I was shooting snail kites when a female kite decided to attack another female, "fighting for a male". I failed to check my settings (although better than previous post) and kept shooting at lower aperture speed, I should have increased the ISO to at least 1000 and close the aperture to maybe 7.1
Maybe my rookie mistake (I have been shooting for three years) will help others. I was at the right place, at the right time, with the wrong settings... plus I failed to compose properly the picture.
BTW the upside bird was actually perching on the top of the tree when it was hit, you can actually see some feathers on the air.
40D, 500mm f/4, 1.4TC, 580 EX Flash, wimberly head, tripod
1/400, F5.6, ISO 640
Last edited by Raul Quinones; 06-17-2008 at 09:36 PM.
Yes ... so painful!! But been there and done that too!!! The good news is that you always remember this, a great learning experience ... and I know it will never happen to you again!! The birds will be back ... and I want to see you nail it!
With a scene like this developing at warp speed is tough to do much !!! Normally you would not be using that high shutter speed and the key here was cranking the ISO which could not be done while composing !!!
Sure hop you get another crack at this one !!! Outstanding action !!!! Big thanks for posting example, it is very helpful ... be always in the lookout !!!
Raul
Thanks for posting. What a great image for "what might have been". It is reassuring to know that we all do this --- over and over and over.
BTW, just seeing Snail Kites is a great privilege.
Painful learning experience
