This is the third post in a series on migrating away from my comfort zone – shooting in Aperture Mode – to exploring the wonders of shooting in Shutter Mode. In Part 1 I talked about the trade offs of Shutter vs Aperture Modes and the search for the structure of a hummingbird’s wings. In Part 2 I discussed some simple setting changes that let me get more shots off and have more keepers in a series on a visit from a bluejay. Today I want to discuss an unexpected byproduct of shooting in Shutter Mode – Happy Accidents.
In my typical Aperture mode I might have gotten an inflight shot by accident once a month that was useable. Now sometimes I got lucky when there was so much action that all I had to do was keep snapping and hope for focus like this. Apart from this flurry of activity those times when a bird launches into the air were mostly just unreadable blurs.
Now most of these shots are not really useable, but they are readable and I think I am learning more about the way a bird flies. That information will help me take better shots of birds as they launch themselves into the air – knowing the process helps me to make better guesses of where the action will be in a split second.
I have always imagined that birds launch themselves into the air by flapping their wings and lifting off – but no – they take a leap of faith, hopping or stepping off to catch the air before they even spread their wings…
Alley oop! f6.7 1/1000 second ISO 1600
Geronimo! f6.7 1/800 second ISO 3200
Cowabunga dude! f6.7 1/800 second ISO 3200
To infinity and beyond! f8 1/800 second ISO 2500
Like I said – not great photos, but they do give me a better feel for where to look for the action on take offs, but what about landings? I am learning that wings are much more open when a bird is landing – they flutter to catch their balance. Sometimes they even overshoot their target – it all happens in a split second and I always missed it in Aperture Mode…
Incoming! f6.7 1/800 second ISO 3200
A real nail-biter! f6.7 1/800 second ISO 1600
All a flutter! f6.7 1/1000 second ISO 1600
Knowing that the landing is the prime time to catch wing action was a huge advantage to shooting. I also noticed that certain feeders with narrower foot holds tended to require more wing flaps to land on, so this weekend I set out to try to make one good capture. I knew what was needed – bright light, fairly high ISO, fast shutter speed, a bird landing on a tricky perch – not much to ask for – right?
A focused landing! f9 1/1000 second ISO 3200
I found this feeder a couple of weeks ago at Lowes and wondered if the birds would use it because of the narrow edge. It turns out that they do use it and if you can get into place before noon on a sunny day with the right camera settings you just might capture some wing action.
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It is great to see the different shots you have creative with your mix of shutter speeds. Great stuff.
Thanks for your comments and encouragement!
Oh awesome!!! Reminds me of the photos of my baby goats flying as they run with their little ears out to the sides. These are gorgeous!!!
Thanks so much – your goats are adorable, I would be taking photos of them all day long 🙂
I was……lol, didn’t get much accomplished though. Finally the heat stopped me. Thanks!
Just incredible. 🙂
Thank you 🙂
To me, the birds personalities come to life in these photos.
Thanks Elizabeth – I find that they do really have unique personalities.
What fun shots! Tell me your weren’t just giddy with these captures?!?!? Awesome.
I have been pretty excited about what I’m capturing – I wish that one jetting off from the swing were in better focus – but then again he would have had to hold still 🙂
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These are wonderful captures… such rare captures actually… as fro the not usable quote… I don’t think so, to me these are all keepers…
Thanks Bulldog – someday I hope to get the jumpers in tight focus 🙂
Beyond Kewl!
Thank you!
Gorgeous photos! Some look like you caught them jumping!
I was hoping for flying and ended up with jumping – thats how life goes sometimes 🙂
It’s like that jump for joy project – I think it looks awesome!
🙂
Alley Ooop looks like a Jet fighter trying to catch the arresting line on a Carrier landing. You have some wonderful tips and illustrations in this article, Lorrie.
Thanks,
Allan
Thanks Allan – I think these guys are all fearless fliers, so a carrier landing is right up their alley (oop). 🙂
The backlit wing action could not have been posed any better! I find it fascinating to think of those birds hopping off the perch without wings a-flapping — photos do reveal details we’d never assume or think of otherwise.
I can’t tell you how many hopping nuthatch shots I have taken lately – it’s so far from what I expected. That last shot was a mix of planning and luck. I put that feeder in just the right spot to catch the light – I just had to wait for the bird to make an appearance 🙂
Terrific pictures, Lorri. You are amazing. Seriously wonderful photography. And it is so much fun to watch you learn!
Thanks so much Elyse. I seem to tackle things intuitively and then go back and deconstruct to better understand it. Funny that it took me a year to get to the technical part.
Thanks for sharing all this info, Lorri. I never would have thought to study their take off and landing techniques.
Like Honie, I most rely on happy accidents or the ‘sports’ mode to capture the action. Having said that, I DO feel that one eventually knows when to get the best shot with enough observation (like you do).
You’ve captured some amazing shots. It almost looks like the birds are falling off their perch instead of landing in some of them.
I have never even used the scene modes on my camera, except for a couple of sunsets. I’ll have to try the sports mode sometime. I think that shooting manual film cameras occasionally has made me more aware of the basics.
They may not be great shots to YOU, but to me they’re amazing.
Well thank you Madame! The ones launching into space crack me up, even if they are not in focus.
That last picture is epic. Great shots all around Lorri!
Thanks Jackie!
I love those leaps of faith! There is so much to learn about behaviour that is helpful to get better shots. Once all that is taken care of, then we are good shape to get the lucky shots. Good post.
Thanks Lyle, I guess we make our own luck sometimes 🙂
I’d like to do some experimenting with this, but don’t have anywhere near this skill. In fact this is totally out of my wheelhouse. I mostly rely on happy accidents. HA! Wonderful set, Lorri. They look like angels.
You got skillz with that camera – don’t tell me you don’t 🙂 I tend to learn by doing, and it’s been fun to explore a new way of shooting. I just need to figure out where the limits are, it makes me think of keeping a log in the old days. Luckily my iPad keeps all the photo info for me 🙂
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