Bernie Groome
August 2020 - Tuffed Titmouse Leaving Home
About the Image(s)
Nikon D5600
300 mm
1/1000 sec
f/6.3
ISO 400
I shot this picture standing about 10 yards from this birdhouse when the Titmouse flew out of the birdhouse.
I used Adobe Photo Elements 2020 to crop both photos and used Auto Smart Fix and Auto Sharpen on both pictures.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
24 comments posted
I like what you have going here. Exposure is good. DoF is good. Colors look very natural. You have a charismatic subject and an exciting pose. I tried to get some of swallows last year and had a heck of a time getting enough light to get a fast enough shutter speed with a low enough ISO. I think even 1/1000s is a slower than you'd like, given the lightning speed these animals move at (in doing some stuff with hummingbirds this spring, even 1/4K or 1/5K was not enough to freeze motion). But, that's very challenging and takes broad daylight (unless you want to use several depowered, off-camera flashes). This type of subject will keep you busy for a long time.
Posted: 08/01/2020 20:58:29
Posted: 08/01/2020 20:58:29
Of all the subjects I've experimented with, birds in flight are the toughest for me. Posted: 08/02/2020 09:29:19
I love the feet and spread wing and the non distracting background. There is a delightful story told here. I wish the eye were sharper and had a catch light. Hard to do, I know! Posted: 08/02/2020 19:51:57
Hi Bernie, a hard photo to get the timing just right. I like the way you left room for the bird to fly into. I like the detail of the feathers in his right wing. His left wing seems in an awkward position and to me adds interest. If you brighten the bird a bit and add highlight to its eye it would help the viewer focus more on the bird. To me the birdhouse seems to be more in focus than the bird. I would try to get rid of some of the distractions by cropping from the bottom just above the brand name and the right cutting off that big highlight on the right of the bird hours. Birds are so hard to photograph. The successful bird photographers I've had the opportunity to talk to have taken photos of the same subject for many days sitting still at the spot for many hours waiting for just that right moment. They compose the shot and wait and shoot and wait and shoot. It takes a lot of patience! Posted: 08/04/2020 10:41:51
Thanks for the suggestions. Posted: 08/12/2020 08:47:23
OK BERNIE,
YOU CAUGHT A REALLY GOOD ACTION MOMENT.
I BELIEVE EVERYONE SO FAR HAS COMMENT WELL ON THIS SHOT.
GOOD ROOM FOR THE BIRD TO FLY INTO, I THINK THE PLACEMENT WHERE IT IS, IS GOOD THE LABEL IS A LITTLE DISTRACTING BUT CROPPING IT OUT WILL TEND TO CENTER THE SUBJECT.THE SOFT LIGHT AND THE BOKEH BACKGROUND IS VERY SMOOTH TO LOOK AT,THE BIRD HOUSE IS VERY SHARP,MAYBE MISSED FOCUS ON THE BIRD THOUGH. IF YOU DID HAVE FOCUS ON THE BIRD YOU MAY HAVE A BACK FOCUS ISSUE (EASILY FIXED).(STEVE PERRY HAS MANY VIDEOS ON BIRDS IN FLIGHT AND IS A NIKONIAN ALSO HAS INFO ON MICRO ADJUSTING NIKON'S)IT STILL WORK FOR ALL BRANDS.
DON'T GIVE UP ON THE BIRDS IN FLIGHT IT WILL MAKE YOU A BETTER PHOTOGRAPHER,BECAUSE YOU WILL MASTER ALL ASPECTS OF YOUR CAMERA.KEEP SHOOTING Posted: 08/04/2020 18:53:42
YOU CAUGHT A REALLY GOOD ACTION MOMENT.
I BELIEVE EVERYONE SO FAR HAS COMMENT WELL ON THIS SHOT.
