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20 hours ago, IKLland said:

I think I’ve said this before, but your flight shots are amazing! Any tips?

Thanks! I've spent lots of time trying to get better at them!

My biggest tips would be

1. Take lots of photos! Only about one in twenty, or one in ten photos turn out if I'm lucky. I just look through the view finder and hold down the shutter without stopping. Forty to fifty photos in just a few seconds is average and going over that is common. I took 138 photos of a harrier that flew past me this weekend in a total of 19 seconds. 

2. Shoot in Raw, editing is important with BIF, you need to pull out as much detail as possible because BIF are never as sharp as perched birds. 

3. Use the highest shutter speed possible. My best shots come from around 1/3200 of a second, but that's not always possible. I usually never try to drop down below 1/2000 of a second, and I never go below 1/1600 of a second. 

4. Use as many AF points as needed, I use all the AF points when shooting against the sky or non distracting background, and nine or five AF points when there is trees or bushes behind the bird you are shooting. I usually don't shoot except against clear backgrounds.

5. Lighting is really important, in poor light I don't even attempt any BIF unless I need a photo, usually for rare birds.

6. Practice, Practice, Practice! Gulls roosting on a beach are a great place to start, as they are always flying in and out of the roost.

7. Let the camera do as much as possible, you only have a short window of time, and you'll miss the shot if you're messing around with the settings. I only ever shoot BIF on shutter priority.

 

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1 hour ago, Aidan B said:

Thanks! I've spent lots of time trying to get better at them!

My biggest tips would be

1. Take lots of photos! Only about one in twenty, or one in ten photos turn out if I'm lucky. I just look through the view finder and hold down the shutter without stopping. Forty to fifty photos in just a few seconds is average and going over that is common. I took 138 photos of a harrier that flew past me this weekend in a total of 19 seconds. 

2. Shoot in Raw, editing is important with BIF, you need to pull out as much detail as possible because BIF are never as sharp as perched birds. 

3. Use the highest shutter speed possible. My best shots come from around 1/3200 of a second, but that's not always possible. I usually never try to drop down below 1/2000 of a second, and I never go below 1/1600 of a second. 

4. Use as many AF points as needed, I use all the AF points when shooting against the sky or non distracting background, and nine or five AF points when there is trees or bushes behind the bird you are shooting. I usually don't shoot except against clear backgrounds.

5. Lighting is really important, in poor light I don't even attempt any BIF unless I need a photo, usually for rare birds.

6. Practice, Practice, Practice! Gulls roosting on a beach are a great place to start, as they are always flying in and out of the roost.

7. Let the camera do as much as possible, you only have a short window of time, and you'll miss the shot if you're messing around with the settings. I only ever shoot BIF on shutter priority.

 

Thanks so much, now that I have a DSLR I think I can finally get some! I always shoot in raw and edit every photo, I keep my shutter speed high as possible, and as f9r the AF points I use one pint for perched birds. For BIF is use a five five or nine point zone, but it tends to jump,p a bit. It usually jumps to the end instead of the head. I’ll have to experiment with the every AF point group tomorrow. 

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On 10/22/2021 at 6:51 PM, IKLland said:

Thanks so much, now that I have a DSLR I think I can finally get some! I always shoot in raw and edit every photo, I keep my shutter speed high as possible, and as f9r the AF points I use one pint for perched birds. For BIF is use a five five or nine point zone, but it tends to jump,p a bit. It usually jumps to the end instead of the head. I’ll have to experiment with the every AF point group tomorrow. 

@Aidan B, I think it’s a good start! 
https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/3821793912400?__hstc=264660688.c695a93e6745b82f45

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/3821794912400?__hstc=264660688.c695a93e6745b82f45

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On 10/22/2021 at 5:33 PM, Aidan B said:

Thanks! I've spent lots of time trying to get better at them!

My biggest tips would be

1. Take lots of photos!...

 

Aidan, your BIF photos are really fantastic.  I think you said that you got a new camera in the past year.  What camera and lens are you using?

 

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18 hours ago, Dan P said:

Aidan, your BIF photos are really fantastic.  I think you said that you got a new camera in the past year.  What camera and lens are you using?

 

Thanks! I use an Olympus om-d e-m1 mark ii Body with a Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400 F5-6.3 lens. 

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