Small birds in flight (1 Viewer)

[yndesai]

Can any one give inputs in improving the technique to capture small birds in flight they are so very quick and active.

This is one I could get but better focus tips needed.

Thanks in advance
Yndesai

http://yndpics.blogspot.com

 

[DaveAitch]

Small birds in flight? They are always difficult. I know, I've tried. (Though hoverflies in flight is what I've tried to "perfect". I've got close once or twice, but never really managed anything I'm fully happy with.)

Normally the shot needs to be given a little more exposure than the inbuilt exposure system wants to give. Your shot is quite dark in the shadow areas. I have lightened the shadows (in photoshop) - see below. I do think with digital slight underexposure is a better bet than overexposure: shadows can be rescued, burnt out highlights can't. I often quite like some "movement" visible in the wings. Sometimes all hint that the bird is flying is lost in the high shutter speed used.

Back to your shot: it appears that focus of spot on. The only thing for me that spoils it is the underexposure (though it would also be nice if the photo were larger).

There are all the obvious things that can be said but I suppose in the end the most required thing is extreme patience - unless you go for trigger systems that the bird itself activates (but that is cheating).

I'm sure there are others out there who specialise in this sort of thing who will be able to advise you better than I.

Dave.

 

[nartreb]

As Dave said, the focus is already perfect. The blurring is only due to the rapid motion of the wings (and also the feet).

It's a bit under-exposed, which is a common problem when shooting into a bright sky. But as Dave said, it's usually better to under-expose than over-expose; you can "rescue" a slightly under-exposed shot.

To avoid motion blur, it's very important to use the fastest shutter speed possible. That means using the best lens you can afford, and the fastest ISO that won't turn your photo too grainy.

The other thing you can do is anticipate where the bird is likely to be and place yourself accordingly, so your back is to the light (hint: do your shooting in the early morning or late afternoon, you'll find more birds that way anyway) and you have a fairly clean and dark background at some distance behind the bird. Try to get up at least as high as the bird, for a more intimate and unusual perspective. If you can manage such an "ambush" type setup, you can also bring an external flash to bear, though that may bother the birds and may be illegal in some cases.

Obviously, a lot of the best pics of small birds are taken at or near feeders or baths, where the bird's perches and flight path can be easily predicted. Getting a decent flight shot is otherwise a matter of great patience. I've got some in-flight shots of gulls, geese, herons, and tubenoses, but for smaller birds, almost none.