Quote Originally Posted by Richard Lane


Quote Originally Posted by 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.
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Hi Conropl,



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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
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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