Need help catching wildlife in action. Sample pics inside

[Nascar Nut]

I have a drebel and a Canon Zoom Telephoto EF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM Autofocus Lens. It just seems if there is any kinda movement at all they come out a tick out of focus. I really don't know alot about the setting on the camera. I have tried turning the iso up and then there is alot of noise in the photos. I have had better luck just setting the camera on landscape mode and taking the pics. I know there has to be a better way to capture the action. Maybe this is the best I can do with this lens. Every once and awhile I will get a great shot. Here are some samples of some eagles that I took today. Thanks for any imput you may have for this newbe
This is 100% cropped
http://nascar6fan.home.mchsi.com/temp/1.jpg
This one is cropped from same photo
http://nascar6fan.home.mchsi.com/temp/1crop.jpg
This is 100% cropped
http://nascar6fan.home.mchsi.com/temp/2.jpg
This one is cropped from same photo
http://nascar6fan.home.mchsi.com/temp/2crop.jpg
This one is 100% cropped
http://nascar6fan.home.mchsi.com/temp/3.jpg

[pcasciola]

I'm not familiar with that lens, but from the looks of #1 you should be able to do better with the action shots. Looking at the settings on #2, you only got 1/500th shutter because the aperture was way down at f/14 even though you shot it at ISO 400. Try opening it up a bit, although at f/5.6 it may get a little soft. f/5.6 will give you well over 4 times the amount of light than f/14 (closer to 6 times actually), so you can shoot ISO 200 and still get well over 1/1000th out of it. You have to play around and find the sweet spot for your lens though.

What mode were you shooting in?

[Scottes]

Yep, Phil's right on. Go with Av mode and set that aperture to f/5.6 and that will get the shutter speed faster. Don't let the shutter get any lower than 1/500, but 1/750 should be good, and if you can get it to 1/1000 you'll be very happy. I shoot a lot of birds, always in Av mode and almost never at smaller than f/5.6 unless I have a LOT of light - then I might go all the way to f/8. Don't be afraid of ISO 400 when necessary, but I usually like to stay at 200. If you do fall back into the auto modes use Action - it will give you a fast shutter, but may switch ISO on you so I don't like it because of that.

Those are pretty darn good shots. Keep at it!

[sparker1]

Sounds like you are shooting in one of the "auto" modes, such as "Landscape". Landscape will give you better depth of field, but not the fast shutter speeds you need to stop action. You need to use "Creative" modes, such as Av (when you want to control depth of field) or Tv (when you want to make sure you have adequate shutter speed for the action you expect). Actually, I'm surprised 1/500 didn't handle the movement of the eagle, but it clearly did not.

[robertwgross]

Was a tripod used when shooting the eagle?

---Bob Gross---

[Nascar Nut]

The first 2 photos where shot in p mode and the last one was shot in landscape mode. I didn't use a tripod either. To hard to catch them in action that way. I haven't tried shooting in av mode. There was probably close to 100 eagles along this river. I took a lot of shots and not to many turned out. I was so disapointed. I am not sure how long they will stick around.

[MarkH]

You need more shutter speed!

Check this: http://www.gigatech.co.nz/Gulls/IMG_2218a.htm shot at 300mm, f10, 1/800 sec, ISO 400 with my cheap 75-300 f4-5.6 III.

Shot at 1/800 sec the birds body looks OK, but the wings are blurred. Maybe at 1/1250 sec the wings would be better, maybe faster still.

Don't be afraid to try other settings like Av and set Aperture to f5.6 or f8. Shoot at ISO 800 if necessary. Try these things and see how the pics come out.

[robertwgross]

The bottom line for most serious bird photographers:

1. You need long glass.
2. You need fast glass.
3. (most of the time) You need faster shutter speeds.
4. (most of the time) You need a stable platform, e.g. tripod.
5. (if possible) You need a sunny day.
6. You need lots of patience.

---Bob Gross---

[PacAce]

The bottom line for most serious bird photographers:

1. You need long glass.
2. You need fast glass.
3. (most of the time) You need faster shutter speeds.
4. (most of the time) You need a stable platform, e.g. tripod.
5. (if possible) You need a sunny day.
6. You need lots of patience.

---Bob Gross---

And for a few of us, we need birds around to photograph. <Dang winter!> :mrgreen:

[steven]

Does the Rebel have AI Servo mode? and where you using it?

[robertwgross]

Could somebody donate a bald eagle to send to PacAce in Pennsylvania?

Here in Northern California, we get migratory birds spending their winters here, so last week it was Sandhill Cranes. Otherwise, Golden Eagles are OK. Most Americans have a natural affection to the Bald Eagle, since it appears on some of our money, but remember it was Ben Franklin who proposed the Wild Turkey. I've seen a few this winter.

PacAce, how about a zoo bird?

