Help Shooting Geese???

[RbrtPtikLeoSeny]

I tried shooting some geese a few days back, and didn't quite get the results I wanted. It's a lot harder than I thought it would be!! The water seems to cause quite the back lighting issue. Anyway, I shot this with my 70-200mm f/4L lens at ISO 200, 1/400th at f/8, day light white balance, and center weighted metering. Should I have used partial metering instead? Dialed down the exposure compensation?

I just need some help figuring out how to shoot these critters while their on water. How do you guys do it?:lol:

[robertwgross]

I've practiced on few hundred geese photos in the last month, so let me comment.

First of all, with the sunlight behind the geese, you won't get good results. You will have major shadows on their faces. If you can't see the reflection in the eyeball, nobody wants the photo.

Although flash is not normally used much for nature photography, you might have to use some for this shot if you can't wait for the geese to turn around into the light.

I never like my geese family shots when they are horizontal across the frame. If I can get them swimming toward me, stretched out diagonally across the frame, it seems better.

---Bob Gross---

[lostdoggy]

Try a double barrel 18 gauge???

[Poco]

You could also cut some of the glare off the water with a circular polarizer. I've been playing with one recently and it makes a huge difference taking pictures of birds on the water.

[cfcRebel]

I'm taking notes too. Thanks guys!

[robertwgross]

I admit to having used a circular polarizer for geese-on-water shots. However, about two stops of light are lost. If it is a really bright day and there is plenty of light, then I can deal with two stops lost. If it is a dismal day and I am struggling for a good exposure anyway, then the polarizer goes off the lens.

---Bob Gross---