just don't want to miss that shot!

[MatthewSLR]

Hi Alan,

For shots into bright or sunny skies, where possible and as long as you can get within a decent distance.
Try taking the exposure of the sky and using flash to light the subject, in most DSLR's this can be done within a few seconds.
This means your background won't be blown out and you get a decent exposure on the subject.

Only down side is alot of birds in the wild may get spooked, so you may only get one or two chances.

Hope this helps some what.

[clydebirder]

Originally Posted by MatthewSLR

Hi Alan,

For shots into bright or sunny skies, where possible and as long as you can get within a decent distance.
Try taking the exposure of the sky and using flash to light the subject, in most DSLR's this can be done within a few seconds.
This means your background won't be blown out and you get a decent exposure on the subject.

Only down side is alot of birds in the wild may get spooked, so you may only get one or two chances.

Hope this helps some what.

You would have to get very close for that, the built in flash on DSLR's isn't that great. From experience you are likely to only get once chance at it as the birds usualy fly off

cheers, John