Backyard photos needing critiques and advice

[annamaria]

Hi everyone,

I took some photos of my backyard birds in mid flight. Did not come out as I had hoped. Still lots to learn and been reading from different resources online. I used a Nikon D5100 with 55-300 lens. Please feel free to critique the photos whether bad or good and offer advice. Below are the settings of the 2 photos:

Also I have PS Elements 7 does anyone on here know how to crop a photo using Elements so that photo looks larger within the frame?

Note: I did not sharpen or post process yet.


Date Shot: 1/6/2014 14:06:30.10
Time Zone and Date: UTC-5, DST:ON
Image Quality: Jpeg Fine (8-bit)
Device: Nikon D5100
Lens: VR 55-300mm F/4.5-5.6G
Focal Length: 300mm
Focus Mode: AF-C
AF-Area Mode: 3D-tracking
VR: ON
AF Fine Tune:
Exposure
Aperture: F/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/1600s
Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority
Exposure Comp.: 0EV
Exposure Tuning:
Metering: Spot
ISO Sensitivity: Auto (ISO 400)
White Balance: Auto, 0, 0
Color Space: sRGB
High ISO NR: ON (Normal)
Long Exposure NR: OFF
Active D-Lighting: OFF
Image Authentication:
Vignette Control:
Auto Distortion Control: ON
Picture Control
Picture Control: [SD] STANDARD
Base: [SD] STANDARD
Quick Adjust: 0
Sharpening: 3
Contrast: 0
Brightness: 0
Saturation: 0
Hue: 0

Image Size: L (4928 x 3264)
File Info 2
Date Shot: 1/6/2014 13:59:48.80
Time Zone and Date: UTC-5, DST:ON
Image Quality: Jpeg Fine (8-bit)
Artist:
Copyright:
Image Comment:
Camera Info
Device: Nikon D5100
Lens: VR 55-300mm F/4.5-5.6G
Focal Length: 300mm
Focus Mode: AF-C
AF-Area Mode: 3D-tracking
VR: ON
AF Fine Tune:
Exposure
Aperture: F/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/1250s
Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority
Exposure Comp.: +0.3EV
Exposure Tuning:
Metering: Spot
ISO Sensitivity: Auto (ISO 400)
Image Settings
White Balance: Auto, 0, 0
Color Space: sRGB
High ISO NR: ON (Normal)
Long Exposure NR: OFF
Active D-Lighting: OFF
Image Authentication:
Vignette Control:
Auto Distortion Control: ON
Picture Control
Picture Control: [SD] STANDARD
Base: [SD] STANDARD
Quick Adjust: 0
Sharpening: 3
Contrast: 0
Brightness: 0
Saturation: 0
Hue: 0

 

[Desi]

Your shutter speed of 1/1600 and 1/1250 were fine to freeze motion. It seems the camera misjudged the focus. One thing that you can try is using only a single focus point in the center. Capture the bird in the center focus point. Shoot wide and then crop the image to the composition that you really want.

I don't know about the experience of others......but I tend to prefer single focus points. I guess I'd rather blame myself for missing the focus than blaming my camera when it chooses the wrong spot.

 

[annamaria]

Your shutter speed of 1/1600 and 1/1250 were fine to freeze motion. It seems the camera misjudged the focus. One thing that you can try is using only a single focus point in the center. Capture the bird in the center focus point. Shoot wide and then crop the image to the composition that you really want. I don't know about the experience of others......but I tend to prefer single focus points. I guess I'd rather blame myself for missing the focus than blaming my camera when it chooses the wrong spot.

Thanks for your suggestions will try that next time.

 

[robbins.photo]

Single focus point is by far the best bet on the D5100 - the area autofocus modes generally don't work all that well, in least in my experience. 3d tracking isn't too bad but I've actually in general had better luck without it myself.

 

[annamaria]

Single focus point is by far the best bet on the D5100 - the area autofocus modes generally don't work all that well, in least in my experience. 3d tracking isn't too bad but I've actually in general had better luck without it myself.[/QUOTE

Thanks Robbins will give your suggestion a try as well. So much to learn.