Merganser exposure problems

[Ben_Sadd]

Out with my 7D at the weekend I got lots of action from mergansers. However, I was having real trouble getting the exposure right (posted above is just one example of many), getting detail in the head without blowing the whites was proving very difficult. Any tips?

Camera Model Canon EOS 7D
Shooting Mode Aperture-Priority AE
Shutter Speed 1/1250
Aperture Value 6.3
Metering Mode Evaluative Metering
Exposure Compensation +1/3
ISO Speed 400
Lens EF300mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x
Focal Length 420.0mm
Flash Off

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Ben

There is no real secret, for those birds you need to capture early/late in the day. If the contrast is higher than the camera can capture you will blow the whites or block the shadows.

In other types of images we can deal with high contrast by combining two images or doing a full HDR.

... on most cases you want to take care of the whites and let the shadows block, won't be a great image but looks better than blown whites. In your exposure you did perfect for the shadows but the whites went !!!

[arash_hazeghi]

Good advice given by Al, expose for the whites using histogram and then try to raise the shadows in post, keep ISO as low as possible.

[Jeff Cashdollar]

When shooting birds that have highlights always set exposure for them first. Moreover, think what will blow, in this case you were at risk with the whites and shooting in AV make the neg exposure moves as needed. Look at blinkers on LCD and make adjustments as mentioned above. Just practice, that's all you will get it!

[Lance Peters]

Soft light is essential with black and white birds - the dynamic range is otherwise outside of what your camera can capture - have to sacrifice something and as AL said usually the blacks.
Use your histogram and over exposure blinkies .
Looking forward to seeing more :)

[David Stephens]

Ben, you're question has been answered, but I'm not sure that you know what to do. When you have a black and with bird and strong sun, you'll usually want -EV rather than +EV. In this case, I'd start around -1EV and then look at my histogram and blinkies to make sure the whites are not blowing out. Raise it or lower it in 1/3EV increments until you get the whites not to blow out, but go no further into -EV territory than you have to, because you want preserve as much dark detail as possible.

If you've saved the whites with -EV technique, then the HDR technique of combining two or three images (based off the same RAW file) might recover some dark detail. You process the same image two times, once at the base and once with +1 or +2 exposure to bring out detail in the blacks, then you use Photoshop or some software to combine the two images.

There are some great books in the Outdoor Photo Gear shop that address these techniques in much more detail.

Dave

[Ben_Sadd]

Thanks for the comments everyone. I am still waiting for some more good light days. I get the logic, but just need to get out and practice some more.

[Gus Cobos]

Hi Ben,
Very good advice given. Practice, practice and practice...looking forward to the next one...:cool:

[Jeff Cashdollar]

The Ed Forum has some threads you might find interesting too. Check Out "My Pictures Don't Look Like That". This is written by Artie Morris and references "The Are of Bird Photography" & "Digital Basics" - both must reads for the nature photographer IMO.