---Bob Gross---

[dhbailey]

The first 2 photos where shot in p mode and the last one was shot in landscape mode. I didn't use a tripod either. To hard to catch them in action that way. I haven't tried shooting in av mode. There was probably close to 100 eagles along this river. I took a lot of shots and not to many turned out. I was so disapointed. I am not sure how long they will stick around.

Where are you that you have that many eagles so close to you? I'm in southern New Hampshire and there were 2 for a while about 20 miles away but other than that there are no bald eagles, just a lot of hawks and turkey vultures.

[Nascar Nut]

Does the Rebel have AI Servo mode? and where you using it?
I have played around with it some without alot of luck.

[Nascar Nut]

Where are you that you have that many eagles so close to you? I'm in southern New Hampshire and there were 2 for a while about 20 miles away but other than that there are no bald eagles, just a lot of hawks and turkey vultures.

I live in Iowa. I have to drive about an hour to a lake called Red Rock. Below the dam along the river is where they are. I guess they come every year like this.
Here is a photo that shows about 15 or so eagles in just one area.
http://nascar6fan.home.mchsi.com/temp/4.jpg

Here are a couple more photos that turned out decent
http://nascar6fan.home.mchsi.com/temp/5.jpg
http://nascar6fan.home.mchsi.com/temp/6.jpg

[Nascar Nut]

The bottom line for most serious bird photographers:

1. You need long glass.
2. You need fast glass.
3. (most of the time) You need faster shutter speeds.
4. (most of the time) You need a stable platform, e.g. tripod.
5. (if possible) You need a sunny day.
6. You need lots of patience.

---Bob Gross---
This lens is as good as I can afford for now so it will have to do. I have lots of patience because I like to just sit and watch them to. I try to go on sunny days to. I really don't like to use a tripod because I feel like I will miss shots. I may have to give that a try though. And I am going to try the faster shutter speeds next time I am out. I hope those eagles hang around for awhile.

[PacAce]

This lens is as good as I can afford for now so it will have to do. I have lots of patience because I like to just sit and watch them to. I try to go on sunny days to. I really don't like to use a tripod because I feel like I will miss shots. I may have to give that a try though. And I am going to try the faster shutter speeds next time I am out. I hope those eagles hang around for awhile.

What you need is one of these:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=126663&is=REG

They literally look like machine gun mounts and will make tracking birds a lot easier on a tripod. The camera in the B&H picture is not mounted correctly. The camera should be resting on the mount instead of hanging off of it like it is in the picutre.

Incidentally, the ideal head would be the Wimberley gimbal heads but they're not exactly cheap.

[robertwgross]

PacAce's suggestion seems interesting to me, but if you don't like the idea of a tripod, you won't like the idea of a big tripod with that kind of head. Personally, I would never think about trying to get decent eagle shots like that without a tripod.

If possible, try to get on the sunny side of the bird. Or, figure out in advance where the bird is going to fly, and get on the sunny side of that place.

I will not recommend the following, but I have seen other people do it. The photographer gets all lined up on the sunny side. Then the assistant "spooks" the bird from the opposite direction, causing the bird to fly in the photographer's direction. The Fish & Game guys probably have rules against that.

Get higher, closer to the bird's flight. Find a tall cliff or a tall tree.

Big birds like that only roost nearby if there is plenty of prey on the ground. Figure out where the prey is and stay closer.

There used to be a place called Red Rock that was southeast from Des Moines.
---Bob Gross---

[jonnyhorizon]

i find it helps a lot to select motor drive and let the camera take at least three rapid fire exposures
i find the second is almost always sharper than the first
this may be related to my IS image stabalization
...j

[robertwgross]

Motor Drive?

Geez, I've been looking for a motor drive for my D60 for years now, and everybody seems to be out of stock on them.

---Bob Gross---

[kufel]

unfortunately D-Rebel AI-servo autofocis is as bad as 10D along with too little focus points. I do not have enough patience, so I was working really hard and got myself EOS 1D MkII, it's worth every penny...

[Nascar Nut]

PacAce's suggestion seems interesting to me, but if you don't like the idea of a tripod, you won't like the idea of a big tripod with that kind of head. Personally, I would never think about trying to get decent eagle shots like that without a tripod.

If possible, try to get on the sunny side of the bird. Or, figure out in advance where the bird is going to fly, and get on the sunny side of that place.

I will not recommend the following, but I have seen other people do it. The photographer gets all lined up on the sunny side. Then the assistant "spooks" the bird from the opposite direction, causing the bird to fly in the photographer's direction. The Fish & Game guys probably have rules against that.

Get higher, closer to the bird's flight. Find a tall cliff or a tall tree.

Big birds like that only roost nearby if there is plenty of prey on the ground. Figure out where the prey is and stay closer.

