Failure of the day

[Stephen]

I was totally unprepared for this goose taking off today whilst out on a walk by the canal. I heard a squalking noise and then the splash of the bird in the water. Whoah I thought that could make a great photo. I lifted the camera, with the 100-400 lens on I might add By the time I had picked up the bird it was too late. The camera was set on single shot, standard focusing not AI and I just couldn't get an infocus shot of the Goose I was not best pleased, this was the ONLY shot I took

[coupekid]

Re: Failure of the day

Well, glad to see it happens to the best of 'em Stephen!

Had some friends over yesterday with their dog (the black Lab Rosy which I think I have posted before) to around 20 or so shots, and not one keeper!

Shame you didnt get this shot, it would have been a belter!

[Autumn]

Re: Failure of the day

I was totally unprepared for this goose taking off today whilst out on a walk by the canal. I heard a squalking noise and then the splash of the bird in the water. Whoah I thought that could make a great photo. I lifted the camera, with the 100-400 lens on I might add By the time I had picked up the bird it was too late. The camera was set on single shot, standard focusing not AI and I just couldn't get an infocus shot of the Goose I was not best pleased, this was the ONLY shot I took

Good job you are getting your practice in now Stephen also thanks for posting. It's quite encouraging to know you hadn't got your camera on the correct setting. I thought that only happened to me

BTW, what it "AI"? Auto? I?

[Stephen]

Re: Failure of the day

AI is a type of auto focus on Canon cameras that predicts where an object will be when the shutter is fired by calculating speed and direction. So its used when photographing moving objects. AI actually stands for Artificial Intelligence. I find it particularly useful when photographing things coming towards the camera. So long as the shutter button is half depressed the focus is constantly readjusting so when the shutter is fired you get spot on focus.

I had a situation recently when I was working with someone who had a Canon 20D. He said he was going to get rid of it because he was struggling to get his shots in proper focus. He asked me to have a look at it, and I spotted straightaway he had it set on AI Servo. Well of course it really only works properly on moving objects. When I adjusted his camera to the correct AF mode everything was spot on again. He was amazed, if a little embarassed

[Autumn]

Re: Failure of the day

AI is a type of auto focus on Canon cameras that predicts where an object will be when the shutter is fired by calculating speed and direction. So its used when photographing moving objects. AI actually stands for Artificial Intelligence. I find it particularly useful when photographing things coming towards the camera. So long as the shutter button is half depressed the focus is constantly readjusting so when the shutter is fired you get spot on focus.

Thanks Stephen, that sounds a marvellous function. I did not know such a thing existed.

[Stephen]

Re: Failure of the day

Thanks Stephen, that sounds a marvellous function. I did not know such a thing existed.

I'm pretty sure your Fuji has an equivalent type of AF, its probably just called Continuous focus.

[Archangel]

Re: Failure of the day

Thanks Stephen, that sounds a marvellous function. I did not know such a thing existed.

This is the "Continuous Auto Focus" Audrey and should exist in your camera, possibly with a different name as different brands use slight name variations for it. Useful in some specific situations, like Wild Life photography, but also battery consuming

Also check your camera if it has the "Focus Lock" function (that probably does) which locks the focus on a specific location and then every time the shutter is pressed the camera doesn't take the time to focus again, but instead fires the shot instantly.
That is the ultimate method of capturing Wild Life from birds or animals passing from a specific location.

George

[peter]

Re: Failure of the day

Well thats so nice to know that you get it wrong some times. Things like that will make the rest of us feel so much better. I guess we are all looking forward to seeing the stuff you get when it all goes right for you. Bet that will not be far away.

[bigbob]

Re: Failure of the day

Happens to all of us , more than once in my case .
Windsor bridge shooting down river , heard flapping and 3 swans coming up behind me at head height , everyone on the bridge ducked and the swans flew past me before i could get my camera aimed , that would have been some shot .
This one , i pre-focused on the bath the catch a eagle owl swoop in and take a dead chick out of the water at speed , only had a camera which took 2fps , thought that would do... WRONG nowhere near it , went out next week and bought a 12 fps cam.
Maybe we ought to have a ''if only'' thread , bet it would fill up quick .

B..

[Caz]

Re: Failure of the day

Happens to all of us , more than once in my case .
Windsor bridge shooting down river , heard flapping and 3 swans coming up behind me at head height , everyone on the bridge ducked and the swans flew past me before i could get my camera aimed , that would have been some shot .
This one , i pre-focused on the bath the catch a eagle owl swoop in and take a dead chick out of the water at speed , only had a camera which took 2fps , thought that would do... WRONG nowhere near it , went out next week and bought a 12 fps cam.
Maybe we ought to have a ''if only'' thread , bet it would fill up quick .

B..

I'm with you there! Doesn't matter whether it's birds, cars or kids, if it's moving I've got a pretty good chance of missing it...

I know what Stephen means about the wrong 'mode' as well - something very similar happened a couple of weeks ago when we were over at Charlecote House and walking alongside the river. The male swan was on the same bank as us, drinking, and the female swan was on a small island in the centre of the river building a nest. They then decided to meet up midstream and greet one another. Did I get a keeper? Did I heck! Can't even show you, because I deleted the lot....
Caz

[Mike Parr]

Re: Failure of the day

I have to say I even managed to mess up the group shots of the family yesterday, everyone posed, thought about backdrop, light etc. what aload of old tosh I took, I find I get about one or two decent shots out of every 10 I take.
Note to self: must try harder

[Pops]

Re: Failure of the day

Aw heck I do that all the time ... you'll get used to it

[bigbob]

Re: Failure of the day

Perhaps my biggest one , and one which cost me money was shooting a wedding at 1600 ISO indoors and completly forgetting to adjust back to 100 outside , luckily i spotted it after the group shots(which i always take those first) and re-adjusted , but the brides family were bleached a little
I deducted half my normal fee , cause i was feeling foolish for doing such a stupid thing .
B..

[Tinka]

Re: Failure of the day

I have to say I even managed to mess up the group shots of the family yesterday, everyone posed, thought about backdrop, light etc. what aload of old tosh I took, I find I get about one or two decent shots out of every 10 I take.
Note to self: must try harder

You get that many keepers? last week went out with the family, took 94 photographs, ended up with 11 what I call keepers, and a lot of snaps for the family album only.