Over the course of the last month I have been experimenting with shooting in Shutter Mode – a departure from my beloved and comfortable Aperture Mode style of shooting. You can read about my progress here, here, here, and here.
If you don’t want to bother with clicking all those blue words – here’s my journey in a nutshell:
1. I like to shoot birds and wish I could capture more action shots.
2. Shooting in Aperture Mode focuses on light and not speed, so while I can easily control the depth of field, I miss a lot of that action.
3. Most wildlife photogs shoot in Shutter Mode, because controlling the speed gives you a better chance at stopping motion – this prompted me to get out of my comfort zone and give it a try.
What I have learned in the last month is that great light increases your camera’s ability to get you great results, and that you need to know the limits of your camera’s ability to handle lower light with higher ISO settings. ISO is crucial in allowing more light in when you increase shutter speeds even in sunlight. I was pleasantly surprised to find that my camera can push these settings pretty far and still yield good results. I would encourage you to find a review that assesses your camera’s capabilities to see where the experts draw the line on ISO performance. For my camera, the line seems to be at 6400 with the experts in a controlled lighting situation – in the field I find I prefer the results at 3200 and lower. That’s twice the limit I have ever been comfortable trying, and reading up on my camera convinced me that my thinking on ISO and grain was stuck somewhere in past with my first Canon Elph (circa 2002).
When starting down this road my goal was to try to get shots of hummingbirds with definition in their wings. I have hundreds of shots from the last year with eyes in focus and wings that are barely discernible – now I love some of these shots, but getting wings with actual feathers defined was a rarity. Now I am not at the point where I am completely stopping motion on a hummingbird – honestly, I think that to do that dependably would require the use of a flash, and that is way outside my comfort zone. What follows are my favorite shots from a month of shooting in Shutter Mode.
Click on any image to start the slide show!
Now I know that last shot is not really an action shot. That girl worked her heart out for me – she’s out there on the front lines everyday defending that red bottle feeder, and her exhaustion is starting to show. She’s the acrobat diving into frame in so many of these shots. Well done, my little friend, well done.
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Wow! This is amazing…I think my heart skipped a beat when I happened upon this and just imagined those tiny wings motoring along. Really beautiful shots.
Thanks so much – I have been experimenting with using a flash on them. They are my favorite to shoot.
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These are great shots, but I must admit, my favorite is the last one. That little hummingbird LOOKS exhausted. And to catch them still is even more rare, so hats off to ya!
Thanks! I liked that last shot, these guys work so hard feeding and fighting – at the end of the day they are beat.
Reblogged this on beatzkaneblog.
Unbelievable images. I’ve never seen a hummingbird so close up before–actually, I don’t think I’ve ever seen one in person at all. Their shape is fascinating, like some futuristic creature! 🙂
xoxo
Their bodies are amazing little things and their shape changes quite a bit as they fly and turn and spin. I have a feeder set up about 6 feet from where I shoot so that I can get some really close shots and they pay no attention to me unless that feeder is empty, then they buzz me. They chatter constantly, it sounds like cartoon giggling. I heart them.
That’s what caught my eye the most, you really captured the stretching of their bodies and unique shapes. Awesome!
😄
Great shots! You’ve got my brain humming. .. Does my phone camera have ISO settings.? I think so. Will look into that. You’ll understand after my bird post pops tomorrow. =)
Can’t wait. I don’t think iPhone cameras have ISO settings, but some others do.
I just looked, my Samsung s4 has iso choices of auto, 100,200,400 & 800. I’ll have to play around with it soon. Not when I’m pressed to take a shot! Thanks so much for your help! !
I will never grow tired of watching hummingbirds!
Me neither!
These are so wonderful. I love hummingbirds. But, Lorri, where are the squirrels? 😉
LOL – the squirrels are out in my garage where the puppies cannot eat them 🙂
!
This is why I park my car outside of the garage – squirrel crap 🙂
Great shots, Lorri.
I have to admire anyone who captures a good shot of a hummer. But I daresay it took a lot of practice.
I’ve used ‘shutter priority’ very rarely. Here’s hoping I can get back to some bird photography soon – you’ve inspired me to give that camera setting a try.
I find myself taking test shots to make sure the speed works in the light with the ISO settings, but I’m making myself use it as often as possible unless I am shooting macro.
Such crystal clear photos, and love the red for contrast.
The red draws the hummers, I’ve seen them go after a seed feeder if it was red. It makes for a good contrast though 🙂
Hummingbirds are difficult due to their wings flapping so fast but you did a great job here capturing it!
Thanks so much, I’m hoping to get a chance to shoot in light bright enough to push the shutter speed faster to get a real look at those feathers!
As always, lovely, just lovely. ❤
Thanks – this was a fun challenge!
I love these silver sweet sippers, swiftly sipping sweetness. Say THAT 10 times fast! Super set, Lorri!
LOL – I’m tongue-tied after two attempts 🙂 Thanks Steph!
Now that you have this mastered, what’s the next photography frontier?
I’d like to shoot fireflies 🙂
That sound be easy:)
Maybe bears in the dark swatting lightning bugs?
That’s up to your level:)
Haha! I think I might need a tripod for that shot.
Gosh – aren’t they just the most fascinating creatures. Doesn’t even seem possible that something that magical exists! Love the larger photo towards the end – just the curve of his tiny body and the wings so perfectly in focus – wonderful shot! Always love to visit with you, Lorri! We are due a trip into ES – was supposed to be there yesterday with my nieces and nephews but other not fun stuff intruded. I am fine – really – just need to get meds sorted out. Anyway – will let you know when we might be down and maybe can meet at Sparkys for lunch
K
They really are magical and so full of enthusiasm – they almost sound like they are giggling. Definitely let me know when you will be in ES, I would love to meet up at Sparky’s! Glad you are on the mend!
Now those are some fantastic shots Lorri! You can really see the wing feathers. 🙂 They make me tired though.
Thanks Jackie! They make me tired too!