Method of bird shots: Compose carefully or rapid fire?

I know it is mostly situational. But take out the unique situations, and think about your average bird outing. Your usual method

Do you take careful aim and compose the shot like a sniper?

Do you take aim and hold the shutter down like a machine gun.

Mostly A, but with a bit of B

Mostly B with a bit of A

Pretty close to evenly A and B.

_______________

I can't really think of another method.

The reasons for choosing one method over the other is how many shots you want to go through. Or maybe your a perfectionist and want to keep your keeper rate up. Either way, just curious.

The poll is not to pass judgement, just curious to your methods.

I stood next to a photographer a few years ago and they told me their method to getting the shots they do....they said "I fire of a burst of about 4-5 shots and usually the second or third is sharp"...I scratched my head about this as I gazed over to their tripod with a coat and water bottle hanging off of it.

I try to learn something each time I got out....most of the time I learn what not to do.

In most of my situations I'm mainly a sniper (about 95% of the time) with some bursts mixed in during in-flights.

I agree Duane about your fist statement. I don't understand it either but I guess if it works to rapid fire, it works. I'm not passing judgement. It just doesn't work for me.

I mostly shoot sniper, but I do sometimes hold down the button.

Starting out I was the rapid fire type, which would get really frustrating. After reading the mountains of advice on this site, I have learned to be more the sniper type. But still fire away at birds in flight.

All that rapid fire shooting does for me is give me more photos to delete when I get home. Normally, I snipe, but if something *magical* is happening, I'll shoot a bunch... not at full speed, but maybe 2-3/second.

Example: I really liked how this Anhinga looked sitting on a bare tree with the sun rising behind him, so I shot some photos, but I kept waiting for him to "strike a pose" that was more interesting to me. When he started moving, I started shooting, and I ended up with this:

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/40483547@N07/5​631434412/

Even though I usually "try" to compose, and make every shot count. I have to admit to gear envy. When I was at a local marsh last weekend.

There was an osprey fishing. I got a few shots of it. But there was a man with a 7D and a 500f/4 he held down his shutter button and must have taken a hundred shots in about 10 seconds (I'm not actually sure the FPS of the 7D) but all I could hear was a rapid clicking, almost literally like a silenced machine gun. I felt a bit inadequate with the ker-ching ker-ching of my Rebel XS and my lousy 3 FPS. (in actual fact, slightly less then)

I would have to agree.

I would say most of the time I am sniper but I am not afraid hold the shutter down when needed. When the bird is stationary I become a sniper but with BIF or other action shots I will often hold the shutter down. Holding the shutter down allows you to pick from several action shots and you might end up with that perfect wing position or pose. I think it really depends on the situation. Different situations call for different shooting styles.

The majority of the time I snipe because I have waited for the target to get settled down. That's what I prefer. But, if he wont settle down, I turn on the machine gun.

I snipe most of the time. I rapid fire for BIF or when I see a bird that I know I'll only get a moment of opportunity to photograph. That has worked nicely on occasion.

I was on the end of our dock while a big flock of White Pelicans were gorging themselves on a school of fish.

There were about 5 other photographers out there all shooting like it was the opening pitch at the world series.

One of them looked at me and said "What's Wrong? You've only taken 10 shots to my 100!"

I laughed and said "Yes, but all 10 of mine were framed shots that I was waiting specifically for."

Only time I rapid fire is when a single bird or the whole flock takes off from the water. I like to get the water kicking up as they take off

Crimzon wrote in post #12383923
Or maybe your a perfectionist and want to keep your keeper rate up.

This. And sometimes I kick myself for it as I miss great action shots. I'm trying to teach myself it is ok to hold that shutter down and fire away!

One thing to keep in mind here is "First North American Rights". This is what many U.S. based publications require.

If an image has already been published in North America, then many publications will not buy it for their use. Furthermore, if an image has been published in N. America, and you sell it to a publication that requires first N. American rights, then you can be sued. Not to mention that your relationship with that publisher will be terminated.

This is the reason why it can be very beneficial to fire away at the highest FPS rate your body is capable of. The more keepers of any particular subject at any given time, the more images you will be able to sell.

NOTE: If two images appear to be exactly the same, you will still not be able to sell them both to different publications requiring first N. American rights, even though they are two separate images taken 1/10 of a second apart.
If there is even a very slight difference between the images, then it is normally acceptable to sell each image to different publications, although some publications do have clauses about "similar images".
It's always best to check your contract before offering an image that is very similar to one that has already been sold.


The point is: Firing away rapidly will certainly increase your opportunity for sales.

As I understand it, a machinegunner is supposed to fire in short bursts. aim, 3-5 shots then aim again. Kind of what I do for BIF. Sniping machine gun?

My camera takes 10 FPS and I'm too damn slow to only take one Shot, so I mostly Take Several with similar Looks.

Here are a couple taken in burst mode!!!

Very good point Tom!