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BeerBelly · 05-03-2011, 10:52 PM

@photolady:

I agree it's a bit soft but sadly it was the best one out of the set. Since I'm just starting into birding can you give me some pointers on what's best to use regarding AF and MF? The lens used was a Sigma 150-500mm. Maybe quick corrections manually after AF locks?

photolady95 · 05-04-2011, 05:03 AM

Up your shutter speed for one thing. You're shooting at 500mm your shutter speed should be at least 1.5 times that focal length. Birds fly fast and if your shutter speed isn't fast enough, you'll get blurry photos. Birds in flight, mine are usually shot at 1/1000s but some have need higher than that. My Pigeon was shot at 1/1600s. Birds move even sitting still, they flutter so you need a higher shutter speed to stop them and not get blurry photos.

Other photographers will tell you to use a tripod. I have never been able to capture a moving bird using a tripod. Panning is too slow. Maybe you can. The lens you have, is it fairly heavy, then you need a tripod to hold it and the camera steady. SR is nice at times, but you should never have it turned on if you're using a tripod. Documented that SR on a tripod can cause blur photographs.

Fstops. Higher ones in bright blue skies will render the sky the color it's supposed to be, em, blue. Higher fstops will also get you more details in your subject. I think now would be a good time to tell you to buy Bryan Peterson's book...Understanding Exposure.

BeerBelly · 05-04-2011, 10:38 AM

Thanks for the tips. I'll try using a faster shutter speed next time. I was going by the focal length = shutter speed rule, but I guess APS-C sensor size does need to be considered.

I prefer not using a tripod since I feel it makes the whole ordeal more cumbersome. I understand how ISO, shutter speed and aperture works combined but I'll take a look at that book you linked.

Thanks

**dadipentak** · 05-04-2011, 12:30 PM

I have a new quarry. Having discovered some places where these guys hang out I'm working on getting some good photos of them. These aren't good enough but they're marginally better than the ones I posted last week. The trick will be getting me, the birds and the light in the same place at the same time.

jgredline · 05-04-2011, 03:33 PM

Do zoo pictures count as ''wildlife?''I would not think so, but curious minds want to know as I have a few of those.

borno · 05-04-2011, 04:19 PM

Originally posted by jgredline

Beautiful bird pics Javier!

photolady95 · 05-04-2011, 04:20 PM

I don't know for sure Javier but when I was a member of Nature Photographers of America, their stance was if it had hand of man in the photograph it couldn't be considered nature. As for being wildlife, I always thought wildlife's definition was it was in the wild. If they are in a zoo, they are not in the wild. But, that is my take, and my own opinion.

jgredline · 05-04-2011, 04:40 PM

Originally posted by borno

Beautiful bird pics Javier!

Thank you. There are lots of mandarin and wood ducks in my area running wild.

jgredline · 05-04-2011, 04:41 PM

Originally posted by photolady

I don't know for sure Javier but when I was a member of Nature Photographers of America, their stance was if it had hand of man in the photograph it couldn't be considered nature. As for being wildlife, I always thought wildlife's definition was it was in the wild. If they are in a zoo, they are not in the wild. But, that is my take, and my own opinion.

Thank you and I would have to agree. I know many birders and they would never consider shooting a bird in a zoo. Ok Zoo pics or captive wildlife is out for me.

**paulh** · 05-04-2011, 04:44 PM

Originally posted by jgredline

Thank you and I would have to agree. I know many birders and they would never consider shooting a bird in a zoo. Ok Zoo pics or captive wildlife is out for me.

There's plenty of 'wildlife' right there on the streets of LA

jgredline · 05-04-2011, 04:46 PM

My favorite all time duck pick

A lousy sparrow

A spider I shot in Hawaii

jgredline · 05-04-2011, 04:46 PM

Originally posted by paulh

There's plenty of 'wildlife' right there on the streets of LA

This is true, lets not get me started

**dadipentak** · 05-04-2011, 05:58 PM

Originally posted by jgredline

This is true, lets not get me started

Javier has shown us plenty of that!

jgredline · 05-04-2011, 06:07 PM

Not uncommon to see people walking their pigs here in LALA LAND

photolady95 · 05-04-2011, 06:26 PM

Cute one Javier, but a tame pig isn't wild life either.

Though I guess it depends on how "wild" it acts around people.

05-04-2011, 12:30 PM	#169
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590	Pursuing Bluebirds I have a new quarry. Having discovered some places where these guys hang out I'm working on getting some good photos of them. These aren't good enough but they're marginally better than the ones I posted last week. The trick will be getting me, the birds and the light in the same place at the same time.

