Post by dpeppar on May 12, 2015 7:59:06 GMT -8
When I'm out looking for some good bird shots I like to have the conditions perfect. The reality is that we have to take what we are given. First condition would be sun on my back. If I see some birds in a tree and I'm looking into the sun I will move to a better location on the other side of the tree. But you can't always move.
This was the problem I had when I went to shot the birds at the Angus-Campbell 'pond' on Sunday. The birds were silhouetted on a very bright background - the water. Those trying to take this picture in any of their cameras auto modes would end up with black birds on a white background.
So the answer to this problem is to switch to manual mode and take a reading off some neutral area - I like grass for this. Then use that setting for your shots into the bright background. When you do this background will be bright but the birds will be close to the proper exposure.
Long-billed Dowitcher - Abbotsford - May 10-15
Long-billed Dowitcher - Abbotsford - May 10-15
I cropped the two picture and lighten them by 1/3 stop. I leave my camera on Manual and adjust the exposure as I go. This does not make every shot good but the difficult ones are improved.
Of course the no technique will get the birds to turn around and not give me the 'bums' shot!
DaveP
This was the problem I had when I went to shot the birds at the Angus-Campbell 'pond' on Sunday. The birds were silhouetted on a very bright background - the water. Those trying to take this picture in any of their cameras auto modes would end up with black birds on a white background.
So the answer to this problem is to switch to manual mode and take a reading off some neutral area - I like grass for this. Then use that setting for your shots into the bright background. When you do this background will be bright but the birds will be close to the proper exposure.
Long-billed Dowitcher - Abbotsford - May 10-15
Long-billed Dowitcher - Abbotsford - May 10-15
I cropped the two picture and lighten them by 1/3 stop. I leave my camera on Manual and adjust the exposure as I go. This does not make every shot good but the difficult ones are improved.
Of course the no technique will get the birds to turn around and not give me the 'bums' shot!
DaveP