Arundel WWT - flash experiments with tits!

[Nathaniel]

Re: Arundel WWT - flash experiments with tits!

Mike, nice set of pics. However IMHO the flash gives an unnatural effect on the birds- they look a bit startled. I think bird photography is best without any flash. Others might disagree.

[mikep]

Re: Arundel WWT - flash experiments with tits!

Thanks Nat - no problem with your comments at all, I did say C&C welcome, and I know we're all different!

I'd like to reply to a couple of points you raised, just to clarify.

they look a bit startled.

I see where you're coming from, but I don't see this in the pictures I posted!
With all my wildlife shots, I'm thinking of the animals first. In this instance the hide in question is a very busy one, with many visitors (families / noisy children etc), and the birds are very used to distractions. It is positioned under trees, so even in bright daylight, there are plenty of shadows. With the kit I (currently) have, and my level of experience, I am restricted in what I can achieve without flash. I have taken quite a few from there in the past that are not worth keeping / very poor.
This time round, I wanted to try something else, SO, I started with 1/64 power to gauge the bird's reaction. The shots were unusable, but the birds didn't react. Over about half an hour, I increased flash power and the birds seemed happy. In the end I shot using ETTL on the flash, and Manual mode, and got the results you see here...
At other places (or with 'wilder' wildlife) I may choose not to use flash, but here it seemed appropriate.

Leading me to the second point...

flash gives an unnatural effect ~ bird photography is best without any flash

I agree with you on the first point to a degree... they look like I used a flash... because I did! This is why I put 'flash experiments' in the thread title!
I don't agree that bird photography is best without flash! I do think bird photography looks more natural with just natural light, certainly. E.G. Sometimes in bright sunlight, a little flash is good for fill-in, to bring up the darker shadow areas. In my case at the weekend, it was either use flash or get the same poor results I have got in the past. I chose to experiment, as flash can be an important part of the photographer's skill.

I hope this is read how I intend... as an explanation of my thought process, rather than the start of an argument! Happy for everyone to have their opinion, and I hope you now know where I'm coming from.
As stated above, if natural daylight is enough, great, but what to do when it's not? all being different, we'll all chose a different solution!

All the best, Mike.