There used to be a place called Red Rock that was southeast from Des Moines.
---Bob Gross---
Most of the tips you sugest is exactly what I do. I wouldn't have anyone scare the birds though. They roost right by the river because there is plenty of fish to eat. That is the shots I was trying to capture. I would catch them just as they hit the water. But most of those shots came out blury. You must be familar with Iowa. I live in Des Moines and that is the lake I am talking about.

[ron chappel]

I've used that lens on the 300D a fair bit.
Some thoughts

http://nascar6fan.home.mchsi.com/temp/1.jpg *. This shot is vauguely close to as good as this lens gets.
To get the best from it i fully agree with the others-keep the shutter speed up!Try to also avoid wide open apertures.f5.6 is not the sharpest at 300mm,f8 is much better.Probably the best the lens can get is somewhere between f8 and f11 so ther's no point letting it go all the way up to f13 etc.
Av mode is the way to go (but watch the shutter speed is high enough-don't hesitate to use ISO 400 if needed)
Use a monopod/tripod too if you possibly can

http://nascar6fan.home.mchsi.com/temp/2.jpg
This one is out of focus but also may have a little motion blur.
Sadly there may not be alot that can be done for this.The lens you have has very good focus speed for a telezoom-you'd have to move up to an expensive L series lens to get better (or a good prime lens which would be best)
The main problem is that the 300D is not that good at changing focus in a hurry.
It nearly allways takes too long to engage focus tracking when you leave it to decide.If you force it to use continuous tracking (only sport mode i think) it still isn't as good as other cameras, it's been a complaint of the 300D since it's release.It bugs me but i can't aford anything better so i mostly just put up with it
Sport mode may be your only bet when fast focus changes are needed.
Manual focussing may also work for you when you know a bird is going to move,it's difficult though
One good hint as mentioned above is to take several shots in a row! Tracking focus seems to take a couple of shots to get it together on the 300D so this could help alot.
Shot number 3 is badly effected by motion blur.Use a monopod/tripod or even firing off several shots can help alot

I'm sorry to say that anything like shot number 5 will probably allways be too much for the 300D's autofocus to cope with (in any mode).Because the bird is moving (mostly) toward you it's the toughest thing for AF to cope with.

Shot number 6 gives a good example of making the most of the slow AF for moving subjects.Because the eagle is moving across your feild of view,the AF doesn't have to change much.In that pic the focus is still wrong -notice the wing is mostly in focus but the head is just past the focus zone.Also there is some motion blur.
It's a tricky shot but one well worth pursuing,especially on continuous drive which tends to help both motion blur AND AF .One of the shots is bound to get lucky!

*By the way you've called this pic a '100% crop' which can be confusing when using digital.It probably should just be called a 'full frame'
100% crops are when you blow up the image full size onscreen (i.e 3072x2048 pixels which are way too big for any computer screen) When you chop a piece from the image at that size,that is termed '100% crop' or '100% pixels crop'

[Nascar Nut]

I know my lens isn't the best. I just want to learn how to get the best photos from it. I am going to try the stuff all you guys are telling me and see if I can get better photos. I have a nice monopad that I might try instead of the tripod. I will try the multiple shots to. That sounds like a good idea.

[GenEOS]

I think the simplest solution for you given the eqipment you have is to keep you shutter speeds quick... 1/750 ~ 1/1250. Practice tracking the birds. Use a tripod with a nice ball head. If not a tri=pod, use a mono-pod. The amount of stability you get from a mono-pod helps. Try to get closer to the birds and fill the frame as much as possble, with the lenses you have.

Lighting, like any any photo, is really key to birds. Good light and the angle of the light will effect your quality tremendously.

But simply, cranking the shutter speeds up will help you freeze action. Practice panning and shooting from a tri/mono pod.

Have fun and blast away. I also agree with leaning on the motor drive. (I still call it a motor drive too, I guess we could say "FPS", but that ain't cool) I always shoot sequences when shooting birds in flight. Your mind will tell you to shoot images one after another picking the moment to capture, but just spray and pray, you will get better results.

[Sheermadness]

Just to add my two cents worth: I have the 100-300 lens too and have found it to be quite good for the money. I think your problem is as much if not more technique than a poor lens, nothing that lots of practice and following all the suggestions won't cure. I use that lens a lot for my son's car racing pictures (mostly off tripod) and have found panning gets me a much sharper image than a freeze frame and also a more interesting photo what with the sharp car against the blurred background. I'm just starting to do bird photography so I may be all wet but it seems panning should work for birds too since both subjects are moving objects and the same principles should apply. Of course as someone else pointed out panning only works when the subject is moving mostly across the frame not toward you.
By the way, it's been a few years but I used to live near Des Moines and I also found eagles along the river, can't remember for sure but I believe it was either at the SE 6th or SE 14 St bridge. When I lived there cars would line up along the eastern most lane of the bridge and people would watch the action on their lunch break. I suppose once the river completely freezes over the birds move on.
Good Luck.
Meredith

[ron chappel]

.... just spray and pray, you will get better results.... :lol: i like that,lol