Post Your Best Nature Shots!

[George Slusher]

"Thanks for viewing and I would really apprieciate your comments."


Wow! Is that a sufficient comment?

[Sinh Nhut Nguyen]

Thank you George,


I went out to shoot some ospreys, most of the birds have gone to breed except this youngter. For this image I like how he holds the fish, looks like he's holding a hoagie.


Thanks for viewing and I really appreciate your comments and critiques.


40D, 400 f/5.6L, f/7.1, 1/1250sec., ISO 320, Exp. Comp. +1, highlight tone priority. The white bg is the overcast sky.


larger version: http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=9080703&size=lg

[Oren]

Hey Nhut, great shot as always... can you send me the original of this (above) picture? But please don't resize it. If the original is RAW, just convert it to jpeg - but please don't resize.


BTW, I was at a park yesterday and tried to shoot *flying* birds for the first time with my new 50D. 99% of what I got doesn't worth it, but I've got 1 or 2 reasonable (relatively speaking) pictures. All I've got right now is the 17-85, so I zoomed all the way in and tried to do the best that I could. Unfortunately, I did 2 serious mistake:


1. I put the AF on AI Focus instead of AI Servo (I was sure I was shooting with AI Servo)


2. After getting dark birds, I thought "well the problem is the sky so I might just switch to spot metering" - but today I read a little bit about bird photography and realized the mistake I did... there is no way that the spot metering will work with such small birds flying at damn high speed very high in the sky LOL [:P]





So Nhut (or anyone else who photograph birds), do you have any suggestions of what are the ideal camera settings for shooting flying birds high at the sky? (except to getting a longer lens lol)


As I see it now, I **guess** that I should use (I assume shooting outside with daylight):


1. Av mode


2. Evaluative metering


3. AI Servo


4. Adjust the exposure compensation to at least +1





But what about the aperture?


What is the minimal shutter speed needed to freeze the bird?


Should I turn on highlight tone priority?


Should I use continuous shooting or single?

[devsalvi]

Hi Oren,


I think the camera automatically switches from the AI Focus mode to AI servo mode when it senses moving objects based on the focus point.


Some tips:


High ISO, Tv mode -shutter speed: 1/500 atleast (varies on the available light), high speed continuous shooting.


Finally a USM L telephoto lens for a very good reason. They focus very quickly and accurately.


some samples.[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.24.65/Orlando_5F00_wetlands010.JPG[/img]





Model:Canon EOS 40D
ISO:400
Exposure:1/2000 sec
Aperture:6.3
Focal Length:400mm


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.24.65/Orlando_5F00_wetlands024.JPG[/img]


Model:Canon EOS 40D
ISO:250
Exposure:1/2000 sec
Aperture:5.6
Focal Length:400mm

[Jayson]

Here are a couple I snapped a couple days ago while taking the kids for theirride (I was parked when I took them). I had to take them out the window so they are not that crisp. Did a little bit of sharpening on the last two. All were taken with an XSi, 70-200mm f4 @ f5.6with a kenko 1.4 extender, iso 100. First one was approx 100mm and the other two were at 280mm. The last two were heavily cropped. Could someone tell me what the white bird is...I think it is some type of Heron. ???


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.23.64/2009_5F00_04_5F00_27_5F00_IMG_5F00_0574.jpg[/img]


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.23.64/2009_5F00_04_5F00_27_5F00_IMG_5F00_0713.jpg[/img]


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.23.64/2009_5F00_04_5F00_27_5F00_IMG_5F00_0714.jpg[/img]

[EdN]

Here are some various bird shots, taken over the last few days. [img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.22.66/IMG_5F00_6057cr.jpg[/img]


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.22.66/IMG_5F00_6168cr.jpg[/img]


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.22.66/IMG_5F00_6275cr.jpg[/img]


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.22.66/IMG_5F00_6399cr.jpg[/img]


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.22.66/IMG_5F00_6570cr.jpg[/img]

[devsalvi]

Could someone tell me what the white bird is...I think it is some type of Heron. ???



<div style="clear: both;"]</div>

A Snowy Egrett!

[Sinh Nhut Nguyen]

Devsalvi, it's actually a great white egret []

[devsalvi]

Thanks

[Sinh Nhut Nguyen]

Hi Oren, here is my e-mail nhuto@hotmail.com, you can shoot me an e-mail or just reply to this thread and include your e-mail, thanks


I'll go in details of whatIdid to that image.


my regular settings of the40D and 400 f/5.6


1. AV mode.


2. f/5.6-8 (f/5.6 about 90%)


3. I adjust the ISO to get the adequate amount of shutter speed, at least 1/1000 sec.


4. AWB or Daylight


5. AI Servo AF (even for still subject, I don't have time to switch)


6. Continuous Shooting-6.5 fps


7. Evaluative Metering


8. Exposure Compesation: I don't have a specific setting for this, you have to rely on the histogram and the highlight alert function. If bird flying on bright sky, I usually dial +1/3 to +1 1/3


9. Highlight Tone Priority is used when bird has a lot of white details


10. sRGB color space


11. RAW - Sharpness: 4, Contrast: 1, Saturation: 1, Color Tone: 0


12. If your lens has Image Stabilizer, turn it off for action because with IS it actually slows the AF a bit to lock onto the subject


13. Try to get as close as possible without harming the subject and interfering its naturalbehavior


14. Patience


15. Practice, Practice and Practice ([] sorry the last3 are not camera settings, but they're very important)