Nature First try at bird photography

First try at bird photography · 12:26 PM

So here my first attempts on bird photography. Not the best off light, rainy with an overcast but at least hardly any other people around. Struggling with my settings, with and without the 1.4 TC and trying to find my way. I'm reading and watching a lot of tutorials but in the end only practice will make me understand. Used to the fight for light with macro this is a whole new challenging kind of photography. And one I honestly starting to enjoy. Open for all tips and pointers.

**clackers** · 03-09-2017, 01:11 PM

They're good, Carpon - well done!

You need to boost them by a stop in post, though. They're underexposed, probably because you just let the camera reduce everything to 18 percent grey.

**Carpon** · 03-09-2017, 01:25 PM

Originally posted by clackers

They're good, Carpon - well done!

You need to boost them by a stop in post, though. They're underexposed, probably because you just let the camera reduce everything to 18 percent grey.

Thank you. Did them all manual but still learning, so +1 on the metering if I understand correctly?
Is it better to do so by upping the iso or lessen shutter speed?

**clackers** · 03-09-2017, 03:28 PM

Originally posted by Carpon

Thank you. Did them all manual but still learning, so +1 on the metering if I understand correctly?
Is it better to do so by upping the iso or lessen shutter speed?

Manual's great for wildlife, Carpon, because you can set it and forget it until the conditions change.

Yes, you could set it to +1 for the situation of the last of your four photos, less than that for your second.

In broad daylight you can double the ISO rather than sacrifice aperture or shutter speed.

The guiding principle should be, "Do the white things in my picture actually look white, or a muddy grey?"

If you're happy with postprocessing, you can instead just paint your birds an extra strop in brightness, leaving the sky as it is so it isn't more blown.

I like the bird with the black throat!

Last edited by clackers; 03-09-2017 at 07:08 PM.

**Carpon** · 03-10-2017, 02:40 AM

Originally posted by clackers

Manual's great for wildlife, Carpon, because you can set it and forget it until the conditions change.

Yes, you could set it to +1 for the situation of the last of your four photos, less than that for your second.

In broad daylight you can double the ISO rather than sacrifice aperture or shutter speed.

The guiding principle should be, "Do the white things in my picture actually look white, or a muddy grey?"

If you're happy with postprocessing, you can instead just paint your birds an extra strop in brightness, leaving the sky as it is so it isn't more blown.

I like the bird with the black throat!

Great advice, thanks. Will try it next time I'm out there, hopefully with better weather, but he can plan my day off not the weather, doesn't stop me to practice

brewmaster15 · 03-10-2017, 03:21 AM

Welcome to bird photography! The small birds you used as subject matter here are really difficult to capture well when you first get into bird pics. Add to it drab rainy weather and its it bumps up the challenge alot! Work on that exposure a bit and try returning in better light if you can. Some people think of sea gulls as boring photo material but if you work on them as practice you can learn alot about exposure issues. They are a much larger target as well which helps a bit when learning to shoot birds.

I also like the black bellied one. The little guy on the cat tail is also nice.

Bird photography is what got me into photography...I can understand why you are liking it. Its a great hobby!
Al

**eaglem** · 03-10-2017, 03:36 AM

Good captures.....

**Carpon** · 03-10-2017, 04:50 AM

Originally posted by brewmaster15

Welcome to bird photography! The small birds you used as subject matter here are really difficult to capture well when you first get into bird pics. Add to it drab rainy weather and its it bumps up the challenge alot! Work on that exposure a bit and try returning in better light if you can. Some people think of sea gulls as boring photo material but if you work on them as practice you can learn alot about exposure issues. They are a much larger target as well which helps a bit when learning to shoot birds.

I also like the black bellied one. The little guy on the cat tail is also nice.

Bird photography is what got me into photography...I can understand why you are liking it. Its a great hobby!
Al

Thank you for your kind words, it sure is great to do.

