http://photonaturalist.net/how-to-get-sharp-photos-of-birds-in-flight/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-to-get-sharp-photos-of-birds-in-flight tips and tutorials for digital nature photography Thu, 17 May 2012 03:01:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://photonaturalist.net/how-to-get-sharp-photos-of-birds-in-flight/comment-page-2/#comment-55270 Vic Berardi Wed, 16 May 2012 03:10:05 +0000 http://photonaturalist.net/?p=1717#comment-55270 Thanks Patricia! Glad you found it and glad you like it. Steve has lots of great tips to share and plenty more to come! Thanks Patricia! Glad you found it and glad you like it. Steve has lots of great tips to share and plenty more to come!

]]> http://photonaturalist.net/how-to-get-sharp-photos-of-birds-in-flight/comment-page-2/#comment-55067 Patricia Mon, 14 May 2012 02:59:28 +0000 http://photonaturalist.net/?p=1717#comment-55067 This is a great website for nature shooters. I wish I had found it sooner. This is a great website for nature shooters. I wish I had found it sooner.

]]> http://photonaturalist.net/how-to-get-sharp-photos-of-birds-in-flight/comment-page-2/#comment-49852 Vic Berardi Sun, 11 Mar 2012 04:04:37 +0000 http://photonaturalist.net/?p=1717#comment-49852 Hi Jeff, Thanks, glad you liked the post! On my Canon 7D I've used both the center point and the central array points (expanded) for birds in flight. Both work fine, however, I have noticed on occasion that there may be a slight lag in getting the bird in focus on the expanded AF points. I prefer to use the back focus button and the center point. Once I get the bird in focus (and on the center point) I take my thumb off the focus button momentarily and shoot a burst of photos. Vic Hi Jeff,
Thanks, glad you liked the post! On my Canon 7D I’ve used both the center point and the central array points (expanded) for birds in flight. Both work fine, however, I have noticed on occasion that there may be a slight lag in getting the bird in focus on the expanded AF points. I prefer to use the back focus button and the center point. Once I get the bird in focus (and on the center point) I take my thumb off the focus button momentarily and shoot a burst of photos.
Vic

]]> http://photonaturalist.net/how-to-get-sharp-photos-of-birds-in-flight/comment-page-2/#comment-49809 Jeff Sat, 10 Mar 2012 05:18:41 +0000 http://photonaturalist.net/?p=1717#comment-49809 Hi Vic, Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful pictures and this very helpful advice. It seems that some photographers advocate for using the "center point" autofocus as opposed to alternatives such as "zone" or "expanded" autofocus points for bird in flight photos. The argument seems to be go ahead with the latter when the background is uniform such as sky as more focus points will make locking on the bird easier. But when the background is cluttered the camera may tend to get more easily confused and alternate between focusing on the bird or background. What are your thoughts about this? thanks, Jeff Hi Vic,
Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful pictures and this very helpful advice. It seems that some photographers advocate for using the “center point” autofocus as opposed to alternatives such as “zone” or “expanded” autofocus points for bird in flight photos. The argument seems to be go ahead with the latter when the background is uniform such as sky as more focus points will make locking on the bird easier. But when the background is cluttered the camera may tend to get more easily confused and alternate between focusing on the bird or background. What are your thoughts about this?
thanks,
Jeff

]]> http://photonaturalist.net/how-to-get-sharp-photos-of-birds-in-flight/comment-page-2/#comment-48978 Judy Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:23:52 +0000 http://photonaturalist.net/?p=1717#comment-48978 Thank you for your time Vic! I went to the park this past weekend, and tried your tips you mentioned here. I managed to get quite a few nice shots off! I had been shooting in RAW, and changed it up to jpeg and used the settings you mentioned. I was able to get quite a few nice shots off of a few birds that were flying close to where I was! So I am pretty stoked! Thanks again! Thank you for your time Vic! I went to the park this past weekend, and tried your tips you mentioned here. I managed to get quite a few nice shots off! I had been shooting in RAW, and changed it up to jpeg and used the settings you mentioned. I was able to get quite a few nice shots off of a few birds that were flying close to where I was! So I am pretty stoked! Thanks again!

