Birds In Flight Advice

[Ron Kruger]

I'm planning to get some shots of ducks in flight and would like some advice. Such shots pose all kinds of challenges with focus, exposure, lighting, shutter speed and background.
Most problematic is they must be taken against a background of the sky, which is much brighter than the subject. My idea is to shoot very early or late in the day and try to capture sunlight reflecting off the bottom of the birds.
To stop the wings, I figure I need to set my camera to shutter-preferred, and I think I need at least 500th of a second for a really sharp shot, but this presents a lot of problems with DOF and focus. I'm going to be shooting them with a 200mm f/2.8, which is pretty fast, but it also means I have to get pretty close. My idea is to set up where they are coming in to land, wings cupped, to cut down on movement and maybe make 250th adaquate to give me a better f-stop and wider DOF.
Focus on something that close and moving that fast is a real challenge, so, instead of trying to focus to fit the rapidly changing distance of the bird, I figured I would leave the focus set at a certain distance and try to time the shot for when the bird first flies into range. I'm also thinking I might set my camera on auto-bracket, so I can fire off three shots rapidly and then deal with the exposure paramaters in the computer.
What do you think of this plan, and do you have additional suggestions?

[Irie Times]

I wish I could give you some useful advice, but I don’t think I have much. I have many slides of film which I tried to photo birds in flight and have never been very lucky. What I have learned is that it takes a lot of patience and stillness. Birds/ducks etc. can see you from a very long way away and have no idea if you are hunting them or taking photos of them, nor would they know the difference anyway, all they see is something that isn't quite right.

I guess both can be considered hunting just one doesn't end up with a dead bird. So my suggestion would be to act like a hunter and try your best to not let them see you or blend with your surroundings and minimize what the see of you.

Happy hunting!

Greg

[AgingEyes]

I'm planning to get some shots of ducks in flight and would like some advice. Such shots pose all kinds of challenges with focus, exposure, lighting, shutter speed and background...

These may help:

http://www.moosepeterson.com/phototips/hovering.html


http://www.birdsasart.com/bn260.htm


http://www.photomigrations.com/articles/0503100.htm


http://www.naturephotographers.net/a.../af1007-1.html


http://www.birdsasart.com/b37.html

[Ron Kruger]

Thanks, Agingeyes. I read all your links and picked up a couple of things. Most of their advice was for hovering birds, but I'll be shooting flapping birds. Even harder, I believe, but I plan to set up where the ducks are cupping to land.
According to what one of the most helpful links stated, I probably need higher shutter speed than 1/500th. I think for this challenge, I need to put my camera totally on manual and set the exposure according to the duck itself. Luckily, I can meter the underside of a duck close up before I begin. I knew I had to have the sun to my back, but one thing I didn't think of was having the wind to my back also, so that the ducks approach into the wind.
I think I've got most of this figured out, unless someone can add to what I've already posted. Now, I've got to wait for a sunny early morning or late afternoon when the wind is in the right direction.

[AgingEyes]

Thanks, Agingeyes. I read all your links and picked up a couple of things. Most of their advice was for hovering birds, but I'll be shooting flapping birds. Even harder, I believe,

In what way? Faster?

I don't think they're talking about shooting hovering birds. I think they're talking about photographing birds-in-flight, birds flying in the air. The techniques apply either way IMO.

but I plan to set up where the ducks are cupping to land.

Landing is easier.

Now, I've got to wait for a sunny early morning or late afternoon when the wind is in the right direction.

Perhaps that's required for your assignments. Birds fly rain or shine, with light and wind behind you or not. I photograph them when I want to photograph them, hovering, gliding, soaring, flapping, taking off, landing, diving...Sometimes I get lucky, and sometimes I don't

[Ron Kruger]

No, not landing, but setting up, or cupping their wings to come in.
Yes, they were talking about birds in the air, but mostly (not all) was about birds that hover or glide on the currents.
The wind and sun behind my back, means the ducks will be flying into the wind, which is the way they usually head for a landing, and as the link said: They fly slower into the wind.
The kind of shots of ducks I have in mind, I've never seen, so it's going to be very challenging, and despite all my planning and efforts, I know for sure I'm going to have to be very lucky as well. Luckily, I know a place where I can set up for repeated chances of shots and intend to play the odds of getting a good one or two.
Like the quote someone here uses from Gary Player: "The harder I work, the luckier I get."

[AgingEyes]

No, not landing, but setting up, or cupping their wings to come in.

The bird would be slower then, wouldn't it? If so, to me that makes thing easier.

Yes, they were talking about birds in the air, but mostly (not all) was about birds that hover or glide on the currents.

I'm not sure you're right. Nevertheless, I think the techniques apply. But it seems to me you think differently. Would you mind explaining the differences?

The wind and sun behind my back, means the ducks will be flying into the wind, which is the way they usually head for a landing, and as the link said: They fly slower into the wind.

To land, the birds have to slow down anyway. A landing shot doesn't have to be one with the bird heading your way though. Then of course, with the bird heading towards the camera, different wing positions and wing details could be seen. When they say it's better to have the light and the wind behind you, they're saying that's the best position to shoot because of the light and the wing position. But I believe that's not the only position one can shoot.

The kind of shots of ducks I have in mind, I've never seen, so it's going to be very challenging, and despite all my planning and efforts, I know for sure I'm going to have to be very lucky as well. Luckily, I know a place where I can set up for repeated chances of shots and intend to play the odds of getting a good one or two.

I am looking forward to seeing it, that is if you don't mind sharing it with us of course

[Ron Kruger]

The difference is, ducks fly pretty fast, and they seldom set their wing to glide, but when they decide to land, they cup their wings and slow down as they drop, slip sliding like a hocky player on a break-away. I figure that's my best chance, and if there is a good wind, they come in even slower. If the sun and the wind is behind me, the wind will slow them down even more as they approach and the low angle of the sun will shine on their undersides. If I set up in the right place, they'll be coming pretty well straight at me, and I shouldn't have to pan much. Of course, that's not the only way to get shots, but I think it probably is the best way to get a really good shot.
I don't have an assignment, exactly. But I'm shooting with magazines in mind that publish stories and pictures about duck hunting, and ducks cupping their wings to come into the decoys is one of the most memerable sights. That's what I want to capture. I'll be happy to get some good shots as they near the water, too, but what I'm really after is while they are still a ways above the water.

[AgingEyes]

The difference is, ducks fly pretty fast, and they seldom set their wing to glide, but when they decide to land, they cup their wings and slow down as they drop, slip sliding like a hocky player on a break-away...

Thanks for the explanation !

BTW, I'm not sure of the "cupping" position you described. Would it look similar to one of these?

[Sushigaijin]

Really ducks in flight aren't that difficult. Most of the DSLRs on the market have a c-af that can keep up with them, assuming at least some lateral motion. It's flight towards or away from the camera that is difficult.

When I was shooting BIFs I found that I needed less zoom than i thought. 200mm might even be too much. A flying bird isn't very interesting without some context.

Also, ducks don't fly very fast. Want fast? try shooting wrens. Or warblers. Or finches. Or cardinals, even. Ducks are decidedly middle-paced birds.

Those are great BIF shots, agingeyes.

[Ron Kruger]

Excellent shots, A-eyes. What I'm after is a shot with the color saturation and sharpness of your landing shot, but in the air. That's why I have to have a low sun angle.
And, yes, Sush, I want shots of them comming right at me.