---------- Post added 03-10-17 at 12:52 PM ----------

Originally posted by eaglem

Good captures.....

Thank you Sir

Carpon
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03-09-2017, 01:11 PM	#2
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	They're good, Carpon - well done! You need to boost them by a stop in post, though. They're underexposed, probably because you just let the camera reduce everything to 18 percent grey.

03-09-2017, 01:25 PM	#3
Carpon Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Utrecht, The Netherlands Photos: Albums Posts: 330 Original Poster	Originally posted by clackers They're good, Carpon - well done! You need to boost them by a stop in post, though. They're underexposed, probably because you just let the camera reduce everything to 18 percent grey. Thank you. Did them all manual but still learning, so +1 on the metering if I understand correctly? Is it better to do so by upping the iso or lessen shutter speed?

03-09-2017, 03:28 PM	#4
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by Carpon Thank you. Did them all manual but still learning, so +1 on the metering if I understand correctly? Is it better to do so by upping the iso or lessen shutter speed? Manual's great for wildlife, Carpon, because you can set it and forget it until the conditions change. Yes, you could set it to +1 for the situation of the last of your four photos, less than that for your second. In broad daylight you can double the ISO rather than sacrifice aperture or shutter speed. The guiding principle should be, "Do the white things in my picture actually look white, or a muddy grey?" If you're happy with postprocessing, you can instead just paint your birds an extra strop in brightness, leaving the sky as it is so it isn't more blown. I like the bird with the black throat! Last edited by clackers; 03-09-2017 at 07:08 PM.

03-10-2017, 02:40 AM	#5
Carpon Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Utrecht, The Netherlands Photos: Albums Posts: 330 Original Poster	Originally posted by clackers Manual's great for wildlife, Carpon, because you can set it and forget it until the conditions change. Yes, you could set it to +1 for the situation of the last of your four photos, less than that for your second. In broad daylight you can double the ISO rather than sacrifice aperture or shutter speed. The guiding principle should be, "Do the white things in my picture actually look white, or a muddy grey?" If you're happy with postprocessing, you can instead just paint your birds an extra strop in brightness, leaving the sky as it is so it isn't more blown. I like the bird with the black throat! Great advice, thanks. Will try it next time I'm out there, hopefully with better weather, but he can plan my day off not the weather, doesn't stop me to practice

03-10-2017, 03:21 AM	#6
brewmaster15 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: CT Posts: 1,860	Welcome to bird photography! The small birds you used as subject matter here are really difficult to capture well when you first get into bird pics. Add to it drab rainy weather and its it bumps up the challenge alot! Work on that exposure a bit and try returning in better light if you can. Some people think of sea gulls as boring photo material but if you work on them as practice you can learn alot about exposure issues. They are a much larger target as well which helps a bit when learning to shoot birds. I also like the black bellied one. The little guy on the cat tail is also nice. Bird photography is what got me into photography...I can understand why you are liking it. Its a great hobby! Al

03-10-2017, 03:36 AM	#7
eaglem Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 43,159	Good captures.....

03-10-2017, 04:50 AM	#8
Carpon Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Utrecht, The Netherlands Photos: Albums Posts: 330 Original Poster	Originally posted by brewmaster15 Welcome to bird photography! The small birds you used as subject matter here are really difficult to capture well when you first get into bird pics. Add to it drab rainy weather and its it bumps up the challenge alot! Work on that exposure a bit and try returning in better light if you can. Some people think of sea gulls as boring photo material but if you work on them as practice you can learn alot about exposure issues. They are a much larger target as well which helps a bit when learning to shoot birds. I also like the black bellied one. The little guy on the cat tail is also nice. Bird photography is what got me into photography...I can understand why you are liking it. Its a great hobby! Al Thank you for your kind words, it sure is great to do. ---------- Post added 03-10-17 at 12:52 PM ---------- Originally posted by eaglem Good captures..... Thank you Sir