GOOD ROOM FOR THE BIRD TO FLY INTO, I THINK THE PLACEMENT WHERE IT IS, IS GOOD THE LABEL IS A LITTLE DISTRACTING BUT CROPPING IT OUT WILL TEND TO CENTER THE SUBJECT.THE SOFT LIGHT AND THE BOKEH BACKGROUND IS VERY SMOOTH TO LOOK AT,THE BIRD HOUSE IS VERY SHARP,MAYBE MISSED FOCUS ON THE BIRD THOUGH. IF YOU DID HAVE FOCUS ON THE BIRD YOU MAY HAVE A BACK FOCUS ISSUE (EASILY FIXED).(STEVE PERRY HAS MANY VIDEOS ON BIRDS IN FLIGHT AND IS A NIKONIAN ALSO HAS INFO ON MICRO ADJUSTING NIKON'S)IT STILL WORK FOR ALL BRANDS.
DON'T GIVE UP ON THE BIRDS IN FLIGHT IT WILL MAKE YOU A BETTER PHOTOGRAPHER,BECAUSE YOU WILL MASTER ALL ASPECTS OF YOUR CAMERA.KEEP SHOOTING Posted: 08/04/2020 18:53:42
(Groups 36 & 67)
Hi Bernie
You have a good shot of the bird in flight. It takes lots of practice to get this type of flight shot just right. As several have noted your focus is just a bit off. I'll bet your bird was sitting inside the house and you were focused on the head that you could see peaking out. The when he launched you started shooting.
If you can tell be how many focus points you had active and what focus mode you were using I can give you some pointers on how to make this type of shot come out a bit better. If you are interested, I'll be glad to help. Posted: 08/05/2020 20:02:45
You have a good shot of the bird in flight. It takes lots of practice to get this type of flight shot just right. As several have noted your focus is just a bit off. I'll bet your bird was sitting inside the house and you were focused on the head that you could see peaking out. The when he launched you started shooting.
If you can tell be how many focus points you had active and what focus mode you were using I can give you some pointers on how to make this type of shot come out a bit better. If you are interested, I'll be glad to help. Posted: 08/05/2020 20:02:45
Thanks for the suggestion Larry. I understand the issue. I understand the importance of single point focus in situations like this. Posted: 08/06/2020 10:24:32
I'd love to hear your suggestions Posted: 08/10/2020 12:13:16
(Groups 36 & 67)
Hi Jane
Since you asked here goes. You have two choices. first you should be using back button focus and your shutter button should not be connected to focus--it should be dedicated completely to shutter activation. You will need a fast shutter speed at least 1/2000 since at take off the wings will be beating quite fast since this is a small bird. Use an aperture of at least f8. Focus on the birdhouse hole. Then back up about a half step. This will move your focus point to about a 12-16 inches in front of the hole. This when the bird burst out of the hole he will move into the focus and therefore be quite sharp.
The other option is to use the same camera settings as outlined above but switch to dynamic group using either 9 or 21 focus points and continuous focus.
Good Luck. Posted: 08/11/2020 09:29:27
Since you asked here goes. You have two choices. first you should be using back button focus and your shutter button should not be connected to focus--it should be dedicated completely to shutter activation. You will need a fast shutter speed at least 1/2000 since at take off the wings will be beating quite fast since this is a small bird. Use an aperture of at least f8. Focus on the birdhouse hole. Then back up about a half step. This will move your focus point to about a 12-16 inches in front of the hole. This when the bird burst out of the hole he will move into the focus and therefore be quite sharp.
The other option is to use the same camera settings as outlined above but switch to dynamic group using either 9 or 21 focus points and continuous focus.
Good Luck. Posted: 08/11/2020 09:29:27
just so you know Mr Treadwell, is absolutely correct and has given very good advice, it pays to listen to him!!
he's a retired teacher of high school and college photography classes and i have listened to him for many years. we have been shooting together for a long time and shared many ideas while traveling and while patiently waiting on birds and other wildlife to appear.
thank you Larry
Posted: 08/11/2020 09:56:42
he's a retired teacher of high school and college photography classes and i have listened to him for many years. we have been shooting together for a long time and shared many ideas while traveling and while patiently waiting on birds and other wildlife to appear.
thank you Larry
Posted: 08/11/2020 09:56:42
Thanks Larry. I appreciate the input. I'm a novice and still learning how to turn the camera on. I did take a local class last year and learned about BB focus. It took a while to make using it a habit, but I'm hooked. Posted: 08/11/2020 13:48:44
(Groups 36 & 67)
Here is an example of how this shooting system works in reverse. In this case the bird constantly returned to the birdhouse. I focused on the house, backed up a half step so that my focus point was in front of the birdhouse and fired of a burst when the bird returned. This was single point focus, 1/2500 @ f8. I should have used f11 to get the wing tips.
