The birds they mock me

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JSS 911

1,815 posts

210 months

Saturday 10th April 2010
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x5x3

2,422 posts

252 months

Saturday 10th April 2010
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we got lucky on Skomer this week, the summer residents arrived early - many thanks to the fellow photographer who lent me her 100-400 for this one (did not take mine for some extremely strange reason?)




this one taken by my 12 year old son (with 24-105) - he did get a few odd stares with an expensive camera and lens!

the birds really are not afraid of humans!


Adz The Rat

13,944 posts

208 months

Saturday 10th April 2010
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LongQ

13,864 posts

232 months

Saturday 10th April 2010
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Pesty said:
rubish compared to your pics but you have to start somewhere smile
Yep, and they are not bad at all for a point and shoot limited situation.

Setting something up (like the tame robins) to give you a better chance and closer might be worthwhile.

Alternatively, and a bit off the wall, if you have a telescope or binoculars you could try shooting through them. People have presented some quite remarkable shots talen that way, though of coourse it can be tricky and quality may be limited and elusive. Still, worth a try?

(MrB)

2,064 posts

207 months

Saturday 10th April 2010
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Jester77

15 posts

184 months

Sunday 11th April 2010
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Had these come in the garden and feed yesterday (West London). They stayed long enough for me to get the camera.



central

16,744 posts

216 months

Pesty

Original Poster:

42,655 posts

255 months

Tuesday 27th April 2010
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Right first ever shots with a DSLR. shooting from inside door open everything on full auto. its a bit dull outside and I was shooting from inside where it was darker I assume this is not ideal. Think I definitely need a longer zoom lense. This was with 18-70mm wound full out

after spendings loads of cash I took better pics with the £60 point and shoot smile

check me out my first ever crop I belive you call it












Edited by Pesty on Tuesday 27th April 14:56

GetCarter

29,358 posts

278 months

Tuesday 27th April 2010
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Good work for posting!

I usually just suggest people take a few weeks worth on auto when they get their first DSLR... but with this shot, try putting it into 'speed priority mode' and setting the speed at at least 1/500th of a second. If it's bright, you'll be able to get even faster than that before the lens won't let enough light in. With a fast shutter speed, birds (who move BLOODY quick) can be captured without blur. In auto mode on a dull day the camera won't select a fast shutter speed, so no matter how close you get, the bird will probably be blurred.

Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 27th April 15:33

Japveesix

4,476 posts

167 months

Tuesday 27th April 2010
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We get a fair few birds at our table but so far I've failed to get any 'decent' shots of them. This chap on the otherhand appears so infrequently I never thought I'd catch him but was (reasonably) pleased with this.

Focus isn't quite right but it's a start smile



Canon 400D with canon EFS 55-250mm, leaning out of a window.

central

16,744 posts

216 months

Thursday 29th April 2010
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Penny-lope

13,645 posts

192 months

Thursday 29th April 2010
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Taken last year, whilst sitting inside my car


Pesty

Original Poster:

42,655 posts

255 months

Friday 30th April 2010
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Couldnt help playing with my new lense even though light was poor.

This time I set the camera to the little running man setting smile see how technical I am. had it in fast shoot mode took loads most were blured even though subject was still . I guess its the shutter speed getcarter mentioned above. Will have to read how to speed up the shutter and next time shoot when its bright.







Edited by Pesty on Friday 30th April 19:13

Furyous

23,500 posts

220 months

Friday 30th April 2010
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Last ones a keeper !

Pesty

Original Poster:

42,655 posts

255 months

Friday 30th April 2010
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Thanks.

Need to do a bit of pruning though. think I will snap that bit of twig off near its head spoiled a lot of shots because camera focused on that instead of bird.

So next step do a bit of manual reading for how to set fast shutter speed.

wait till a sunny day then fill feeder full of juicy worms

Edited by Pesty on Friday 30th April 19:22

furtive

4,498 posts

278 months

Friday 30th April 2010
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Ah, as we are posting photos of birds...






Pesty

Original Poster:

42,655 posts

255 months

Monday 3rd May 2010
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Ok I'm learning my way around the camera now sorry some more boring robin pics very similar to the last ones smile I promise I will move onto other things soon

1/500 shutter priority everything else auto

so with a faster shutter speed less light goes in thats why they are a little dark?(it was still dull outside just wanted to play with the shutter priority)

Other than wait for a brighter ter day how do I let more light in with a fast shutter speed?

that one twig removed that covered robins head last time on its favourite perch







guess 1/500 was not fast enough for this shot



The bait


jimmy156

3,681 posts

186 months

Monday 3rd May 2010
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Pesty said:
so with a faster shutter speed less light goes in thats why they are a little dark?(it was still dull outside just wanted to play with the shutter priority)

Other than wait for a brighter ter day how do I let more light in with a fast shutter speed?
Less light is let in because the shutter is open for a shorter length of time, but with your camera set on shutter priority it will adjust the aperture and (if set to auto) the ISO to compensate. Your shots are a little dark probably because at 1/500th of a second your camera was at its widest aperture already and therefore underexposed due to it being a gloomy day. Bird photography is very tricky in low-light.

As for letting more light in a have already kind of answered that, your camera will do it for you on shutter priority. Personally i would take ISO of auto and set it to about 800 if its really gloomy (or even 1600 but i dont like doing it). To be honest your best off waiting for a sunny day biggrin

Another thing, do you post process your images? if not you might want to try brightening them up, or using a tool like photoshop "shadows and highlights" adjust.

One of a Robin i took earlier (in the sun)



ETA, changed the pic for one i didnt blow the highlights on in editing rolleyes

Edited by jimmy156 on Monday 3rd May 16:36


Edited by jimmy156 on Monday 3rd May 16:45

Pesty

Original Poster:

42,655 posts

255 months

Monday 3rd May 2010
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Thanks for that info. will read up on the ISO settings.

excellent shot. Now thats nice bright colour.


No my pics are as they came off the camera card no processing

Edited by Pesty on Monday 3rd May 16:39

jimmy156

3,681 posts

186 months

Monday 3rd May 2010
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Pesty said:
Thanks for that info. will read up on the ISO settings.

excellent shot. Now thats nice bright colour.


No my pics are as they came off the camera card no processing

Edited by Pesty on Monday 3rd May 16:39
Thanks smile

Its definitely worth processing your images afterwards, film would always be processed in a way to enhance the images when printed, and to get the best out of digital you should do the same. Photoshop elements can be had for somewheer between £50 and £80, and will be one of the best things you ever buy. Hope you dont mind but i gave one of your shots a 30 second edit, and i think it does improve it.