I have been out a few more times, often to Ladywalk Resrve, and managed to snap a few more birds (including this staring jackdaw).
I have been experimenting with trying to capture birds in flight – which is not easy.
So, what makes it so difficult ?
- They’re moving (sometimes quite quickly) so I need to track them and keep them in focus.
- If they’re perched it’s difficult to get that exact moment that they decide to launch.
- Another aspect of them moving is that the wings are flapping.
To counteract these problems, I need to get the focus locked on the bird, use a fast shutter speed to freeze the wings (1/2,000 sec) and use burst mode to capture a number of shots in quick succession. AND a lot of luck.
Sometimes it pays off …
Tracking the birds in flight (BIF) or even finding them in the viewfinder is a skill that I need to practice (a lot) and getting to know the birds also gives a clue as to when they might decide to take off. It’s a lot harder than photographing trains !
It’s not only birds that I see at the reserve.
One day, I was sat in a hide when I heard a scratching at the window, I turned around and came face to face with a squirrel looking in.
I’m quite proud of this shot I managed a few mornings back. A couple of pheasants were roaming about on the ground before deciding to jump up onto a branch. The sun was almost behind them so they were backlit somewhat. One took off from the branch so I thought that the other would follow suit. I focused on the bird and as he lifted his tail, I shot off a burst as he took to the air.
Of the half a dozen or so shots, I was able to use a couple …
I’m quite pleased with some of my photos and with more practice, can only get better.