Post by kenpossum on Mar 3, 2012 10:40:22 GMT -8
Darth Vader, Star Wars, Klingon warrier fighters, birding? What's the connection? Well, there just might be one, but you may have to put on a Darth Vader helmet to see it (and maybe be a little weird as well).
Light years ago in another millenium, I used to sit in front of my Commodore 64 and for hours on end, I would blast TIE warships out of the Federation's space.
Little did I realize that the tracking skills I were developing would come into use in bird photography. Inspired by a head-on image of a swallow taken at Reifel by that Master Photographer Len Jellicoe I have ever since had this type of image on my 'bucket list".
First step is to set your Auto-focus setting at "Spot Focus". Some cameras give you options - narrow or wide. Your choice may depend upon your video game experience, but both will work.
Next, make sure you have at least a 1/500 sec shutter speed. The images below were all taken at 1/800 sec. made possible by a sunny day and an ISO of 250. The lower the ISO the sharper the image due to less noise.
Finally, place yourself in a pathway where your subjects are likely to fly your way. I was fortunate to be standing beside an American photographer who had a small supply of seed. Whenever he tossed some seeds into the air, all sorts of ducks flew in, and the fun started. And, it was fun and entertaining. Reminded me of my old Star Wars games as I trained the focus box on an incoming duck, tracked and framed it, then pressed the death-lazer, whoops, I meant shutter.
Fortunately, no ducks were harmed in the creation of these images.
This last one was on a Northern Pintail not head-on but I enjoyed capturing it anyway.
Light years ago in another millenium, I used to sit in front of my Commodore 64 and for hours on end, I would blast TIE warships out of the Federation's space.
Little did I realize that the tracking skills I were developing would come into use in bird photography. Inspired by a head-on image of a swallow taken at Reifel by that Master Photographer Len Jellicoe I have ever since had this type of image on my 'bucket list".
First step is to set your Auto-focus setting at "Spot Focus". Some cameras give you options - narrow or wide. Your choice may depend upon your video game experience, but both will work.
Next, make sure you have at least a 1/500 sec shutter speed. The images below were all taken at 1/800 sec. made possible by a sunny day and an ISO of 250. The lower the ISO the sharper the image due to less noise.
Finally, place yourself in a pathway where your subjects are likely to fly your way. I was fortunate to be standing beside an American photographer who had a small supply of seed. Whenever he tossed some seeds into the air, all sorts of ducks flew in, and the fun started. And, it was fun and entertaining. Reminded me of my old Star Wars games as I trained the focus box on an incoming duck, tracked and framed it, then pressed the death-lazer, whoops, I meant shutter.
Fortunately, no ducks were harmed in the creation of these images.
This last one was on a Northern Pintail not head-on but I enjoyed capturing it anyway.