<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14273256#post14273256 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reef Bass
As much as I like Av mode, for more action oriented shots, I wonder if Tv wouldn't be better? Set your shutter speed and let the camera determine aperature.
I vary, vary rarely use Tv. If I want a specific shutter speed I will just use manual. If I want a very high shutter speed, Av works just fine. If I pick Av f/2.8, the camera automatically picks the highest shutter speed possible. I think I backed of between f/3.5-f/5.6 for the 3rd day shots above. f/2.8 would have given me enough DOF, but any lens works better stopped down as opposed to wide open. My 70-200 f/2.8 IS is very sharp at f/2.8. It is very, very, very, super sharp at f/5.6.
So, I will decide a minimum acceptable shutter speed (i.e. 1/320 @ 200mm). I then take a meter reading off of the worst case scenario lighting situation. Lets say I get 1/320 @ f/4. I set the camera to Av, f/4 and concentrate on the subjects. I know that even in the darkest shadows, I should get a shutter speed of at least 1/320. If I hit 1/8000 in the brightest area, then the more shutter speed the merrier. I have no objection to gaining excess shutter speed in this situation. My worry is having too little.
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14273256#post14273256 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reef Bass
Did you do the consecutive shot thing with the flight shots? You know, click the shutter and 2-5 shots are taken in rapid succession?
Sometimes. Today I was really going for in flight shots. I would say 1/4 were taken at 6.5fps and 3/4 were taken one shot at a time. I was really trying for the perfect pose. If I shoot at 6.5fps I may get the split second before and after that shot. The first two days I used rapid shooting much more than this morning.
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14273256#post14273256 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reef Bass
I like the spoonbills in flight and about to land. Good color on them. The wood stork doing the funky chicken is great. I get more of a tern vibe from the last bird though I can see why you'd think shrike.
Thanks for the compliments and heads up on the tern. You sure know your birds and have been a great identification resource for me! =) Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I am trying to sort every animal I get by Taxonomy. Besides obviously having my photographs rigorously organized, this will in theory help me memorize every individual species by sight. This way I can say, "Yeah I really have enough of these already and should look for something else". Plus I can hold an intelligent conversation with the hard core birders out there who don't even have cameras. All they bring is a telescope and a checklist!
Oh oh oh oh for my Canon guys you won't BELIEVE what I saw on the refuge 2 weeks ago. A 1200mm f/5.6 :eek1:!