Elusive Honey Eaters

[petermmc]

I am interested in your comments.

My set up is a D70 with a Sigma 70-200. I have rigged up some pretty ugly looking camoflage in and around my back window. I am trying to photograph an elusive young honey eater. I have a few half decent shots but am trying to get one of those fast flapping hovering shots near a banksia.

Because the bird moves so fast through the tree and jumps and darts constantly, would you suggest I stick to manual settings or is Auto recommended? I have just started using manual but would like to know a secret or two from one of you experts. What about flash?

Any tips appreciated.

Peter Mc

[avkomp]

I would use flash for fill and depending on what sort of honeyeater
start @ -1ev and reduce from there if you are blowing whites.

If you put the time in and wait, you may note that it may well go to a particular blossom and you could prefocus there and be ready to get the shot.

we have tools to help us so I would use af to fine tune focus before shooting.

I usually use aperture priority when shooting birds, but keep an eye on the shutter speeds the camera wants to use. remember that a slightly noisy image is better than a blurred one because you used too low a shutter speed.

Steve

[petermmc]

Thanks Steve

I had another crack at it between my first post and your reply. Funny thing is I changed the ev to -1 and I agree that it helps to reduce blowing the whites.

I will try the Aperture Priority. What do you think is a good aperture for a small bird?

Peter Mc

[avkomp]

the problem you with aperture is that you probably want as much DOF as you can get.
this will depend on the light but try for f8 as a starting point.

some birds with lots of white need -1.6 or eve -2 on fill flash.
but you will get used to that with practice.

steve