]]> http://photonaturalist.net/how-to-get-sharp-photos-of-birds-in-flight/comment-page-2/#comment-48955 Vic Berardi Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:35:41 +0000 http://photonaturalist.net/?p=1717#comment-48955 Judy, Your camera is capable of taking very high quality photos. However, the focal length of your zoom falls a tad bit short for most birds in flight. Larger birds, like the Bald Eagle you mention are fine, but even they need to be close to you. As for the focusing issues, it is very difficult to stay on a bird that maneuvers around in the sky. Just try to anticipate the direction the bird is going as best as you could. No one gets every shot in focus. Judy,
Your camera is capable of taking very high quality photos. However, the focal length of your zoom falls a tad bit short for most birds in flight. Larger birds, like the Bald Eagle you mention are fine, but even they need to be close to you.
As for the focusing issues, it is very difficult to stay on a bird that maneuvers around in the sky. Just try to anticipate the direction the bird is going as best as you could. No one gets every shot in focus.

]]> http://photonaturalist.net/how-to-get-sharp-photos-of-birds-in-flight/comment-page-2/#comment-48799 Judy Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:01:37 +0000 http://photonaturalist.net/?p=1717#comment-48799 Vic, I am using a Canon Rebel T3 with a 55-250mm IS lens. I am just practicing. Sometimes I can get a good shot, but mostly they're too far away for my lens. I hate it when I'm tracking a bird in the sky and lose focus. I've managed to get a couple of nice shots of a bald eagle in the state park near my home, but out of 25 shots, there was only 1 real good one. The rest were all blurry or missed because of the focus. I've been searching for sites that can help make the most of what I have, and I was lucky enough to stumble in here! Vic, I am using a Canon Rebel T3 with a 55-250mm IS lens. I am just practicing. Sometimes I can get a good shot, but mostly they’re too far away for my lens. I hate it when I’m tracking a bird in the sky and lose focus. I’ve managed to get a couple of nice shots of a bald eagle in the state park near my home, but out of 25 shots, there was only 1 real good one. The rest were all blurry or missed because of the focus. I’ve been searching for sites that can help make the most of what I have, and I was lucky enough to stumble in here!

]]> http://photonaturalist.net/how-to-get-sharp-photos-of-birds-in-flight/comment-page-2/#comment-48769 Vic Berardi Mon, 20 Feb 2012 03:19:38 +0000 http://photonaturalist.net/?p=1717#comment-48769 @ John, I would not recommend using anything but Large Raw. I use PS Elements 10 for my RAW conversion and it works fine. @ Mac, excellent suggestion, I actually ordered Lightroom 3 from B&H the other day because of that sale! @ Judy, what camera are you using? @ John, I would not recommend using anything but Large Raw. I use PS Elements 10 for my RAW conversion and it works fine.
@ Mac, excellent suggestion, I actually ordered Lightroom 3 from B&H the other day because of that sale!
@ Judy, what camera are you using?

]]> http://photonaturalist.net/how-to-get-sharp-photos-of-birds-in-flight/comment-page-2/#comment-48762 Judy Sun, 19 Feb 2012 22:48:24 +0000 http://photonaturalist.net/?p=1717#comment-48762 Love the tips! I don't have the proper camera nor lens, but I still enjoy photographing birds. How do you work with the autofocus? Do you use an af lens? I have problems with sighting the bird in the sky. Sometimes I lose focus. Then I lose precious seconds trying to focus in on the bird again. Any tips for that? Thank you! Love the tips! I don’t have the proper camera nor lens, but I still enjoy photographing birds. How do you work with the autofocus? Do you use an af lens? I have problems with sighting the bird in the sky. Sometimes I lose focus. Then I lose precious seconds trying to focus in on the bird again. Any tips for that? Thank you!

]]> http://photonaturalist.net/how-to-get-sharp-photos-of-birds-in-flight/comment-page-2/#comment-48544 Mac Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:26:46 +0000 http://photonaturalist.net/?p=1717#comment-48544 I would suggest using a different editing program like Lightroom 3 which B&H photo is offering today only for $69. With this program, you have many more tools to edit your images and is very good at managing your entire collection. I would suggest using a different editing program like Lightroom 3 which B&H photo is offering today only for $69. With this program, you have many more tools to edit your images and is very good at managing your entire collection.

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