Gull and tern

Hi everyone,
I am new to POTN. I am an beginner at bird photography and have been reading the forum for tips on bird photography. I thought I should post some photos to get critique and advice.
Following are from my 6th or 7th birding efforts and after about 2000 shots at birds. I hope I am on the right track.
Equipment: 550D and EF-S 55-250 IS.
Regards.

Hello, REC! (what's your real name?)

Looks like several thousand images, you finally nailed focus! That's the toughest part of shooting birds in flight.

You had some strong sunlight for these opportunities, which certainly helps your camera to achieve focus. But it does create some shadows (image #2), which may or may not be desirable, depending on the particular image and the look you are going for.

Could you please post the EXIF information for each of these photos - such as aperture, shutter speed, ISO, metering mode, etc? Also, knowing the time of day would be helpful, as it relates to sun angle. Generally, the more information you can provide, the more constructive critique you'll receive.

Tom Reichner wrote in post #15600820
Hello, REC! (what's your real name?)

Looks like several thousand images, you finally nailed focus! That's the toughest part of shooting birds in flight.

You had some strong sunlight for these opportunities, which certainly helps your camera to achieve focus. But it does create some shadows (image #2), which may or may not be desirable, depending on the particular image and the look you are going for.

Could you please post the EXIF information for each of these photos - such as aperture, shutter speed, ISO, metering mode, etc? Also, knowing the time of day would be helpful, as it relates to sun angle. Generally, the more information you can provide, the more constructive critique you'll receive.

Hi Tom,
Thank you for your comment.
Yes, I do need a lot of light for the 55-250 to focus. I think it got a little better after I got a hood and threw the UV filter away though. I was concentrating on getting a front angle shot of the tern and was not thinking about the shadow(I never thought about shadows in BIF shots till now, thanks for pointing that out) but now that you mentioned, it does look a bit undesirable, advice noted.

I took the photo at around 10am(Sunrise was 6.45am) and the bird was about southwest from where I was standing with the following settings:
F/5.6
1/4000
ISO 400
Focal Length 250
Cloudy WB
IS was switched on but I think focus would have been faster if I had switched it off.

Thanks again,
Wanbor

Wanbor,

You did a good thing to get the filter off the lens. It's best to shoot with no filters at all, especially in strong light.

All of the other settings look like good decisions.

The best way to get better BIF photos is to just keep taking more, then examining them for details (such as shadows), and asking yourself, "what could I do a bit differently next time?" Then, go out and shoot some more, doing it a bit differently. Then come back and examine those images, and . . . well, the cycle just continues indefinitely. And, over time, the images usually get a little bit better, step by step, until you get the best you can from your gear. Then, you want to upgrade gear! It never stops!

Good pics, and good advice given. PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE
These are nice and sharp. Lighting may be a tad off, but you just gotta take what mamma nature gives you.

sailaway78 wrote in post #15602243
Good pics, and good advice given. PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE
These are nice and sharp. Lighting may be a tad off, but you just gotta take what mamma nature gives you.

Thank you.
Putting 'PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE' in my signature.

Tom Reichner wrote in post #15602199
Wanbor,

You did a good thing to get the filter off the lens. It's best to shoot with no filters at all, especially in strong light.

All of the other settings look like good decisions.

The best way to get better BIF photos is to just keep taking more, then examining them for details (such as shadows), and asking yourself, "what could I do a bit differently next time?" Then, go out and shoot some more, doing it a bit differently. Then come back and examine those images, and . . . well, the cycle just continues indefinitely. And, over time, the images usually get a little bit better, step by step, until you get the best you can from your gear. Then, you want to upgrade gear! It never stops!

Thanks again Tom,
I spent over a couple of speechless hours in your website.
It is amazing that there are people of your caliber who actually take the time to offer free advice on the net and it is very encouraging to see your comments and advises one one's posts.
POTN is a blessing.
Sincerely.

you have done quite well Wanbor, especially knowing the limitations of the lens. You have worked with the light, so that helps heaps. As was said, practice a lot.

I also think you're doing well! And don't think that you're alone in taking hundreds of BIF shots that turn out to be not quite focussed or slightly blurred. I think that most of us go through that and get better with practice.

(I also photograph bees and other insects and can assure you that I have hundreds of out-of-focus bee's bums, and every other angle! BUT...I'm getting better and every now and then manage to score a really good one!)

I like the 2nd one with that shadow on inner wing.

Thanks Tina, went through your amazing sumugmug galleries and your comment means many times as much now.
Thanks Ricardo, learned that the hard way..
Thank you Samsen.