My first attempt at BIF

[Parsen66]

Yet another grey and drab day outside with falling light. So what did I decide try for the first time, yup you got it.

Shot with my 70-200L with 1.4 extender with a set shutter of 1/500 and letting the camera decide the ISO.

Not anywhere close to being any good really but I offer myself to the experts. What would have been better setting given the lens I have and the conditions? Yes these have had extensive noise reduction in PS.

Gull by Alan Reeve, on Flickr

Gull in flight by Alan Reeve, on Flickr

[the black fox]

Re: My first attempt at BIF

look fine to me alan ,a few slices of bread will bring them in closer to fill the frame more

[Tigger]

Re: My first attempt at BIF

looking good Alan

[Nathaniel]

Re: My first attempt at BIF

I like the first pic. Very nice. Well done.

[Stan]

Re: My first attempt at BIF

Bearing in mind the light etc, very good attempts although the second is a bit soft. Although possible to do BIF at 1/500, you would make life easier for yourself in trying for at least 1/1000

Stan

[Parsen66]

Re: My first attempt at BIF

Thanks all for your positive words, mucn appreciated.

Bearing in mind the light etc, very good attempts although the second is a bit soft. Although possible to do BIF at 1/500, you would make life easier for yourself in trying for at least 1/1000

Stan

Wow really as high as 1/1000 then Stan?

What I really struggled with is which focus points to use. I ended up with the centre one and the four around the outside of that. Most of what i shot was deleted as out of focus. Is there a better setting Stan?

[the black fox]

Re: My first attempt at BIF

i use either single point if i know i can get the eye,centre point expanded if there slow moving or multi point for fast movers ,it really does vary though from camera model to model,as some have less points ,or different a/f ways ,some lock on quick others slowly ,some have large focus points others small .
its really a case of gelling with your camera and anticipating the birds movements ,as i have said many times bird seed ,peanuts or a few slices of bread works wonders

[Stan]

Re: My first attempt at BIF

Wow really as high as 1/1000 then Stan?

What I really struggled with is which focus points to use. I ended up with the centre one and the four around the outside of that. Most of what i shot was deleted as out of focus. Is there a better setting Stan?

My typical settings would be AI servo, centre focus point, Av mode @ between f5.6 and f8, depending on the light and shutter between 1/1250 and 1/1600. In good light I would get those settings at ISO400 - my recent redshank flight pics - but in dull conditions up to ISO 1600, any further than that, the conditions are going to be such as its a waste to even bother shooting. You also need to bare in mind if shooting against the sky you will need to dial in between 1 and 2 stops of exposure compensation so stop the camera underexposing.

Apart from that it is practice, either with gulls at the local pond or if you have a bird of prey centre locally, then their flying displays are also good for practice

Stan

[tesarver]

Re: My first attempt at BIF

I like the first pic. Very nice. Well done.

Agree with Nat

Tom