Post your best bird shots!

[Richard Lane]

Here is another from today. There are a lot of Sand Cranes in the fields this year, but it has been difficult getting a decent shot.


7D, 100-400L. f/7.1, 1/320 sec


Edit: Looking at this post, I did not like the bokeh with the Sand Cranes... so I spent some time in PP to clean up the background, and re-posted. I think I like this much better. I am have a lot of problems with AF and Bokeh with my 100-400L when shooting birds in corn fields. There is so much clutter in the background that it confuses the AF and the picture turns out so cluttered. If anyone has any suggestions, I would be glad to here from you.

Hi Conropl,



<div>


I think the background looks fine. The main critique that I would say is to try and not cut the feet off. Their head is in the Sun, and their body is in the shade, so that also makes it a difficult shot. The eyes are not that sharp, so you could try and steady your camera with a monopod, and/or use a higher shutter speed and ISO, if they are not standing still.


If you're finding it difficult to AF, you could try and lock AF with the center point (there may be different techniques available to you depending on what body you are using) on the red and white portion of their head to create an easier contrast point for the AF system, and then recompose.


Rich
</div>

[MikeG2012]

Rich, thanks for the tips. Having more room in the frame would have been nice, but the barrel on the 100-400 sticks a bit so adjusting zoom while doing a handheld shot isn

[Richard Lane]

I honestly think that if you held the camera horizontal instead of vertical, then you would have nailed all of the shots in camera, because the focusing and exposures look good!


What.., no Myrtle Beach Babes to practice on? [:P]


Rich

[MikeG2012]

I honestly think that if you held the camera horizontal instead of vertical, then you would have nailed all of the shots in camera, because the focusing and exposures look good!


What.., no Myrtle Beach Babes to practice on? [img]/emoticons/emotion-4.gif[/img]


Rich

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!





Mike

[conropl]

Here is another from today. There are a lot of Sand Cranes in the fields this year, but it has been difficult getting a decent shot.


7D, 100-400L. f/7.1, 1/320 sec


Edit: Looking at this post, I did not like the bokeh with the Sand Cranes... so I spent some time in PP to clean up the background, and re-posted. I think I like this much better. I am have a lot of problems with AF and Bokeh with my 100-400L when shooting birds in corn fields. There is so much clutter in the background that it confuses the AF and the picture turns out so cluttered. If anyone has any suggestions, I would be glad to here from you.
<div style="CLEAR: both"]</div>

Hi Conropl,



<div>


I think the background looks fine. The main critique that I would say is to try and not cut the feet off. Their head is in the Sun, and their body is in the shade, so that also makes it a difficult shot. The eyes are not that sharp, so you could try and steady your camera with a monopod, and/or use a higher shutter speed and ISO, if they are not standing still.


If you're finding it difficult to AF, you could try and lock AF with the center point (there may be different techniques available to you depending on what body you are using) on the red and white portion of their head to create an easier contrast point for the AF system, and then recompose.


Rich
</div>



<div style="CLEAR: both"]</div>

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

[Richard Lane]

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

[Richard Lane]

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

[bob williams]

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!

Rich, no flash on these shots, I just set up my bird feeders and perches to take advantage of the setting sun.


Thanks,


Bob

[conropl]

I hope you find this constructive, as it was intended!


Rich
<div style="CLEAR: both"]</div>

Rich:


I never thought you were doing anything but being constructive, and I appreciate the time you have taken to help me out.


I was shooting with a 7D and the lens was at 400mm (ISO 400, I usually do not go above 800). I usually do not have a problem getting focus when I am shooting around water or even in a wooded area, but is this case I am shooting with a background that is close to the same color, and higher contrasting shapes than the subject. When I can get the time I will take a couple of sample shots to show you what I am talking about. I took a few shots today in good light with the center spot on the head - I pulled it up on DPP to show the focus point was on the head, but every shot was totally blurred unless I focused on the body (so none of the spot can pick up the background). However, you do make a lot of good points that I will try out.


Again, thank you for your time... I do appreciate the comments.


Pat

[Richard Lane]

My Pleasure!


Good Luck,


Rich