The camera was mounted on a tripod and I used a cable release because the scene didn't change, I just had to wait until the bird came back. Posted: 08/11/2020 16:02:19
The camera was mounted on a tripod and I used a cable release because the scene didn't change, I just had to wait until the bird came back. Posted: 08/11/2020 16:02:19
(Groups 83 & 87)
Hi Larry, wonderful capture. Actually, the wing tips being out of focus can also be viewed as more engaging, dramatic and elevate a sense of motion (appropriate for this subject) and creates almost a 3-D depth to the scene. Very nice.
Lance A. Lewin
Admin DD-83 & 87 Posted: 08/12/2020 07:07:14
Lance A. Lewin
Admin DD-83 & 87 Posted: 08/12/2020 07:07:14
(Groups 36 & 67)
Hi Lance
You are absolutely correct. Those blurred tips do impart the feeling of motion/action and can enhance an image. Paraphrasing Shakespeare "to blur or not to blur, that is the question." Both techniques are useful, depending on what the photographer is trying to show. It is all about mastering skills to create an image.
Posted: 08/12/2020 10:03:05
You are absolutely correct. Those blurred tips do impart the feeling of motion/action and can enhance an image. Paraphrasing Shakespeare "to blur or not to blur, that is the question." Both techniques are useful, depending on what the photographer is trying to show. It is all about mastering skills to create an image.
Posted: 08/12/2020 10:03:05
Wow. I see what you mean. Great picture. Larry, I really appreciate you sharing your experience. Posted: 08/12/2020 08:58:20
Thanks Larry Posted: 08/11/2020 10:23:34
(Groups 83 & 87)
Hi Bernie! I was wondering, what are you referring to in this statement?"I used Adobe Photo Elements 2020 to crop both photos" What two photos?
In any case, though the birds head is nor crystal sharp, printed and viewed from a distance will work well, indeed. Along with Cropping suggestions from Emmy, I think in print this may be a keeper! (It may work even better if carefully converted to Black & White). Just a thought! :)
Posted: 08/12/2020 07:16:14
In any case, though the birds head is nor crystal sharp, printed and viewed from a distance will work well, indeed. Along with Cropping suggestions from Emmy, I think in print this may be a keeper! (It may work even better if carefully converted to Black & White). Just a thought! :)
Posted: 08/12/2020 07:16:14
I had initially posted tow sequential photos; the photo of the titmouse just with his head out of the box and the picture of him flying away. I'm new to discussion groups, and I didn't understand that you were only suppose to post individual pictures. I like your idea of converting to black and white. Thanks Posted: 08/12/2020 08:53:53
(Groups 83 & 87)
Understood! Thank you Bernie! :) Posted: 08/12/2020 14:28:16
BERNIE, JUST SO YOU KNOW, YOUR RIGHT ONE IMAGE A MONTH, YOU MAY SEE TWO IMAGES SOMETIMES BUT THE OTHER IS JUST AN ORIGINAL, SO LIKE IF YOU WANTED TO DO SOMETHING IN B/W OR ADD SOME TRICKY POST PROCESSING, SHOWING THE ORIGINAL MAY BE HELPFUL FOR OTHERS TO SEE WHAT HAD BEEN DONE.
HAVE FUN Posted: 08/12/2020 18:57:55
HAVE FUN Posted: 08/12/2020 18:57:55
(Groups 83 & 87)
....and as a reminder, an individual can post up to 4 images. In some examples the photographer can show the entire post-production progression from Original in-camera image to the Final. :) Posted: 08/19/2020 08:00:50
I usually use continuous focus but am interested in the 1/2 step back with your photo since the bird seems to be flying in on same plane as the hole as opposed to Bernie's bird Posted: 08/13/2020 21:09:03
I usually use continuous focus but am interested in the 1/2 step back with your photo since the bird seems to be flying in on same plane as the hole as opposed to Bernie's bird Posted: 08/13/2020 21:09:06