My first shot at birds - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

08/29/2007 07:33:07 PM · #1

I recently attended a seminar by a famous bird photographer. After the seminar I was so eager to shoot some birds that the first opportunity I had, I got up before sunrise and head to the local nature reserve.
I had a hard time hand holding the 400mm lens and when I added the extender it was just a nightmare since the auto focus doesn't work with an extender. When I got home and saw my pictures I was pretty dissapointed and discouraged. This is one of the best ones I got in my opinion.
Taking into account an excellant quality of images you guys are capable of prducing on this site, would this be considered decent or at least half-decent?

view here

Message edited by ursula - Please post larger images as links or thumbnails.

lunachicken

Nikon D90

08/29/2007 07:53:00 PM · #2

I would say thats a decent shot :) Keep in mind that the number one thing to learn while taking bird pictures is patience! They seldom cooperate, and when they do its for a fleeting moment.

pineapple

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

08/29/2007 08:01:59 PM · #3

Just my 2 cents. Shooting birds or moving things, I would either set the camera on Tv (shutter priority) or shoot in manual (which is what I do on all shots). You shot the photo above in aperture priority, judging by the EXIF data (ISO500 f/8.0 1/200). For more precision, I would have shot with a tripod and tried to keep within ISO400 f/5.6 or larger and as fast a shutter speed as was practical. Hand-held with that 400mm lens I would think that a fast shutter speed is crucial.

08/29/2007 08:10:52 PM · #4

thanks for the comments.
Here is one thing I ran into. I was trying to have the aperature larger but with the extender I could not go lower than f8.0. Unless I was doing something wrong.

pineapple

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

08/29/2007 08:24:04 PM · #5

Sorry, no experience with extenders here :) That explains....
Those ducks are a little too close to the background reeds to separate them out. Perhaps a bit of simple cropping would increase the impact.

sailracer_98

Canon EOS-6D

08/29/2007 08:57:20 PM · #6

That looks like excellent quality to me for shooting hand held with a tele-extender. I imagine most of the shots you weren't happy with had camera shake and/or focusing problems?

I usually end up photographing birds in Av mode as well with the largest aperture possible and then vary the ISO as necessary to get a shutter speed I can live with.

Does your lens have IS? I found getting a stabilized lens to be the single biggest factor in improving the quality of most of my bird shots, particularly those at long range.

I suspect carrying a heavy duty, sturdy tripod into the field would help as well, but that often isn't convenient, especially for the little birds that don't sit still. Ever!

Tamron SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical IF for Nikon

08/30/2007 06:11:30 AM · #7

Originally posted by sailracer_98:

yes, you are right mos of the images were blurry, camera shake and not focused.
I pretty much was doing the same thing, setting my aperature and changing ISO as needed. Yes, the lens has IS, but I am not sure if it works with the extender. I know autofocus didn't work and I could only do f8 or smaller.
I will be trying to shoot with a tripod but I just ordered a wimberley head and I am waiting for it.
Thanks

Node

Nikon D300

08/30/2007 06:48:20 AM · #8

I often use a monopod if I'm doing a lot of walking in the bush or something. Not sure it that could be an option.

Skyarcher

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

08/30/2007 02:36:14 PM · #9

Originally posted by maggieddd:

As for auto-focus, you could test different extenders, depending on which one you use, af will still work, take into consideration vignetting though. Also, you could take 3 of the pins inside the extender and it will allow af to work (Sorry, but I don't remember where I found the article before, but just do a search online).

Can I ask which photographer did the seminar. I do ask for a reason.

If it is Artie, just email him and ask him. If it is Tom Vezo, email him also. If it is Chas, Brian Small, or Alan Murphy, hop over to NatureScapes.net and either ask them in the forums, or shoot them off a PM.

If it is a different one, I'd have to know who to better tell you.

As for hand-holding, if you are doing flight shots, hand-held is the best way to go, manual mode, sometimes though a tripod is easiest. For ducks, etc. that are in the water, use a tripod. I can't answer about a monopod, have never used one. Could see if you could borrow one from someone and test it.

Some great places to get advice, more specifically to nature, wildlife, birds, etc. are:

NatureScapes

Photo Migrations

Both are wonderful places with awesome people! :D

basssman7

Nikon D500

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

08/30/2007 02:45:11 PM · #10

Originally posted by Skyarcher:

Some great places to get advice, more specifically to nature, wildlife, birds, etc. are:

NatureScapes

Photo Migrations

Both are wonderful places with awesome people! :D

Thanks for the great links. :)

Skyarcher

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

08/30/2007 02:53:20 PM · #11

You're very welcome Ernie. Hope to see ya over there some time. :)