Am I headed in the right direction?

[scooter2044]

I would appreciate some helpful advice if you have any. Just started with my DSLR and have no idea if I am headed in the right direction or not.


huddle by Sheila Swindell, on Flickr


back of the pack by Sheila Swindell, on Flickr

 

[funwitha7d]

the second shot I like but maybe a tighter crop? the first would work better for me if mom/dad turned around or looked towards her little ones or just faced the camera IMO

 

[WesternGuy]

Welcome to the Forum. Not a bad start, but you might want to do some web research on photographing birds. As 'funwitha7d' says, the first one would be better if you could have taken it from the side or even the front. One of the most important things when photographing animals is to get an eye (or two) in focus, in the picture, so in the first one, you should be able to see the mother's eye, but you can't.

In the second one, you have placed the goslings in the centre of the image, which is not always the best thing to do as it makes the image very static. The best place in this case would have been to place the goslings in the right third of the image so that they appear to have some space to move into and thus gives some 'implied' possible movement for the birds. If you are not aware of it, check out the "rule of thirds" on the web.

You might want to check this one out - Secrets of Digital Bird Photography to start.

Hope this helps.

WesternGuy

 

[scooter2044]

the second shot I like but maybe a tighter crop? the first would work better for me if mom/dad turned around or looked towards her little ones or just faced the camera IMOView attachment 100849

Thanks for the advice. I was so focused on getting all the little ones in their huddle, I didn't even notice her head wasn't turned. Thanks

 

[scooter2044]

Welcome to the Forum. Not a bad start, but you might want to do some web research on photographing birds. As 'funwitha7d' says, the first one would be better if you could have taken it from the side or even the front. One of the most important things when photographing animals is to get an eye (or two) in focus, in the picture, so in the first one, you should be able to see the mother's eye, but you can't.

In the second one, you have placed the goslings in the centre of the image, which is not always the best thing to do as it makes the image very static. The best place in this case would have been to place the goslings in the right third of the image so that they appear to have some space to move into and thus gives some 'implied' possible movement for the birds. If you are not aware of it, check out the "rule of thirds" on the web.

You might want to check this one out - Secrets of Digital Bird Photography to start.

Hope this helps.

WesternGuy

I will definitely check out the video, thanks. Most of the videos I saw only talked about alot of equipment that I don't have and can't afford so this video should be helpful. I will work more on my composition for the next ones. I am still struggling to understand some of the basics of shooting in manualand trying to get sharper images that I tend to get a little overwhelmed when my subject starts moving on me. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Designer]

..have no idea if I am headed in the right direction or not.

I think #1 is cute with the adult not looking at the youngsters. As for composition in general, the adult needs more "space" in front of the head into which to look. The frame is crowding the beak.

It looks blurry to me, and I didn't check out the focus, and it could be noise, but I don't know.

 

[scooter2044]

..have no idea if I am headed in the right direction or not.

I think #1 is cute with the adult not looking at the youngsters. As for composition in general, the adult needs more "space" in front of the head into which to look. The frame is crowding the beak.

I fiddled with it some:

View attachment 100863

It looks blurry to me, and I didn't check out the focus, and it could be noise, but I don't know.

I have been having trouble getting my photos sharp. My camera keeps wanting to refocus using one of the other 9 points instead of the center one which I try to use. I can't find a way to turn the other ones off on my camera. I thought when I took the picture that the little ones looked like they were up to no good when their mother wasn't watching. It was Mother's day. I just found it cute, but I know my composition needs work. Thanks for the input.

 

[WesternGuy]

Welcome to the Forum. Not a bad start, but you might want to do some web research on photographing birds. As 'funwitha7d' says, the first one would be better if you could have taken it from the side or even the front. One of the most important things when photographing animals is to get an eye (or two) in focus, in the picture, so in the first one, you should be able to see the mother's eye, but you can't.

In the second one, you have placed the goslings in the centre of the image, which is not always the best thing to do as it makes the image very static. The best place in this case would have been to place the goslings in the right third of the image so that they appear to have some space to move into and thus gives some 'implied' possible movement for the birds. If you are not aware of it, check out the "rule of thirds" on the web.

You might want to check this one out - Secrets of Digital Bird Photography to start.

Hope this helps.

WesternGuy

I will definitely check out the video, thanks. Most of the videos I saw only talked about alot of equipment that I don't have and can't afford so this video should be helpful. I will work more on my composition for the next ones. I am still struggling to understand some of the basics of shooting in manualand trying to get sharper images that I tend to get a little overwhelmed when my subject starts moving on me. Thanks for the advice.

You mention that the videos you are watching are all about equipment that you don't have - I know the feeling! You are watching the wrong videos man, because it never is really about equipment. Style and composition are ALWAYS where it's at. I have seen some great images taken with point and shoot cameras. I do agree that if you are going to pursue bird photography in a big way, then there is a minimum of gear that you need, but you can always checkout used or refurbished, or even rental.

