How Not to Photograph an Osprey

[hughbie]

Birdwatching at Newport Wetlands today. I see an osprey approaching up the estuary.

1. Get camera out of bag - had been just using binoculars.
2. Start with 1.4 x extender on 7D with 300 2.8 - the birds still too far.
Swopping camera and binoculars for views.
3. Swop to a 2x extender. Panic when realise camera is not focussing
Osprey had to hang around as a bunch of shelduck decided to mob it, for ages.
4. Oops, forgot to take the 1.4x off the camera before adding the 2 x - I was a bit excited.
5. Try again, just 2x extender- quick chimp - wildly over exposed - oops, knocked the dial onto Manual exposure.
6. Realise that I had wrong focus point selection.
7. Result - a few record shots. But, had a fab time watching the osprey through binoculars as well.

Moral - wish I had just calmed down a bit and taken my time.

[Hereford_EOS2]

Re: How Not to Photograph an Osprey

Relax !!!

[hughbie]

Re: How Not to Photograph an Osprey

Relax !!!

To be honest, I just loved being able to watch that bird for so long. i was never going tio get much of a shot anyway. I know my limitations and that of my kit. Its probably arrived from a helluva journey and the locals give it some grief.

[JaKS_Foto]

Re: How Not to Photograph an Osprey

Oooh, I must have 8 or 12 T shirts like that!

[colin C]

Re: How Not to Photograph an Osprey

Oooh, I must have 8 or 12 T shirts like that!

I have a few of those T shirts as well.

All part of the photography apprenticeship experience.

Colin

[nigels]

Re: How Not to Photograph an Osprey

Ha! Excellent chain of events! We've all been there of course.

[Stan]

Re: How Not to Photograph an Osprey

We've all been there of course.

me too

stan

[hughbie]

Re: How Not to Photograph an Osprey

Cheers all.
I think its about time I had a proper go at RTfM and setting up C1 on the dial for birds in flight. Maybe the topic of a different thread. I'm sure I recall stuff like that having been posted in the past, possibly by Colin?

Hugh

[colin C]

Re: How Not to Photograph an Osprey

I'm sure I recall stuff like that having been posted in the past, possibly by Colin?

I think my advice centred around getting into the good habit of whenever you finish shooting, before you put your camera away, you return any altered camera settings back to a "standard setting" for you. That way, if an opportunity presents itself before you are quite ready, you can grab the camera and shoot, confident that you will get good results.

So, I have been doing some night shooting using ISO 100, 30 seconds at F16 on a custom white balance and a 17 - 40 F4 L. When I have finished shooting I will:

• Change the 17 - 40mm for the 500mm

• Change shutter speed back to 1/1600sec

• Change ISO back to 400

• Change white balance back to AWB

• Change single shot to High speed multi

• Switch back to A1 Servo

And now if that rare Osprey flies by unexpectedly, I can grab the camera and take the shot and maybe tweek the settings according to conditions if I get a second chance, but at least I will have something usable in the bag straight away.

Your standard settings will no doubt be different from mine, but the principle is sound and even easier if you set them up as different custom functions.

Colin

[hughbie]

Re: How Not to Photograph an Osprey

Colin
Wise words as ever, thanks.
Hugh

[colin C]

Re: How Not to Photograph an Osprey

You would be surprised how wise I can be .................. after I have made a number of mistakes!

Colin

[raymon]

Re: How Not to Photograph an Osprey

I think we all get a bit too excited sometimes when taking photo's I certainly recognise your chain of event's, good idea to set C1 up as a ready to go solution thanks for that idea, now where's the manual.

Ray