Just how the heck

[Pops]

Just how the heck are you supposed to work out which settings to use for a birdie with so many contrasting colours.......
like this one....... (POL ... he is now a regular)



Anybody Know a good hairdresser



That's more like it

[Stephen]

Re: Just how the heck

Corkers Pops, particularly like the Robin . You seem to be getting the hang of this birding lark

[Ian]

Re: Just how the heck

Corkers Pops, particularly like the Robin . You seem to be getting the hang of this birding lark

Totally agree - especially the robin - Pops, can you remind us what camera and lens you used?

Ian

[Tom]

Re: Just how the heck

All three are great Pops but I like the third very much, as good as some I've seen, shot with very expensive equipment.

[Bearface]

Re: Just how the heck

The robin's very cute, but for me the sparrow takes the honours here. The image flows nicely, the colours and background seem more natural and the DOF is stronger, giving superior detail. Technically as well as subjectively, it's my favourite of the three; a really good bird shot.

The first image shows some evidence of camera shake or some other occurrence which has resulted in some bluriness or softness. The sharpening has helped, but it's not quite enough.

[Pops]

Re: Just how the heck

The robin's very cute, but for me the sparrow takes the honours here. The image flows nicely, the colours and background seem more natural and the DOF is stronger, giving superior detail. Technically as well as subjectively, it's my favourite of the three; a really good bird shot.

The first image shows some evidence of camera shake or some other occurrence which has resulted in some bluriness or softness. The sharpening has helped, but it's not quite enough.

Bearface I suspect that the fault with the woody is down to distance. He was way down the garden by about 36 feet and what you see is a good sized crop. Another factor believe it or not was my own excitement with him having landed. All the shots I grabbed of him were taken very fast without steadying everything up before snapping.
Hopefully I shall be more composed when he has visited a few more times

[Pops]

Re: Just how the heck

Totally agree - especially the robin - Pops, can you remind us what camera and lens you used?

Ian

Oh dear Ian...memory going already

On this occasion I had the canon 100-400 L IS USM lens fitted to the 400D

[Stephen]

Re: Just how the heck

Oh dear Ian...memory going already

On this occasion I had the canon 100-400 L IS USM lens fitted to the 400D

Thats the mother I'm gonna have to acquire for me jollies

[Pol]

Re: Just how the heck

You're so lucky! Lovely bird and it seems to be getting more confident and posing closer and closer for you!

We've recently been commenting on how few birds are visiting our garden just now. same feeders, a lot less visitors so I suppose they must be finding sufficient food elsewhere.

Your guess is probably as good as mine regarding exposure for the Woodpecker but I'd suggest ........

a) definitely shoot in RAW

b) Try either centre weight metering or spot metering (aim to meter from an area where the dark grey meets with white - eg where the beak meets the white feathers). That's how Gert instructs me anyway and he usually gets better shots than I do.

Keep 'em coming. You'll be hand feeding them soon at the rate yer going!

Pol

[Archangel]

Re: Just how the heck

Just how the heck are you supposed to work out which settings to use for a birdie with so many contrasting colours.......
like this one....... (POL ... he is now a regular)

Pops,

Nice shots, though the first one looks somewhat not completely in focus.
I like the last one better in terms of clarity and bird captured position.
When shooting birds try to experiment with "Center Weighted Average" or "Spot" metering. Maybe you will get more desirable results, but that also varies from camera to camera too.
I would also suggest to lower the saturation to see if you can get better details on the birds feathers.



George

[Pops]

Re: Just how the heck

Thanks Pol and George...all points duly noted.

Bearface made similar comment about the 1st one George. It was a great distance away and there has been a heavy crop. Well that's my excuse and I'm sticking with it

[Bearface]

Re: Just how the heck

Bearface I suspect that the fault with the woody is down to distance. He was way down the garden by about 36 feet and what you see is a good sized crop. Another factor believe it or not was my own excitement with him having landed. All the shots I grabbed of him were taken very fast without steadying everything up before snapping.
Hopefully I shall be more composed when he has visited a few more times

The picture I get in my mind is one of you hopping from one foot to the other with exitement, while the woodpecker sits 36 feet away, totally stunned by this strange human who keeps intermittently jumping around and then placing a strange clicking device over his face.........if only they could talk, eh..?

Actually, although I'm not particularly into "twitching" or photographing birds (I didn't even know the first one was a woodpecker... ), it'd be good to see some more shots like this as you take them. That sparrow image really set the standard though...

[Autumn]

Re: Just how the heck

Just superb Pops. I think everyting else has been said.

The robin is particularly saucy.

[Pops]

Re: Just how the heck

The picture I get in my mind is one of you hopping from one foot to the other with exitement, while the woodpecker sits 36 feet away, totally stunned by this strange human who keeps intermittently jumping around and then placing a strange clicking device over his face.........if only they could talk, eh..?

Actually, although I'm not particularly into "twitching" or photographing birds (I didn't even know the first one was a woodpecker... ), it'd be good to see some more shots like this as you take them. That sparrow image really set the standard though...

I appreciate your kind comments. It's always nice to get compliments from one's peers, very encouraging.

[Blithe]

Re: Just how the heck

Love them all, but the robin is such a cheeky chap. The flustered feathers make you realise that there's not such a lot to them. His stance and the light in his eye make a lovely photograph. The last looks very professional.