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05-03-2011, 10:52 PM	#166
BeerBelly Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 139	@photolady: I agree it's a bit soft but sadly it was the best one out of the set. Since I'm just starting into birding can you give me some pointers on what's best to use regarding AF and MF? The lens used was a Sigma 150-500mm. Maybe quick corrections manually after AF locks?

05-04-2011, 05:03 AM	#167
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712	Up your shutter speed for one thing. You're shooting at 500mm your shutter speed should be at least 1.5 times that focal length. Birds fly fast and if your shutter speed isn't fast enough, you'll get blurry photos. Birds in flight, mine are usually shot at 1/1000s but some have need higher than that. My Pigeon was shot at 1/1600s. Birds move even sitting still, they flutter so you need a higher shutter speed to stop them and not get blurry photos. Other photographers will tell you to use a tripod. I have never been able to capture a moving bird using a tripod. Panning is too slow. Maybe you can. The lens you have, is it fairly heavy, then you need a tripod to hold it and the camera steady. SR is nice at times, but you should never have it turned on if you're using a tripod. Documented that SR on a tripod can cause blur photographs. Fstops. Higher ones in bright blue skies will render the sky the color it's supposed to be, em, blue. Higher fstops will also get you more details in your subject. I think now would be a good time to tell you to buy Bryan Peterson's book...Understanding Exposure.

05-04-2011, 10:38 AM	#168
BeerBelly Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 139	Thanks for the tips. I'll try using a faster shutter speed next time. I was going by the focal length = shutter speed rule, but I guess APS-C sensor size does need to be considered. I prefer not using a tripod since I feel it makes the whole ordeal more cumbersome. I understand how ISO, shutter speed and aperture works combined but I'll take a look at that book you linked. Thanks

05-04-2011, 03:33 PM	#170
jgredline Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: LosAngeles, Ca. Photos: Albums Posts: 10,628	Do zoo pictures count as ''wildlife?''I would not think so, but curious minds want to know as I have a few of those.

05-04-2011, 04:19 PM	#171
borno Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: md-usa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,580	Originally posted by jgredline Beautiful bird pics Javier!

05-04-2011, 04:20 PM	#172
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712	I don't know for sure Javier but when I was a member of Nature Photographers of America, their stance was if it had hand of man in the photograph it couldn't be considered nature. As for being wildlife, I always thought wildlife's definition was it was in the wild. If they are in a zoo, they are not in the wild. But, that is my take, and my own opinion.

05-04-2011, 04:40 PM	#173
jgredline Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: LosAngeles, Ca. Photos: Albums Posts: 10,628	Originally posted by borno Beautiful bird pics Javier! Thank you. There are lots of mandarin and wood ducks in my area running wild.

05-04-2011, 04:41 PM	#174
jgredline Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: LosAngeles, Ca. Photos: Albums Posts: 10,628	Originally posted by photolady I don't know for sure Javier but when I was a member of Nature Photographers of America, their stance was if it had hand of man in the photograph it couldn't be considered nature. As for being wildlife, I always thought wildlife's definition was it was in the wild. If they are in a zoo, they are not in the wild. But, that is my take, and my own opinion. Thank you and I would have to agree. I know many birders and they would never consider shooting a bird in a zoo. Ok Zoo pics or captive wildlife is out for me.

05-04-2011, 04:44 PM	#175
paulh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: DFW Texas/Ventura County, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 33,315	Originally posted by jgredline Thank you and I would have to agree. I know many birders and they would never consider shooting a bird in a zoo. Ok Zoo pics or captive wildlife is out for me. There's plenty of 'wildlife' right there on the streets of LA

05-04-2011, 04:46 PM	#176
jgredline Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: LosAngeles, Ca. Photos: Albums Posts: 10,628	My favorite all time duck pick A lousy sparrow A spider I shot in Hawaii

05-04-2011, 04:46 PM	#177
jgredline Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: LosAngeles, Ca. Photos: Albums Posts: 10,628	Originally posted by paulh There's plenty of 'wildlife' right there on the streets of LA This is true, lets not get me started

05-04-2011, 05:58 PM	#178
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590	Originally posted by jgredline This is true, lets not get me started Javier has shown us plenty of that!

05-04-2011, 06:07 PM	#179
jgredline Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: LosAngeles, Ca. Photos: Albums Posts: 10,628	Not uncommon to see people walking their pigs here in LALA LAND

05-04-2011, 06:26 PM	#180
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712	Cute one Javier, but a tame pig isn't wild life either. Though I guess it depends on how "wild" it acts around people.

Thematic Wildlife

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