Purple Martin In Flight

[Norm Dulak]

Nikon D300
Nikkor 80-400 mm f/4.5-5.6D VR @ 400 mm, hand held
ISO 1600
f/5.6, 1/3200 sec
3D Matrix metering + 1.0 stop

I'm presenting this image in the Eager to Learn category, because when it comes to very swiftly flying bird image captures I'm not at the top of the learning curve! By focusing (no pun intended) on Purple Martins flying from my four apartment houses, I've tried with arguable success to prepare for the capture of images of raptors flying through Cape May, NJ, in the coming fall migration. Although I don't regard it as a triumph, I like the image of this fledgling Purple Martin, and I hope you will too. But if anyone has suggestions as to how these swiftly flying insect catchers can best be photographed, please do let me know!

Norm

[Desmond Chan]

It does look good to me. I wish I had something like this. I think I notice some noise though. How big a crop, if any, is this?

[Norm Dulak]

Desmond:

It's probably about a 50% crop. While the bird was centered as captured, I cropped the image to show the bird flying into open space and to apply an approximation of the rule of thirds. Frankly, the light was not good when the image was captured; hence the high ISO and the resulting noise. Nevertheless, I didn't apply Noise Ninja to deal with the noise, because I wanted to retain the ability to sharpen the image a bit. Thanks for your comments!

Norm

[Norm Dulak]

In response to Desmond's thoughtful comments, I bit the bullet and dealt with the noise issue. I hope that this version of the purple martin image is more to everyone's liking.

Norm

[Nonda Surratt]

Its sharp!!! Love the wings. I also noticed a bit of noise. Still and all hats off to you!

[Kent Wilson]

Beautiful image. These guys are such a challenge ... and they don't take direction, either!

[Stephen Cunliffe]

I think you need to be good at video games to get this kind of capture.....well done

[Lance Peters]

Nicely done - looks a tad dark on my screen.

:)

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Norm The trick is trying to get these speeding bullets fuller in frame You are close .... filling the frame about 70 in camera is all you need.

Exposure wise you are plus one and seems a little more would have been in order Remember the birds are dark, you will most likely have to crop just a bit so its not a good combination ... instant noise/loss of detail !!! You did well with this one and do like the in flight position very much !!!

[Norm Dulak]

Al:

Thanks for the suggestions, and I'll keep them in mind! I'll up the exposure to plus 1 1/2 or 1 2/3 to better compensate for the effect of the light sky. While I've tried to more completely fill the frame, I'm afraid that is a skill I'll have to continue to develop. Still, this practice has been good, since capturing larger, more slowly flying raptors should be easier if I can do a reasonable job with the speed-merchant purple martins. Again, I appreciate your comments.

Norm