My First try at bird photography.

[Jim56]

Camera Nikon D2X
Exposure 0.003 sec (1/400)
Aperture f/5.0
Focal Length 105 mm
ISO Speed 640
Exposure Bias -2/3 EV
Flash No Flash
X-Resolution 1
Y-Resolution 1
Software picnik.com
Date and Time (Modified) 2011:03:13 21:49:22
YCbCr Positioning Centered
Exposure Program Manual

I really like the challenge of taking pictures of birds but the darn things seem to fly away as soon as I am about to take their photo. Any advice is welcomed. Thanks

[Mike S.]

It seems like the shot is focused on the branch the bird is on and not on the bird itself. Taking a photo against the sky is tricky for me as I am still learning but the background is too bright on this shot. You might want to try a lower ISO for such bright conditions.

[Stargazer77517]

Not sure about Nikon, Canon has a beam of light used to help with focus when you depress the shutter button, I had to turn mine off for the very reason it was scaring the birds.

[jfoureyes]

Shooting them with a 105 has got to be a challenge for sure...I have a hard time with my 300.

[bunnyfrogs]

It's very good! I agree with the focus... looks like the branch is sharper than the bird. They always say focus should be on the bird's eye, head area. Make sure your camera's sound is completely muted. No beeps. And think like a hunter... step softly, don't move much, hide behind trees if you have to, and be patient. You might have 10 fly off with 1 that you capture. It's frustrating when the 3rd one is the one you really wanted to get.

[Patti Edens]

I think you did pretty good with a 105mm lens as Jim says. And I'm guessing you had to pull up the exposure with software which would usually result in some noise at 640 ISO, but you have very little noise, so that's really good!

Here's a suggestion in this type of shooting situation that might help...

When you have a very bright background like this, the camera will be fooled by all that brightness and it will underexpose your subject. One solution is to use Spot metering so that the camera will meter just on the subject. Or, sometimes if the subject is really small in the frame, even spot metering won't work and you have to overexpose by 2/3 or even more so that the subject is exposed correctly. (Note that in your EXIF info, you underexposed by 2/3 which was just the opposite of what you should have done.)

As was pointed out, you will blow out the background, but that's the trade off to get the subject exposed correctly.

Another thing that would help and would preserve the background somewhat is to use a flash just as "fill" flash, ie: not to light up the whole scene. A "better beamer" helps with this too since it will help to concentrate the flash if the bird is far away. Google "Fill Flash" and "Better Beamer". I don't do this as much as I should because I hate carrying around that flash and more batteries. :)

Just remember:
Dark subject and very bright background (your situation) - Overexpose
Light subject and very dark background (White egret on a dark pond) - Underexpose

[houtex01]

Originally Posted by bunnyfrogs

It's very good! I agree with the focus... looks like the branch is sharper than the bird. They always say focus should be on the bird's eye, head area. Make sure your camera's sound is completely muted. No beeps. And think like a hunter... step softly, don't move much, hide behind trees if you have to, and be patient. You might have 10 fly off with 1 that you capture. It's frustrating when the 3rd one is the one you really wanted to get.

Great summation Amy...practice the two "P"s...patience and persistence...

Ron

[tomhooper]

I can't imagine trying to shoot birds with a 105. I too have trouble with my 300. Exposure is extremely tricky shooting against the sky.

On a side not, I enjoyed meeting you and your grandson today. We really need to get together one day and try to do a short photo safari. Still want to shoot So-So Park.

[corralup]

I was going to say you need a longer lens but anything is possible. I would suggest getting some bird feeders and put them out. Woodpeckers love peanut butter!

Someone gave me a recipe for a rectanguler feeder. Here it is.

1 cup crunchy peanut butter
1 cup lard (not vegetable shortening)
2 cups quick-cook oats
2 cups cornmeal
1 cup plain flour
1/3 cup sugar

Melt lard and peanut butter in microwave. Stir in remaining ingredients. Pour into square or rectangular container. Refrigerate and cut into squares and serve the birds (and squirrels). They love it!

[Hanky]

I would add for Chickadees and other birds that are dark around the eyes go + on the exposure to pull their eyes out, careful also because bird shooting gets addictive.

[Glassman]

James, I think you did ok for your first try. It's always good to get the shot right in the camera but it's not always easy to do that. Here's your shot with a little photoshop for illustration purposes to show that you can sometimes improve. I did not try to make this perfect, just show that it's not too hard to fix a shot if you want to take some time. Hope you do not mind me photoshopping your image.

[Jim56]

Thanks Billy I do not mind at all. I have an older model of photoshop elements 4 and I am not sure I can do all of that. I have not yet learned how to use layers very well.