Quote:
Originally Posted by Joel Eade
This cliff is Troup Head in Aberdeenshire. It is the only gannet colony in mainland Scotland.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joel Eade
This cliff is Troup Head in Aberdeenshire. It is the only gannet colony in mainland Scotland.
Haha thats why most were vertical actually, I was getting portraits of the girls when I'd catch the gulls getting into view. I was more concerned with exposure and focus and wanted to try vertical oriented shots. Next time though!Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Lane
Mike
Wow .... my brothers and I have been planning a golf trip to Scotland for the last 4 years ... we are going in June but will be quite a bit south of Aberdeen. The way our agenda is planned I doubt I can get there but I would love to get some in flight shots of those beauties.
Here's what was around the yard today.....
Eastern Towhee
[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/8203.343V1116.jpg[/img]
Purple Finch
[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/4657.343V1092.jpg[/img]
Goldfinch
[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/6242.343V1059.jpg[/img]
Very nice shots Andy, I would guess that ISO 1600 should be no problem for your 1D IV to get the shutter speed you need. Unless you got away with that shutter speed.
John.
Great Shots as usual Joel, ---Love the purple finch. Here is what I had around the yard this afternoon----Put out some more bird feeders this weekend, hoping to attract some birds with more color.
[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/4670.IMG_5F00_1939.jpg[/img]
[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/2047.IMG_5F00_2019.jpg[/img]
[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/6116.IMG_5F00_2024.jpg[/img]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Lane
Rich:
Thanks for taking the time to help out a rookie.
The picture above has a half way decent background, but only after a lot of PP work to blur it. That shot was in mud field thatwas a little easier than a cut down corn field, but it was still difficult to focus.
The camera was semi-supported ( I had it resting onthe car window). Not the best support, but not totally hand held eather. I was set to spot focus with the center point. The single spot is bigger than the head of the bird... so it keeps picking up on the background because there is considerably more detail in the background than with the bird. I have tried "One Shot", but could never get it to lock on the head of the bird. I endedup using AI Servo and waiting for the head to come into fucus (best I could tell through the view finder) and then snapping a few shots. The problem is it is hit and miss and you never get real sharp focus at the eyes.So I ended up closing down the apiture to increase my depth of field and focused on the body, but the head was still not very sharp, and there was a lot of motion blur. Unfortunately, these cranes are pretty spooky, and are always moving.
These cranes have been showing upin the cut down corn fields by our house every spring, and this year there are more than ever. I have been trying to get a decent shot for a while now, but I have not had a lot luck with these birds.
Pat
Hey Pat,
It sounds like you have a very good approach for getting the shot.
I'm not sure what focal length you used (since it's a zoom), or the ISO ,or Camera Mode that you used?
I understand your idea of a narrower aperture to increase the DOF in order to hope for the eyes to be in focus, it seems logical and I've done this too at times! You said that you focused on the body, and the body looks a little soft too. You could also test the lens and 7D to see if your 100-400mm needs an AF Micro Adjustment. There are many threads on this. Also, if you lean on the car, then make sure that the car is off to eliminate vibrations.
But, as you are aware if you think the background was busy at f/7.1 then maybe you want to try a wider aperture to blur out the background more. Although the f/7.1 is trying to increase DOF, but it may be causinga nervous background. The wider aperture will also allow the AF system to work faster, since it is letting in more light. If these guys are moving quickly or their heads are bouncing around, then also try raising the ISO, which will allow you to raise the shutter-speed. Just be aware that opening the aperture and raising the ISO will over expose the photo, so make sure that you raise the shutter-speed enough so that the in camera light meter is in the middle if you shoot in Manual Mode, otherwise try Aperture Priority with Auto ISO and if that doesn't achieve a fast enough shutter speed (of approx. 1/800 sec) then just raise the ISO manually.
The fact that neither one of the birds heads or bodies are in the center/middle of the frame tells me that you may have missed the center AFpoint, so check the red AF mark of your images.
Also try to focus on the head of the one that is closest to you as this usually looks better if the camera nails the focus.
Do you use AF-ON back button to focus or the half-press shutter button? I like the AF-On button for moving subjects in AI servo and then I just hold that down while firing away in short bursts. Try to stay calm, support your elbows,take a deep breath,and then squeeze the shutter gently.
You won't get the focus lock confirmation beep in AI Servo. You could also use the AI Servo as a one press and then recompose. If you burst with AI Servo tracking with center-point focus, then all of your subjects will be centered in the frame and that is not always desirable. So, I try and switch my single center point to the left, right, or up or down of center, so that all my subjects are not always centered in the middle of the frame (this probably works better with f/2.8 lenses). Also be aware that if you hold down the AF-On button with center focus only and you are focusing on such a small object, then the center AF could grab the background by accident. I would also switch from spot AF to standard center or partial zone AF, since spot may be too small to track their narrow moving neck or head. If you do use AI Servo then let go of the button if you think you have aquired focus in order to avoid locking on the background. Spot AF is good for avoiding branches in a tree while hitting your small target (bird) or focusing on someones eyes inside of a helmet or between a facemask, things like that.
I hope you find this constructive, as it was intended!
Just let me know if you have any questions about any of this.
Rich
Bob, I like catch lights in the shots. Did you use a flash? Joel uses the better beamer and also gets a nice catch light too!
I like the exposure on the first one and the background is real creamy too, but I like the head angle and eye contact on the 2nd one better.
Nice shots!
Rich
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Lane
Rich, no flash on these shots, I just set up my bird feeders and perches to take advantage of the setting sun.
Thanks,
Bob