BrandonSi wrote:
Thank you, much appreciated! I think my main problem today was absolutely distance to subject, you all hit on that pretty quickly and it makes sense now. I need to be filling much more of the frame, otherwise the detail just don't be there. The fact that I did a 100% crop multiple times with just 1600 pixels on the long side and it fully captured the subject illustrates that.. If I were searching Google for a high-res photo of a duck I'd probable breeze past anything 1600px in size because it wouldn't have the resolution or detail.. not sure why I expected something different here.
Got some practice in, learned a few things from you all, so that's a good day in my book. We'll see what the next outing brings!...Show more →
Hi BrandonSi,
As memory is cheap nowadays and if you have ample time viewing/studying/learning from your shots, do not be afraid to take as many shots as possible -along the line of economies of scale. I was in a similar situation when I started birding, especially BIFs, 16 years ago. Learned from many mistakes, input from experienced shooters from several forums, actual interactions with experienced shooters in the field, my web researches and actual field experimentations.
When I was shooting long zoom P&S a decade and a half ago, I was requested to put up some of my birding thoughts online. As I viewed now, still in there in links below - one for general birding and one for birds in flight. Lots have changed now especially in the BIF field but during that time, not too many discussions on the appropriate attitude and I can't remember searching birding in YT back then.
While I have moved on from DSLR to SLT to Mirrorless now (mostly APS-C but I tried the FF A-900 and A-850 as well) and modified some of my basic techniques/settings; the overall thought I stated there still applies up to now even though I don't do much birding for the past few years. Previously, I do photobirding almost every day - before work, during lunch time (there was a nature trail near our office) and weekends. It allowed me to do lots of practice and study my results. As a 99.9% jpg shooter, it was important to me to get usable exposure in the field rather than work it out in my PC. That was one of the best learning I did - field experimentations inclusive of light perception (although those who are good at RAW PP could do wonders), angle/perspective, look (including distances) and subject. On your duck shot, ok to take it as is as you are just starting up but as you gain experience, you would wait for the appropriate angle/look, light (sunrise, noon, afternoon light gives different effect on the same subject in the same place), etc.
For 100% look, I often use it for deciding which to retain for documentation or for study but lately I processed some as I want to see if I really need to go beyond my current 24MP. Most of course are not presentable but some like samples below could be usable to some extent.
In short, attitude for me is the top factor for photobirding. Lots of practice could follow then. The rest would be all the input you have gathered so far.
Photo cross posted in the Sony FE Image Thread and taken at 2:37 PM.
Looking at a Tricolored Heron and Reflection.
Fairly Heavily Cropped, tripod mounted 200-600mm G set to 600mm and A7rIII; silent shutter.
ISO 500, f8.0, 1/250 second.
Exposure corrected -0.29 Stops.
January 2, 2020
Along Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL.
Photo cross posted in the Sony FE Image Thread and taken at 9:24 AM.
Looking at 3 Nestling Great Egrets.
Cropped; tripod mounted FE 100-400mm f4-f5.6 GM set to 400mm andA7rIII, silent shutter.
ISO 100, f5.6, 1/500 second.
Exposure Corrected +0.39 Stops.
May 11, 2019
At Gatorland, Orlando or Kissimmee, FL.
Photo cross posted in the Sony FE Image Thread and taken at 11:42 AM.
Looking at a Great Blue Heron in Breeding Plumage.
Cropped from left and right, tripod mounted 200-600mm G set to 600mm and A7rIII; silent shutter.
ISO 400, f6.3, 1/2500 second.
December 6, 2020
Along Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, Apopka, FL.
Photo cross posted in the Sony FE Image Thread and taken at 12:24 PM.
Looking at an American White Ibis.
Cropped; tripod mounted Sony 200-600mm f5.6-6.3 G zoom lens set to 600mm ans A7rIII; silent shutter.
ISO 100, f6.3, 1/640 second.
Exposure Corrected +0.88 Stops.
January 6, 2020
At Gatorland, Orlando or Kissimmee, FL.
Photo cross posted in the Sony FE Image Thread and taken at 2:15 PM.
Looking at a Tricolored Heron.
Cropped, supported hand held out car window 200-600mm G set to 541mm and A7rIII; silent shutter.
ISO 200, f8.0, 1/1000 second.
Exposure corrected +0.29 Stops.
January 2, 2020
Along Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL.
Photo cross posted in the Sony FE Image Thread and taken at 9:54 AM.
Looking at a Great Blue Heron in Breeding Plumage.
Cropped, tripod mounted FE 100-400mm f4-f5.6 GM set to 324mm and A7rIII; silent shutter.
ISO 100, f5.6, 1/250 second.
Exposure corrected +0.29 Stops.
May 11, 2019
At Gatorland, Orlando or Kissimmee, FL.
Photo cross posted in the Sony FE Image Thread and taken at 11:44 AM.
Looking at an Anhinga with wings open basking in the sun.
Cropped, tripod mounted 200-600mm G set to 600mm and A7rIII camera; silent shutter.
ISO 400, f6.3, 1/2000 second.
December 6, 2020
Along Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, Apopka, FL.
Photo cross posted in the Sony FE Image Thread and taken at 3:23 PM.
Looking at a Great Egret in breeding plumage.
Cropped, tripod mounted 200-600mm G set to 426mm and A7rIII; silent shutter.
ISO 200, f6.3, 1/2000 second.
Exposure Corrected -0.29 Stops.
January 6, 2020
At Gatorland, Orlando or Kissimmee, FL.
Photo cross posted in the Sony Fe Image Thread and taken at 2:37 PM.
Looking at a Tricolored Heron and Reflection.
Fairly Heavily Cropped, tripod mounted 200-600mm G zoom set to 600mm and A7rIII; silent shutter.
ISO 500, f8.0, 1/2500 second.
Exposure corrected +1.18 Stops.
January 2, 2020
Along Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL.
Photo cross posted in the Sony FE Image Thread and taken at 9:27 AM.
Looking at 3 Nestling Great Egrets.
Cropped; tripod mounted 100-400mm GM set to 400mm and A7rIII, silent shutter.
ISO 100, f5.6, 1/500 second.
Exposure Corrected +0.98 Stops.
May 11, 2019
At Gatorland, Orlando or Kissimmee, FL.
I spent several weeks in quarantine after grandson (living in my house) and a week later, I tested positive for COVID-19. FWIW our symptoms were very mild, unlike many others.
Being restricted to my patch of dirt I asked myself how much wildlife photography can be done in my yard? It started with the birdbath:
One day while trimming trees I noticed a limb I'd cut off that had some gorgeous lichen growth and I said to myself 'this would be an awesome prop in the backyard Avian Portrait Studio'
Photo cross posted in the Sony FE Image Thread and taken at 10:23 AM.
Looking at a Snowy Egret in Breeding Plumage with one leg raised just after scratching itself around its eye.
Cropped, tripod mounted 200-600mm G set to 600mm and A7rIII; silent shutter.
ISO 200, f6.3, 1/2500 second.
Exposure Corrected +0.69 Stops.
December 6, 2020
Along Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, Apopka, FL.
I think my main problem today was absolutely distance to subject, you all hit on that pretty quickly and it makes sense now. I need to be filling much more of the frame, otherwise the detail just don't be there. The fact that I did a 100% crop multiple times with just 1600 pixels on the long side and it fully captured the subject illustrates that.. If I were searching Google for a high-res photo of a duck I'd probable breeze past anything 1600px in size because it wouldn't have the resolution or detail.. not
