Osprey advise

[BOUNCINGNRG]

Hello,

I'm off to shoot some osprey in Scottland next week.

I'm going to be shooting from early morning (5am) until 10am, the sun rises at 4am so should be some nice light.

I'm really wanting to document the fishing sequence, from what i understand depanding on type and size of the fish the osprey will either skim along the water and grab the fish or bomb and dive in to the water.

I'm really trying to find a bit if info in regards to Shutter speeds, i'm going to be keeping my app around f7.1-9 to get good dof, what sort of shutter speed should i be looking at to freeze motion, 1/2000 - 1/3200 and i don't really want to go over ISO800.

Can anyone else give me any more tips or things i should look out for?

cheers
Mark:D

[Nighthound]

I try to stay around f/7 to f/8 and early on shoot at ISO 500. Obviously the higher the speed the better when the action heats up but it'll take some give and take depending on what the bird is doing. The dives and lift off from the water will take a good bit of shutter speed, 1/3200 would be nice if you can get it. I don't mind a slight wing tip blur on lift offs if the eye and body are sharp, but that's me, you may want more freeze. As the light increase thing will get easier. If you're not too far out from the action a flash and Better Beamer would help quite a bit. When the birds are hovering with sky behind them it's much easier to get the speeds up to 1/4000 or above and a good time to lower the ISO.

Good luck Mark, I hope you have a great trip.

[artyman]

I doubt a better beamer is going to be much use at the distance you are likely to shooting at!

[Nighthound]

They dive plenty close here. Sometimes less than 50 feet out but ya gotta be quick.