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)!!