As far as things moving, I can't really comment on this as I don't know what gear you have. The DSLR that I have, and many others have the ability, in some shooting modes, to actually hold focus on moving subjects. I also ask - why are you shooting in manual mode. Manual mode does not necessarily mean you will get sharper images, in fact I shoot most of my images in either AV or TV mode and in AI Servo and I never have any problems with sharpness - today's cameras are a incredible technology, why not use it. I know one thing for sure, you will probably not be able to capture birds in flight (BIF) in manual mode. Let us know what you are using and maybe there are some folks that can offer suggestions for your work.

WesternGuy

WesternGuy

 

[scooter2044]

Welcome to the Forum. Not a bad start, but you might want to do some web research on photographing birds. As 'funwitha7d' says, the first one would be better if you could have taken it from the side or even the front. One of the most important things when photographing animals is to get an eye (or two) in focus, in the picture, so in the first one, you should be able to see the mother's eye, but you can't.

In the second one, you have placed the goslings in the centre of the image, which is not always the best thing to do as it makes the image very static. The best place in this case would have been to place the goslings in the right third of the image so that they appear to have some space to move into and thus gives some 'implied' possible movement for the birds. If you are not aware of it, check out the "rule of thirds" on the web.

You might want to check this one out - Secrets of Digital Bird Photography to start.

Hope this helps.

WesternGuy

I will definitely check out the video, thanks. Most of the videos I saw only talked about alot of equipment that I don't have and can't afford so this video should be helpful. I will work more on my composition for the next ones. I am still struggling to understand some of the basics of shooting in manualand trying to get sharper images that I tend to get a little overwhelmed when my subject starts moving on me. Thanks for the advice.

You mention that the videos you are watching are all about equipment that you don't have - I know the feeling! You are watching the wrong videos man, because it never is really about equipment. Style and composition are ALWAYS where it's at. I have seen some great images taken with point and shoot cameras. I do agree that if you are going to pursue bird photography in a big way, then there is a minimum of gear that you need, but you can always checkout used or refurbished, or even rental.

As far as things moving, I can't really comment on this as I don't know what gear you have. The DSLR that I have, and many others have the ability, in some shooting modes, to actually hold focus on moving subjects. I also ask - why are you shooting in manual mode. Manual mode does not necessarily mean you will get sharper images, in fact I shoot most of my images in either AV or TV mode and in AI Servo and I never have any problems with sharpness - today's cameras are a incredible technology, why not use it. I know one thing for sure, you will probably not be able to capture birds in flight (BIF) in manual mode. Let us know what you are using and maybe there are some folks that can offer suggestions for your work.

WesternGuy

WesternGuy

My camera is a Canon T3i, and I finally figured out to turn the AI Servo on, maybe this will help with my focus on the birds when I try again. I think I will definitely go back to one of the other modes besides manual. It will be less to worry about. Here's the best BIF picture I got from my Flickr page. I think I was in AV mode when I took this the first day out. There are maybe 3 more if you care to look. They aren't in sharp focus and like Designer guy said, some are cropped off, but for my first day actually taking pictures, I was happy to have just a couple that weren't "butt" photos. Definitely got to work on my composition.

kiwanas_greategret2 by Sheila Swindell, on Flickr

sheila swindell Flickr - Photo Sharing

 

[snowbear]

Loving the fluffballs in Back of the Pack.

The egret is nice; I like it. If I were to do anything different, it would be to try to have more space in front of the bird so it doesn't appear to be flying out of the frame. Keep shooting, it will get easier.

 

[DarkShadow]

Cute shots and I agree on what was said already.The BIF shot is pretty darn good other then the framing.Just a suggestion,don't worry so much about trying to frame it in camera for composition,for static shots if you can sure but for moving subjects such as these birds IMO its best to leave your self room and crop it in post to get the composition you need or desire.BTW Welcome aboard.

 

[unpopular]

I fiddled with it some:

View attachment 100863

WTF is that, Designer?

 

[DarkShadow]

There maybe be some noise in the first shot but with all the crappie junk in the water its hard to tell.A lot of ponds get like that around here this time of year.

 

[Designer]

WTF is that, Designer?

Deleted is what that is. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[WesternGuy]

Scooter, just a suggestion. I find that if I want to shoot birds in flight, I use TV mode and AI Servo. I set the shutter speed to at least 1/1000 sec, sometimes more. The reason that I use TV mode is that using AV mode, you will not usually get the shutter speed required to "stop motion" for the wings. You can capture the actual bird moving by panning with the bird and this will work for all of the bird except for the wing movement. I always try to "lead" the bird while panning so that when I click the shutter, it is most likely to be captured in the left third or so of the image, giving it room to at least appear to be flying into the right side of the picture.

I will still use AV mode for shooting birds that are not flying, e.g., sitting on the next, walking or standing on the ground, etc.

Hope this helps.

WesternGuy