The Sparrow's Flight

Gallery: AvianPosted December 17, 2011235 views12 comments

Shooting the small songbirds inflight using natural light is tricky.
Perhaps I would get better results using flash or a multi-flash set-up.
I simply use the available light and depend on a higher S-speed & ISO to stop the movement..
In this shot the sky temporarily hazed-over towards overcast.
F/9, 1/4000th, ISO 1000, 1D M3, 300mm f/2.8 + 1.4x

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Harry Harris on December 17, 2011 at 7:39 PM

Howard, I do not like to use a flash and you do so well without it. Love it.

Registered on August 2, 2010, 169 Posts, 741 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Frye on December 17, 2011 at 9:43 PM

I would think that 1/4000s would be fast enough to stop almost anything -- but there is some wing blur -- thats some fast action -- Body is really sharp all making a very nice flight shot

Registered on February 3, 2007, 387 Posts, 1136 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on December 18, 2011 at 1:10 PM

Nice one, Howard. Excellent job on the focus and I like the wing spread with just a hint of blur.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on December 18, 2011 at 3:25 PM

fabulous timing, exposure and focus!
perhaps needs a bit of a levels boost?

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on December 18, 2011 at 4:43 PM

I tried a small levels tweak..The image was a bit problematic due to the UE of the original.

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on December 18, 2011 at 7:41 PM

For me the wing position and eye contact make the shot. Personally I like that you're not using flash but I suspect that the overcast you mention made this type of image more difficult.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on December 19, 2011 at 1:19 PM

C ool, very cool Howard.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on December 19, 2011 at 1:44 PM

A difficult shot to get even on a good day, way to go.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on December 19, 2011 at 8:52 PM

Great job in capturing this flight shot Howard. You got a great freeze on the wing extension and good catch light in the eye. While I often have to resort to shooting with a flash here in the northeast, if you can harness the details in the bird as you've done here without one, all the better.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on December 19, 2011 at 8:54 PM

Nice and sharp with great wing position. Nice work Howard.

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on December 20, 2011 at 9:47 AM

HOWARD! Another signature shot! I agree about the difficulty shootin them in natural light as they are all over the place! Very nice

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Roger Leekam on January 8, 2012 at 10:38 AM

Howard, flight shots of small birds are tricky whatever the circumstances or equipment. These three and the earlier ones are mega-keepers. Of course one should get better images with multi-flash hummingbird type setups, I'm impressed that you got a shot as good as this @ 1/4000 on an overcast day.

Registered on May 28, 2009, 83 Posts, 646 Comments