Using flash for birdphoto (1 Viewer)

[recreationalbirding]

Hi!

Fall is coming... and soon us swedes will have nothing but cloudy and rainy weather.

I stumbled upon this site a few days ago, and I was blown away by this guys photos:

http://digitalbirdphotography.com/windows/cover.html

I started reading his instructions, and wow that photographer have a lot of great stuff to share regarding birdphotography! A lot of nice info and pics there indeed. I very much recommend the site for those of you (like me) that love birds and photography, but still have a few things to learn.

Anyway - this chapter I found especially interesting:

http://digitalbirdphotography.com/windows/7.1.html

Any of you Canon guys using flash when taking photos of birds? Seems like this could be very useful during the following darkish 6 months that will soon be here. I am thinking about ordering a 600-flash and a Better Beamer flash extender - but before doing so I'd very much like to here your thoughts about this.

Kindly,
Eric

 

[Dave Williams]

I must admit I'm not keen on the idea of using Flash for birding but I know many do. A photographer was trampled to death by an elephant he spooked with his flash not long ago so be careful what you point it at!

 

[recreationalbirding]

Hi Dave!

I'll watch out for the elephants if I go ahead and try the Better Beamer...

Why not keen on the idea? Will it stress the birds? If its harmful in even the slightest way for the birds, then of course that is not the way I want go go.

 

[dabut101]

i know a photographer who uses flash most of the time summer or winter and i have never seen a bird upset by it.the problem that does upset them is shutter noise



dave

 

[recreationalbirding]

i know a photographer who uses flash most of the time summer or winter and i have never seen a bird upset by it.the problem that does upset them is shutter noise



dave

Hi Dave (#2)!

Thanks. That sounds good! I think I'll go ahead and order a new flash and a beamer then. I guess that could come in handy sometime, ever if it turns out I wont use it much for birdphoto.

/ Eric

 

[fugl]

i know a photographer who uses flash most of the time summer or winter and i have never seen a bird upset by it.the problem that does upset them is shutter noise

I second that. Years ago I regularly photographed feeder birds from behind a curtain inside the house. Dry-firing the flash caused no reaction at all but shutter noise spooked them every time (at least early in a session before they got used to it).

 

[nc_killie]

Flash can be of great benefit if used carefully. A bit of fill in flash can brighten the undersides of a bird in flight (against a light sky) without blowing the sky. It can also make colours 'pop' and give it a boost. You may want to google Glen Bartley, he has published lots on use of flash in tropical forest and he has written a useful guide.

Good luck

 

[johnf3f]

i know a photographer who uses flash most of the time summer or winter and i have never seen a bird upset by it.the problem that does upset them is shutter noise



dave

Interesting, what camera do you use?
The reason I ask is that I use a Canon 1DX (notoriously noisy!) and I have been completely ignored by our feathered friends. When in a wooden hide with my camera on a very rigid tripod I find that the floor makes a great amplifier and, occasionally, some mammals (specifically Foxes) will give me the eye - but I have yet to disturb anything!
Now if I move my lens to acquire a subject they can be off like a shot! Most animals have evolved to be wary of movement not noise (predators are quiet) that is why I have found that any visible movement is FAR more important than noise.

Back to the original subject, I have experimented a little with flash and a home made "Better Beamer" using it at low power (1/32 to 1/64 power) to freeze movement rather than illuminate the subject and generally the birds have ignored me. At higher settings they may well react and I suspect that at full power they will fly off. I have yet to use anything greater than 1/32 power on birds as I think it would upset my subjects (It may well not - but I don't know) but on these lower settings they seem undisturbed and I don't want to disturb them so it works quite well for both me and them.

Attached is a pikkie of my setup.

 

[recreationalbirding]

Thanks guys! Just ordered a Canon 600 EX and a Better Beamer. I do not know anything about using flash, so I have a lot to learn!

John: Nice setup! I was thinkingg about what would be best - to attach the flash to the camera or to the tripod. Seems as you prefer having it attached to the tripod?

 

[Dave Williams]

Hi Dave!

I'll watch out for the elephants if I go ahead and try the Better Beamer...

Why not keen on the idea? Will it stress the birds? If its harmful in even the slightest way for the birds, then of course that is not the way I want go go.

I have used flash when I had a built in one on my D300s on a couple of occasions and felt guilty afterwards ! I'm not sure if the subject I chose were the right ones but in both instances they flew after the first shot. Both were Owls and it struck me afterwards that their eyes are far more light sensitive and what I had attempted was stupid. I might be wrong, I might not but I promised myself I wouldn't do it again. The in built flash units are not that strong either.
As for other situations, I read of people who successfully use flash without apparently disturbing their subjects. I don't posses a flash unit now neither do my camera bodies have an in built one, I have contemplated buying one but not for wildlife photographs. Whenever I have been on a wildlife safari I have heard requests not to use flash to avoid disturbance to the mammals so there must be something in the warnings, the only difference being that birds are less likely to harm the photographer than an enraged buffalo or elephant!

 

[Robert_Scanlon]

!! Purist alert !! - do not read if likely to be offended

My personal view is that sometimes fill-flash can work in certain conditions but often / usually it makes the photo look artificial and staged.

Using flash as the main source of lighting, which appears to be what you are thinking about, well it's OK as a last resort (understory birds in exotic locations) but I think if the light's that bad you need to light up common local birds, it's not a photography day.

 

[recreationalbirding]

!! Purist alert !! - do not read if likely to be offended

My personal view is that sometimes fill-flash can work in certain conditions but often / usually it makes the photo look artificial and staged.

Using flash as the main source of lighting, which appears to be what you are thinking about, well it's OK as a last resort (understory birds in exotic locations) but I think if the light's that bad you need to light up common local birds, it's not a photography day.

Check this guys work out.

http://www.thirdbirdfromthesun.com/galleries/ver4/1.html

He really knows how to use a flash!

 

[johnf3f]

Thanks guys! Just ordered a Canon 600 EX and a Better Beamer. I do not know anything about using flash, so I have a lot to learn!

John: Nice setup! I was thinkingg about what would be best - to attach the flash to the camera or to the tripod. Seems as you prefer having it attached to the tripod?

Well yes and no. The Flash bracket is home made and attached to the vertical dovetail on the Wimberley head and can be adjusted for height. If shooting from a hide I can rotate the clamp (on the bracket) through 90 degrees and mount it on the lens quick release plate so it is at the side of the lens. The flash gun is a borrowed Canon 540 EZ.
I haven't really done much with flash as I know little about it and generally don't carry the kit with me - my pack can be up to 50 lbs already!
I know virtually nothing about Flash Photography so I just set the flash on low powe and under expose a little - seems to work. My original rason for building this setup was to keep my ISO down and get away with lower shutter speeds - using the flash to freeze movement.Since getting the 1DX I just bang up the ISO and don't worry about it too much!
As you will note from my previous post I have only used low power on the flash which doesn't seem to bother the birds or give a false look to the image -= but as I said I haven't used it much.

 

[nc_killie]

Well yes and no. The Flash bracket is home made and attached to the vertical dovetail on the Wimberley head and can be adjusted for height. If shooting from a hide I can rotate the clamp (on the bracket) through 90 degrees and mount it on the lens quick release plate so it is at the side of the lens.

I can vouch for Johns design. he kindly shared it with me. I made one for a few quid (literally) and have been using it since. If I can make it anyone can!!

Thanks again!

John

 

[johnf3f]

You are welcome!