What's the trick to photographing small birds in flight?

10 years 2 months ago #342293 by Fishtaco
I have been trying to photograph birds while they are in mid flight with panning techniques.   The panning is turning out good, but I can't seem to get a sharp focus on the birds.  Does someone have experience with photographing birds, and can you give me some pointers please? 

Thank you!


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10 years 2 months ago #342303 by Screamin Scott
Try & use as small an aperture as possible so  as to ensure the bird is in focus...Other than that, it's just practice,practice,practice !!!

Scott Ditzel Photography

www.flickr.com/photos/screaminscott/

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10 years 2 months ago - 10 years 2 months ago #342311 by garyrhook
Shutter speed. It needs to be quite short (1/500s of possibly quicker).

I've shot falcons in flight, and 1/4000 is necessarily enough to stop them. I've been told to use flash, but a really strong flash/strobe with an extremely short flash time is not in my budget right now.


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10 years 2 months ago #342313 by Screamin Scott
That's too short as it would counteract the panning effect...It would literally stop the motion...

Scott Ditzel Photography

www.flickr.com/photos/screaminscott/

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10 years 2 months ago #342333 by effron
A few techniques, and one place gear can make a difference....See this.....
www.evergladesphotosociety.org/articles/flightpart01.html

Why so serious?
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10 years 2 months ago #342349 by Screamin Scott
Nice article but it says nothing about panning... This "Dummies" link talks about both options...

www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-ph...birds-in-flight.html

Scott Ditzel Photography

www.flickr.com/photos/screaminscott/

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10 years 2 months ago - 10 years 2 months ago #342361 by effron

Screamin Scott wrote: Nice article but it says nothing about panning... This "Dummies" link talks about both options...

www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-ph...birds-in-flight.html



Also a good link, but the one I posted does discuss "tracking" under technique, you say tom-ah-to, I say tom-a-to.....:whistle:

Edit: another very fine site..... mikeatkinson.net/Tutorial-9-Photographing-Birds-in-Flight.htm

Why so serious?
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10 years 2 months ago - 10 years 2 months ago #342521 by Ulrich Brodde
All hints and advices in effron´s last mentioned link are good and helpful.

I only wonder why he didn´t mention (if he did I overred) the AI Servo-Focus (so called for Canon cameras, don´t know how called for others).
With AI-Focus you fix the motive one time, hold the shutter pressed half-down and then the camera will follow the moving motive (bird) automatically.

To train techniques and possibilities of your camera it might be good to go to a zoo or similar with bird-shows before shooting wildlife. In such shows I could make some nice shots
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10 years 2 months ago #342859 by Tim Dordeck
Good topic and information here


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10 years 2 months ago - 10 years 2 months ago #342885 by Stealthy Ninja
Just to clarify.  Do you want an effect like this:



Or like this:

For the former, you need to match the speed of the bird/object with your pan (good luck with that) for the latter you need a higher Shutter Speed and good AF (and or luck)


FYI I didn't take these photos, I'm just using them for educational/editorial purposes. :)
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