Just missed it but need C&C for my next shoot

Dubaiian · May 3, 2012

Hi Everyone,

I have a couple of arabian doves that live in my front garden and I spent a bit of time time to shoot them entering the nest last week. As you can see I did not get it right but know what to do this week to get the framing correct.

What I need to know (as a newbie) is what else should I be concentrating on for this shot to improve it?

Not sure if the EXIF data shows up but.....Canon 7D, 100-400@180mm, f7.1, 1/1000. It is pretty hot in Dubai at this time of year (40c+) so I only get very short windows to catch these guys.

Also, can someone tell me how to delete some of my uploaded TPF photos from the site as I am worried about using too much online storage.

Many thanks in advance

SCraig · May 3, 2012

When shooting birds in flight don't try to get the subject so tight in the frame, leave yourself some maneuvering room and crop it afterwards. Had you shot that at 100mm instead of 180mm you would have had room to crop it and get a good shot.

You've also got a pretty hot spot right on its shoulder. Set your camera for manual beforehand by adjusting the exposure for a neutral surface. In a pinch you can use the palm of your hand to get a meter reading, just make sure the light is directly on your palm. Increase exposure 1 stop for side lighting and 2 stops for back lighting.

If you can hold that 1/1000 second shutter speed and kick the ISO to about 400 (I don't know what ISO you used) so you can use f/16 you can pre-focus on that spot and use manual focus to prevent lost shots while your autofocus hunts around. At f/7.1 and a subject distance of 15 feet you've got a depth of field of about 1.8 feet, but at f/16 that goes up to 4.16 feet.

You can't always get the composition you want with birds in flight. Many times it's a matter of settling for what they present to you. Do the best you can, hold the shutter release down and get as many shots as you can. You're using a digital camera and it costs no more to shoot 100 than it does to shoot 1.

Dubaiian · May 3, 2012

Thanks SCraig. FYI I was shooting at iso500 as it was a bit overcast that day which drove my exposure settings. I used my wife to stand where the bird would enter to get a manual focus because I had to tripod the camera and use a remote shutter. The birds wont enter if anyone is within 15-20 feet.

Would a grey card be useful (if i had one) to put it by the bush to check the exposures?

Many thanks indeed for your feedback.

p.s. I took about 100+ shots and this was the best which is why I wanted the feedback

SCraig · May 3, 2012

Dubaiian said:
Thanks SCraig. FYI I was shooting at iso500 as it was a bit overcast that day which drove my exposure settings. I used my wife to stand where the bird would enter to get a manual focus because I had to tripod the camera and use a remote shutter. The birds wont enter if anyone is within 15-20 feet.

Would a grey card be useful (if i had one) to put it by the bush to check the exposures?

Many thanks indeed for your feedback.

p.s. I took about 100+ shots and this was the best which is why I wanted the feedback

Yeah, been there, done that. Wasted lots of shots chasing after birds. I love shooting them though, it's a lot of fun.

A gray card to set your exposure before the shots would be useful, but after the shot it's really too late. You can probably adjust somewhat in post processing but if the detail is blown out by an overexposure then there is nothing to recover.

Actually, after looking at it again, your exposure is pretty close given the fact that under his wing is in deep shadow and his head and shoulders are in direct light. One is slightly overexposed and one is slightly underexposed but the metering is actually a pretty decent compromise. I don't know if they would tolerate it or not, but a flash would help fill in some of those underwing shadows.

I'd love to see the next set. That's a great start and you'll only get better from here on.