I've been really struggling with BIF. I never seem to get any sharp shots anymore. Yesterday I managed to go out with two minimally charged batteries for the 40D and so was forced to switch to the 1DS part way through the day. It wasn't perfect but it was an improvement. I can almost guarantee that I wouldn't have got this shot with the 40D. Sure, the wings are a blurred mess due to the cock-up with ec described below but I quite like that. I think it adds to the sense of movement in the shot. Or am I just making excuses?
1DS Mark II + 400mm DO. ISO 800, F4 @ 1/100 sec. Aperture priority @+1 2/3 ec. I was at + 1 whilst they were against the blue sky and turned the dial the wrong way as they came in against the darker background!
sean i think the sharpness is due to the lack of shutter speed. you can still get wing blur from 1/500s. 1/100s is too slow to get the sharpness you must be looking for. this doesnt look that bad. the fore goose is pretty sharp. just need more shutter speed!!
Hi Sean,
I like the composition and the wing blur. You have a sharp eye and the color of the water is very nice. I would personally like to see if possible more room to the right of the frame to be able to see the trail streaks of water started by the landing gear... :) well done Sean...:cool:
Hi Harold. Sorry, I wasn't clear. The big surprise for me is that the goose in the foreground is in fact in focus. That was the goose I had the focus point on. With the 40D I am pretty sure that, even with the focus point locked on that bird, focus would have been somewhere else entirely. The motion blur is, as you rightly say, entirely down to the shutter speed which was entirely down to my turning the dial clockwise instead of anti-clockwise.
Sean, I too struggle w/ birds in flight shots- The water color is beautiful and it sounds like you got a hold on this and your next will be better -but this isn't bad -I'd be happy if it were mine!
Hi Sean A very fine image Just more room behind the birds Love the light and feel !!
I don't mind the wings blurred at all but wish for a slightly different wing position which you could have gotten with the N model and its 8 fps !! I liked my 1DsMk2 a lot but was slow !!
This flight shot you nailed. Would practice with gulls for the 40D The reports are good for the AF. I switched form Nikon just over a year ago and haven't used one. btw ..... had trouble with AF, no consistency at all !!! Happy Camper now :)
Haven't used my 40D enough for flight shots so I can't be of too much help. Yesterday when I attended a workshop they recommended activating all nine sensor points. (for a beginner like me)
Hi Sean- the closer the subject is to you the faster the shutter speed you will need to freeze the action - the further away subject is - slower shutter speed will freeze the action.
Splashdown!
