How to Photograph birds taking off,landing on branches?

Guys how do u take pictures of birds taking off or landing on branches?I realize what camera settings enc to use on BIF.The technique for birds taking off is different I feel.Sorry if its a ‘’dumb’’ question..

I have seen some GREAT pictures of birds here and elsewhere using the technique.But just cant get it right,no matter which techniques I try.Whats your guys/girl's secret?Do u MF on the branch enc,and fire away as it lands?
And for birds taking off?
Thanks guys.

PRACTICE!!! I do not find that I use any different techniques when shooting a landing or take off. I do try to shoot the fastest shutter speed I can if I am hand holding. What I find different is that often times when the take off from a branch, their movements are not always smooth like when they are just soaring. I often over react with the lens when the bird does the turn and pitch from from the branch routine. Don't worry, those guys with the perfect shots, can show you many in the past that were not perfect. I have also done better by concentrating on one bird if possible. I you have 4 sitting, and you are trying to watch and catch any of the 4, you will pull your hair out. I pick my target, set up, and watch the body movements. If there is a bright sky behind, I will set exposure compensation. If there is dark trees behind, I will shoot with no compensation. And then you wait... and wait...

Res do u keep your camera on Al Servo and keep focus on him?And when u think he's gona take off,u start firing away?

Basically. I also may be a bit different then some and shoot in AV mode. I have a 400 5.6 so I use AV, set to 5.6 and take the fastest shutter I can get. It does take a lot of patience. I can post a LOT of missed shots. One thing to remember, if shooting at a sitting bird that is shaded by the tree, it will cause your shutter speed to drop off drastically and then you get into camera shake issues since the shutter speeds get low. Not sure how new you are to this but I also shoot 400iso or higher most of the time with birds so that I can get my shutter speeds up. There are some excellent photographers on this site. I would suggest you look at some of the pictures you like and review the exif info. Many will leave it intact. Just remember, that was the proper setting for their situation. It is not a magical setting that works in all situations.

Thats interesting Res.
I shoot in AV mode too for 90% of the time.IS0 400 too.I tried to shoot some Swallow-Tailed Bee Eaters today.They quite small.So had to shoot the Bigma at 500mm.Tried ALOT of shots.Got lots of blue light...they too fast for me in the air.So tried shots of them taking off.Without luck.I photograph them in great South African sunlight..

So Res from what I understand I have to shoot AV WIDE OPEN,ISO 400,AL SERVO,Continuous shooting(as always)
So keep on Al-Servo and keep focus point on him while his on branch and see when he's about to take off,start firing away?Do u use center focus point or Automatic Focus point selection?

I use center point focus. Auto selection will create havoc in my experience when shooting into a tree. I have an XTi and a 40d. With only the nine points of focus, it almost always picks the wrong point for me. If you are shooting them from a branch taking off, I would use a tripod. Hand held is fine and I do it a lot but it does take a lot of practice. My 400 is fairly long but light. I have only seen pictures of the sigma lens so can not tell you comparisons in my shooting style as to yours. For the record, I am still learning to lock my elbows to my body, brace on something, and hold the thing smooth on a bird. It is an acquired skill for certain. I am much better now after a year plus of practice but I keep practicing. Yet, given the chance, I will take a tripod or monopod if it is practical. In this situation with the bird starting from a sit position, I would be willing to use a pod to help. It might also be good to post a couple of shots. Be sure the exif into is on it.

I use a Tripod with a gimbal head+cable release when I use my Sigma 50-500.Its quite heavy(1.85kg)I feel it would be quite a challenge using it handheld.Getting a monopod soon to handle the weight,to be more mobile.

res whats your hit rate photographing birds taking off?Yes I am quite new to BIF.Though I have photographed birds in Kruger National Park,on our farm.Getting serious now though.

Same as BiF - AI Servo, Single point + Assist AF, Av or Manual Exposure, ISO high enough to get high shutter speed. Keeper rate is lousy - most of the time when it looks as it it's about to take off it doesn't. About 85% of the time it takes off away from you (I have a wonderful selection of shots of bird's arses). Sometimes, however, they do things right and head straight towards you...

Thanks guys.That helps ALOT.Should put me on the right path.Should practice some more using the gimbal for BIF.Saving for a 50D now for the birds.The Bug has really bitten now.Guys I have seen some complaining about the 50D's high noise.Is it true?Or should I still save for it?Here in SA the 7D cost more than double the 50D's price.
Does the 50D's 6.5fps realy make that a great a difference with BIF?How is its BIF,Birds taking off tracking in Al-Servo?

I have found that often birds will take off into the wind so that they don't have to use as much energy(mainly with larger birds), so that helps me set up before the shot. Also, a tip for knowing when they are about to fly: Raptors and other large birds will poop to lighten their load before taking off, this doesn't happen all the time but most of the time it does. Both of these mainly happen with larger birds but I have found that smaller ones will do it also.

-BB

BirdBoy -- you are a SERIOUS birder -- if you know when they POOP -- Congrats on your knowledge and thanks for the info!!!

If you are fortunate enough to see a branch or other perch that birds are using to take off-land you can prefocus on the branch-perch and after observing for a while you will notice certain things about certain birds. Blackbirds tend to put theit heads down right before takeoff etc. I think you might have better luck with a landing perch as the birds are slowing down, their feet will be down to create more drag and you have the advantage of knowing where they are going to land Trying to shoot a small bird at full speed is futile, for one thing the focus on your XTI won't start to keep up. basically it takes alot of waiting,shooting and dumb luck. I don't know of many shooters who consistantly get BIF shots.

Get to know birds. Most birds take off the same way, they look where they want to go, they bend the knees and launch. Sometimes there is a few seconds for that whole sequence, sometimes it's very fast and you have no time to get ready. But if you pay attention, your going to learn their moves, and become able to predict when they are going to launch, most of the time.

The same for taking a dump. We are all creatures of habit when it comes time to pinch a loaf. If you have feathers around your ass, you have to take care not to make a mess, so the posture is different, but we all have our moves, so watch for them.

He he Canonloader.Good one.Thanks my fellow Canon-lovers.I am trying to photograph Barbets,Finches,Robins​,Bee-Eaters taking flight.Or coming to land.Your guys tips helps alot.I tried the techniques u guys mentioned yesterday.Got lots of asses,tails(Mmm sounds strange)in pictures.Will have to practice alot more.Got lots of duds.

One's reflexes have to be very fast.I observed the barbets bending their knees before taking off.Started firing then.But I just cant get them in.Do u guys think the extra 3fps(6.3 versus 3.5fps of Xti)of the 50D wil improve my chances?I feel the xtra frames,bigger buffer will improve things.Am I wrong?So I can start firing earlier,for longer.I just feel with the Xti I can't start too early otherwise I hit the buffer before the bird realy takes off.Am I just full of it?

I was going to say, the higher the frame rate, the more chances you have. That's why they make high frame rate cameras. I finally saved enough to buy a used 1D MkIII, and at 10 frames a second, you can catch things your eye's will never see, even if your looking for it.

Depends on how close you can get to the birds or how big your lens is, but you might want to shop around for a used 1D MkIIN or MkIII. Prices are really coming down and the cameras are still excellent bodies that will give you 8 or 10 fps.