birds in flight

[montreal]

Been trying to catch birds in flight lately... not as easy as it sounds.

I think this one (cropped) is kinda cool, even though it's not as sharp as I would like it to be. Meaning that I couldn't print it larger than 4X6...

[Airedale1]

Nice capture! I can almost smell the lilacs.

[montreal]

This one is sharper. Albeit less interesting. It's one thing to say that I'm out trying to shoot birds in flight but another thing to actually succeed in doing it. They're just so much easier to shoot when they're sitting :)

Btw this is my first photo post ever.

[kenyc]

Yes they are. :) But these are both great shots.

KAC

[montreal]

I went back to the botanical garden today... New strategy this time. I point my camera at the sitting bird, set everything, lock the focus and wait for it to fly. It always does!

But it truly is a test for your patience.
I sure would like advice on shooting flying birds if you guys have any.

[cmM]

Hey, it's a Red winged blackbird... it doesn't need to be sharp, correctly exposed, or anything else http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_razz.gifhttp://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif
I love RWBs.
When it comes to small birds like that.... what you need most is patience and luck http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif
This was luck:
http://www.cmuntean.net/images/may01ren13.jpg

[BlueTit]

Birds in flight are tricky, I can't offer any advice, I am still trying, But you are doing very well, they are all good shots. It looks like you new plan of attack is working. Lovely bird too, we only have the all black variety here, unless it's a female and then it is all brown!

[gkuenning]

I had a "luck-out" situation one day by Lake Zurich. A lady was feeding the birds by throwing seed into the air, and the wind was strong enough in their faces that they could hover. That made it easy to get shots.

Perhaps you could adapt that situation by looking for places where there was a strong wind and the birds had an incentive to hover.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Excellent! Very good,. I love the first two. :)

[montreal]

Thank you all for your comments & compliments.

Cyber, it's funny you say that because my personal favorite is #3 :) I'm just not satisfied with the sharpness of #1 and I took tons that look like #2.

I'm really having fun with my new 70-200. And I'm getting better and better at thinking of the settings before pressing the shutter...

[Airedale1]

I went back to the botanical garden today... New strategy this time. I point my camera at the sitting bird, set everything, lock the focus and wait for it to fly. It always does! I sure would like advice on shooting flying birds if you guys have any.

You just gave me some. Good tip!;)

[montreal]

You just gave me some. Good tip!;)

Here's another one: I noticed today that if you observe them long enough, you can sort of guess when they're gonna fly away. Just a fraction of second before they "jump" (and that's all you need) they sort of brace themselves (they bend their "knees", if you know what I mean).

About my other tip (locking the focus), it only causes a problem if they fly in your direction... they can get out of the "sharp area" pretty quick.