Motion In A Still Image

Getting a nice crisp BIF (Bird In Flight) is always nice... the entire bird frozen in space. Take this American Bittern (AMBI).  I was on it while it was hidden in the marsh grass.  I used a high shutter speed because these are skittish birds.  I was using my truck as a blind, popped up thru the sunroof.  For some reason, I'm still part of the truck to the birds.  As others stopped to see what I was looking at, some got out of their car... the bird flushed, but I was ready.

(Be sure to click on the images for full screen viewing).

American Bittern - Parker River NWR - Plum Island, MA 10-28-17

Because I had a high shutter speed already set, I was able to capture a whole series of images of the AMBI in flight with crisp details... frozen in space.

American Bittern - Parker River NWR - Plum Island, MA 10-28-17

Canon EOS 7D Mark II, EF500mm f/4L IS USM

ISO 400, f/6.3, 1/2000th Sec., (EFL) 800mm

Hand held, Cropped for Composition.

Manual Mode, Partial Metering, Auto White Balance 

Edit Flow: Selected and previewed in Adobe Bridge, 

Adobe Camera Raw with final editing in Photoshop.

It's nice, but sometimes I want to see some wing blur to give a sense of motion in the still frame.  After photographing a small flight of Dunlins coming in for a landing, I thought I would try and get some motion shots when a Dunlin takes off or another flies in, so I adjusted my settings to allow for some wing blur by lowering the shutter speed.

A flight of Dunlins fly to a mud flat at low tide - Parker River NWR - Plum Island, MA 10-28-17

Canon EOS 7D Mark II, EF500mm f/4L IS USM

ISO 400, f/6.3, 1/1600th Sec., (EFL) 800mm

Hand held, Cropped for Composition.

Manual Mode, Partial Metering, Auto White Balance 

Edit Flow: Selected and previewed in Adobe Bridge,

Adobe Camera Raw with final editing in Photoshop.

As you can see in this image, the body of the Dunlin is crisp, but the wings are nicely blurred.  I like the effect because the image screams motion... you can almost see the bird fly over the water.

A Dunlin in flight  - Parker River NWR - Plum Island, MA 10-28-17

Canon EOS 7D Mark II, EF500mm f/4L IS USM

ISO 400, f/7.1, 1/800th Sec., (EFL) 800mm

Hand held, Cropped for Composition.

Manual Mode, Partial Metering, Auto White Balance.

Edit Flow: Selected and previewed in Adobe Bridge, 

Adobe Camera Raw with final editing in Photoshop.

As Duck migration time is almost upon us, with some moving already, shutter speeds are going to need to be high if you want to freeze the action.

Common Goldeneye's in Flight - PSNH Boat Ramp - Bow, NH 03-06-15

Canon EOS 7D Mark II, EF500mm f/4L IS USM

ISO 400, f/8, 1/2000th Sec., (EFL) 800mm

Hand held, Cropped for Composition.

Manual Mode, Partial Metering, Auto White Balance 

Edit Flow: Selected and previewed in Adobe Bridge, 

Adobe Camera Raw with final editing in Photoshop.

These birds fly so fast I was surprised how little blur came out... but I still like the shot.  I believe they were about to land after a 180 turn, thus the slow speed of the birds.

Common & Barrow's Goldeneye Fly Up River - Merrimack River - Manchester, NH 01-11-16

Canon EOS 7D Mark II, EF500mm f/4L IS USM

ISO 400, f/8, 1/800th Sec., (EFL) 800mm

Hand held, Cropped for Composition.

Manual Mode, Partial Metering, Auto White Balance 

Edit Flow: Selected and previewed in Adobe Bridge, 

Adobe Camera Raw with final editing in Photoshop.

Remember, I shoot in Manual, so I can control the various functions. Remember that photography is all about handling light, and the triad of functions, as described in Part 2 of my blog post on shooting in Manual. If you lower the shutter speed, more light will be hitting the sensor and may blow out your image. Take a few shots and make sure your new settings handle the available light, or make the necessary adjustments .

One last thing: When shooting flocks, make sure you close down your aperture (go to a higher f/stop) which will widen your DOF... spreading apart those panes of glass also described in Part 2 of my blog post on Manual.
This way, the entire flock will be in focus.


Have fun duck hunting (with your cameras)!!

🔊 "You Can't Always Get What You Want...." (Rolling Stones)

This post is designed to get you to take what is offered and make it work for you.

An American Black Duck Lands in a Salt Marsh

We birding photogs strive for perfection, and will often go thru great lengths to get a spectacular image.  The most experienced photogs are usually successful in their quest.

We all are able to be successful most of the time with at least a few good images. 

However, no matter how experienced you may be, mother nature does not always cooperate.  So, when you get an opportunity to shoot the target bird in less than desirable conditions... TAKE THE SHOT!  In fact, take as many as you can while it is in view.  It may be all you get... this way you don't come back empty handed.  I have attached a couple of examples to this post.

