Cog said:
Hi Cog,
Nice shots, I like the look in the second one; was he evaluating if he could grab and eat you
I'm trying to get to your level of BiF photo's - still need to practice a lot however :-\
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BIRD IN FLIGHT ONLY -- share your BIF photos here
- Thread starter Dylan777
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Hi Cog,
Nice shots, I like the look in the second one; was he evaluating if he could grab and eat you
I'm trying to get to your level of BiF photo's - still need to practice a lot however :-\
Nope, just sharing pics that I like.Mikehit said:Cog said:One more shot from a series of shots of barn swallows in flight. He's about to land:
Now you're just showing off !!
I'm on vacation now and have limited options to sort out and process my raw files. I cannot do them all at once so have to do it bit by bit. Sorry.
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Thanks for the encouraging comments and for the record I am not really doing BIF, locking focus and panning. I gave up on that because ... IMHO it's impossible. I will however experiment with the most aggressive AF point setups and see if that helps.
My feeling is that these little birds are very fast (too fast for AF lock on), the background is too busy, and a hunting songbird has acceleration and acrobatic capabilities that are astounding, eliminating panning possibilities. They occasionally hover but the problem is the prey itself is very fast and unpredictable so you get virtually no forewarning.
So if anyone is experimenting themselves and can benefit, my best shots are now coming with the camera on tripod. I observe where the birds are tending to prey from and lock focus on that object (an old beaver pond has stumps). I'm using full auto large zone typically with the starting focus point off to the extreme side/corner so that I can have most of the frame covering where it is anticipated that the bird will enter or exit. That's always a best guess. The timing is luck but 14 fps really shines! However, I've done this with 4.5 fps too.
There, my conscience is clear - I am not a good BIF photographer, just a stubborn/determined old guy with slow reflexes. ;D
Sun is hard to come by so I haven't experimented further with frame grabs.
Might I add; this is certainly a lot more fun than the jobs I'm supposed to be completing.
ISO 3200 about 1/4 of frame.
Jack
I will however experiment with the most aggressive AF point setups and see if that helps. My feeling is that these little birds are very fast (too fast for AF lock on), the background is too busy, and a hunting songbird has acceleration and acrobatic capabilities that are astounding, eliminating panning possibilities. They occasionally hover but the problem is the prey itself is very fast and unpredictable so you get virtually no forewarning.
So if anyone is experimenting themselves and can benefit, my best shots are now coming with the camera on tripod. I observe where the birds are tending to prey from and lock focus on that object (an old beaver pond has stumps). I'm using full auto large zone typically with the starting focus point off to the extreme side/corner so that I can have most of the frame covering where it is anticipated that the bird will enter or exit. That's always a best guess. The timing is luck but 14 fps really shines!
However, I've done this with 4.5 fps too. There, my conscience is clear - I am not a good BIF photographer, just a stubborn/determined old guy with slow reflexes. ;D
Sun is hard to come by so I haven't experimented further with frame grabs.
Might I add; this is certainly a lot more fun than the jobs I'm supposed to be completing.
ISO 3200 about 1/4 of frame.
Jack
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Jack,
Very nice shots.
Flying objects are difficult to focus to start with, flying objects with fast and unpredictable maneuvering raise the difficulty level much higher.
What you've done is AMAZING, really.
Forget DR, sensor pixel count/density, ISO etc., the next camera generations should have FAST focus and low light and small aperture focus capabilities.
Admire your patience and persistence.
-r
Very nice shots.
Flying objects are difficult to focus to start with, flying objects with fast and unpredictable maneuvering raise the difficulty level much higher.
What you've done is AMAZING, really.
Forget DR, sensor pixel count/density, ISO etc., the next camera generations should have FAST focus and low light and small aperture focus capabilities.
Admire your patience and persistence.
-r
Jack Douglas said:Thanks for the encouraging comments and for the record I am not really doing BIF, locking focus and panning. I gave up on that because ... IMHO it's impossible.
My feeling is that these little birds are very fast (too fast for AF lock on), the background is too busy, and a hunting songbird has acceleration and acrobatic capabilities that are astounding, eliminating panning possibilities. They occasionally hover but the problem is the prey itself is very fast and unpredictable so you get virtually no forewarning.
So if anyone is experimenting themselves and can benefit, my best shots are now coming with the camera on tripod. I observe where the birds are tending to prey from and lock focus on that object (an old beaver pond has stumps). I'm using full auto large zone typically with the starting focus point off to the extreme side/corner so that I can have most of the frame covering where it is anticipated that the bird will enter or exit. That's always a best guess. The timing is luck but 14 fps really shines!
There, my conscience is clear - I am not a good BIF photographer, just a stubborn/determined old guy with slow reflexes. ;D
Sun is hard to come by so I haven't experimented further with frame grabs.
Might I add; this is certainly a lot more fun than the jobs I'm supposed to be completing.
ISO 3200 about 1/4 of frame.
Jack
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Mikehit said:
I bumped up to 1/2000 as you suggested and I think that helped so I might try one higher too. It's the constant problem of fighting high ISO, and then the focus is not bang on as well ... Satisfied - no, happy - yes!
Is that an oxymoron? Jack
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Hey Riley, you're too generous with the praise.
Funny how we nature lovers really don't benefit by high DR at ISO 100 and yet our comments are never taken seriously when the DRoners are going on and on. That's why I think the 6D2 is going to be a very fine camera if/when I get it. I seldom am able to get down to ISO 800 even.
And just think, I had the 1D4 shooting eagles and from ISO 600 to 800 I could notice the noise degradation and my 6D was far better ... but not for AF and fps of course! That's why I'm hoping to get back to Haida Gwaii soon.
Jack
Funny how we nature lovers really don't benefit by high DR at ISO 100 and yet our comments are never taken seriously when the DRoners are going on and on. That's why I think the 6D2 is going to be a very fine camera if/when I get it. I seldom am able to get down to ISO 800 even.
And just think, I had the 1D4 shooting eagles and from ISO 600 to 800 I could notice the noise degradation and my 6D was far better ... but not for AF and fps of course! That's why I'm hoping to get back to Haida Gwaii soon.
Jack
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Jack Douglas said:Mikehit said:
I bumped up to 1/2000 as you suggested and I think that helped so I might try one higher too. It's the constant problem of fighting high ISO, and then the focus is not bang on as well ... Satisfied - no, happy - yes!
Jack
It definitely helps to photo them as they are decelerating onto the perch and the heavily blurred distant (in comparative terms) background means you are less reliant on sharpness of the bird to make it look good. I reckon you can go to ISO 6,000 even with 50% crop on the linear edge and some careful sharpening
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