You made it to your destination at the time you hoped.... in this case, I'm at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.  The lighting is perfect, temperatures are wonderfully crisp... but there are no 'cool' birds in sight.  What do you do?  I take photos of opportunity that are presented to me such as the American Black Duck landing in the middle of a golden marsh in the above image.  ABDU's are not exciting birds by themselves... but put one into a beautiful setting, and it adds to the over all landscape before you.
Take The Shot!  You don't know whats in store for you... it's nice to be able to have something to show for your day.  It's also a good way to see if your settings are good for the conditions.

If you have ever tried to photograph a Northern Harrier at the Parker River NWR, you know the word frustration.

I submit to you, that these beautiful Raptors are trained by their parents, who were trained by their parents before them how to screw with us birder/photogs.
They will pop up over the eastern tree line and swoop down into the road, maybe even tease a bit more and cruise up the road weaving back and forth... trying to entice you to act. They then pull off into a salt marsh and start their low figure-8 cruising just over the marsh grass hunting voles, mice and other little furry creatures.
Even though I know what is going to happen, I zoom up to that point and stop, the few with me all jump out and lift our cameras ready to fire. The Harrier was in close to the road when we stopped... but by the time we raise the lens, they are half way to the dike, offering a far off shot of their single white striped butt.
Another tactic of theirs is to wait for us to get out of the truck. When our lens is half way up, they turn and fly directly up into the sun, then once we are blinded, they pop back over the road above the trees on the east side of the road.

Now, I thought this was a phenomenon specific to the NOHA's at the PRNWR, and maybe even just when I'm around as there have been many wonderful images of NOHAs captured at the Refuge by some excellent birder/photogs.
However, last night I was speaking with my friend Kathie in Houston, TX. She described the very same type of teasing play of the NOHA's down in Texas!!!
After speaking with Kathie, I feel much better in knowing it's not just me!

Here is a shot that was very close towards the sun.  I knew I'd just get a dark shape but fired anyway.  I was pleased to see the crisp silhouette of the bird showing off its long tail... the longest tail of the Raptors of North America.  Yes... even longer than the Accipiters (Sharp-shinned Hawk, Coopers Hawk and Goshawk).

A nice surprise awaited me.  When I brought the image up on the computer, I saw that the primary and secondary flight feathers were glowing with the morning sun.

I think keeping some of the marsh, in this case the far dike and the hills in the distance made for a better composition of this image.  This dark, if cropped too much, the bird will most likely be noisy and thus no good.  I like to show a bird in it's habitat, so this crop works well for my style.

Female Northern Harrier (NOHA)

Silhouette of a Female Northern Harrier cruising over a salt marsh.  (NOHA)
Parker River NWR
Plum Island, MA 10-28-17

Canon EOS 7D Mark II, EF500mm f/4L IS USM
ISO 400, f/8, 1/5000th Sec., (EFL) 800mm
Hand held, Cropped for Composition.
Manual Mode, Partial Metering, Auto White Balance
Edit Flow: Selected and previewed in Adobe Bridge, Adobe Camera Raw with final editing in Photoshop.

In this next image I tried to use the rule of thirds in multiple ways for my composition.  I placed the bird at the upper LH intersection, and tried to get the top and bottom of the marsh to fit within the horizontal third lines.  The entire bird was back it by the morning sun, the rear bokeh with its wonderful white light reflections of the wet vegetation and spots of color is a nice touch, as is the front bokeh, that has some interesting color to it.  

(For a in-depth discussion of the Rule of Thirds, see my earlier post in this blog).

Female Northern Harrier (NOHA)

A back-lit Female Northern Harrier cruises over a salt marsh.  (NOHA)
Parker River NWR
Plum Island, MA 10-28-17

Canon EOS 7D Mark II, EF500mm f/4L IS USM
ISO 400, f/8, 1/5000th Sec., (EFL) 800mm
Hand held, Cropped for Composition.
Manual Mode, Partial Metering, Auto White Balance
Edit Flow: Selected and previewed in Adobe Bridge, Adobe Camera Raw with final editing in Photoshop.

So, while I didn't get that rocking image of a Harrier this time, I knew I'd have many more chances before the day was thru, as these two images were taken around 9:00 AM.

Enjoy your shooting fellow birding/photogs!!  

And remember, those not so perfect images can still be used for some very nice photography.

~Meanwhile....~

This time, waiting and watching paid off as the Harrier came back towards us with the sun at our backs... I got off a few shots before she saw our lenses.  Realizing her mistake she took off towards the trees to the east.

Female Northern Harrier (NOHA 

A Female Northern Harrier comes in close 'down sun' from our position. (NOHA)
Parker River NWR
Plum Island, MA 10-28-17


Canon EOS 7D Mark II, EF500mm f/4L IS USM
ISO 400, f/7.1, 1/4000th Sec., (EFL) 800mm
Hand held, Cropped for Composition.
Manual Mode, Partial Metering, Auto White Balance
Edit Flow: Selected and previewed in Adobe Bridge,
Adobe Camera Raw with final editing in Photoshop.