6 Tips for Capturing Birds in Flight by Alice B. Miller
Renown nature photographer Richard Ettlinger proivdes tips on capturing the majestic beauty of birds in flight
Article rating: 8.97
Richard Ettlinger, Richard Ettlinger Nature Photography (www.richardettlinger.com), of East Rockaway, New York, is author of the new book On Feathered Wings: Birds in Flight [ISBN 9780810995253], published in June by Harry N. Abrams, Inc. (www.hnabooks.com/product/show/31039). He worked with six photographers on five continents over a six-year period to capture and assemble the images for this book. An exhibition at New York City’s American Museum of Natural History (www.amnh.org/exhibitions/photo/feathered/), featuring 30 images from the book, opened in June and runs through May 24, 2009. An avid birder for over 20 years, Ettlinger plays a leading role in conservation projects, has appeared in Nature’s Best magazine, and contributes to Birder’s World magazine.
“One of the biggest thrills in photography is capturing a speeding bird in flight,” says Ettlinger. “It might take a little time and effort, but it shouldn’t take a huge investment of time or money.”
Here, Ettlinger offers 6 tips for getting started on creating images of birds in flight:
1. Observe first, photograph second. Learn about the bird species in your area, including the best times of year to photograph them. Go outdoors with binoculars and a field guide on birds and study their behavior. You will learn how to get close to them because birds are creatures of habit that repeat many of their actions.
2. Start with larger, slower birds. Look for larger, slower-moving species, such as gulls and herons, before you try smaller, faster-moving birds. Buy a fast-focusing digital SLR camera body and pay for the best glass (lens) you can. Go for a small, lightweight lens, such as a 400mm f/5.6.
3. Assume the right position. Before pushing the shutter button, do the following:
(a) Shoot with the camera hand-held instead of using a tripod to capture consistently good images; a shoulder stock can help steady the lens. (b) Spread your feet at least shoulder width apart to allow for freedom of movement while you follow your subject in the viewfinder. (c) Don’t hold the camera and lens too tightly; maintain a firm, relaxed grip. (d) While panning to follow your subject, keep it smooth and avoid sudden, erratic movements; don’t stop when the shutter releases. (e) Eye-hand coordination is key; follow the bird’s flight pattern with your eye—not in the viewfinder—for better transfer from spotting to tracking your subject. (f) Aim slightly ahead of the subject, depending on the subject’s speed.
4. Use the right equipment. The better your camera body and lens combination, the better your results. When shooting without a tripod, camera and lens weight will be an issue, so stay away from the real big glass for now. For newbies, I recommend the Canon EOS Digital Rebel or Canon EOS Digital SLR 40D with 300mm IS 4L Canon lens and 1.4X converter. A combination that puts you right in the game of bird flight photography is Canon’s EOS 40D with a 400mm f/5.6L Canon lens. Cost: around $2,300.
If you want to go right to the top, I recommend two combinations: Canon EOS Digital SLR 1D Mark lll with a 300mm f/2.8L IS lens (heavy) and 1.4x or 2X converter, which cost $7,800; and the Nikon Digital SLR D300 with a Nikkor 200mm-400mm VR (heavy) lens, which cost $6,400.
5. Ready, set, focus. The best approach is manual camera settings. Start with Program mode with Bracketing. When you have an understanding of exposure, move back to manual. In Manual mode, use partial or evaluative metering to get a light reading for your subject. I often meter off grass, trees, shrubs, and blue sky. Select 1/1250 shutter speed or higher, ISO 320-400.
Most high-end digital SLR cameras have “artificial intelligence,” or AI servo modes, which predict the focus on a moving subject. When you press the shutter partially, the camera calculates where the subject will be, adjusting the focus while the subject stays in the autofocus area of the viewfinder. This is the best mode for shooting birds in flight. The fastest way to obtain focus on the bird’s eye, especially on larger birds, is the center of the autofocus point. For smaller, faster moving birds, use the “focus point expand” custom functions, which allow the camera to choose 7-13 focus points, depending on the brand.
6. Find the best light and location. Late afternoon and early morning are the best times of day, when the slanting light making it easier to catch reflected sunlight in the bird’s eye. It’s what makes the bird look alive. Have the sun behind you at all times, the subject in front of you, and the wind at your back. No need to travel far. Check out the parks, beaches, and wildlife refuges in your area.
“Photographing birds in flight is not easy,” says Ettlinger. “Enjoy the experience, be positive, and practice, practice, practice. You may have a high failure rate in the beginning, but if you try again and again, you will eventually capture great images.”
Alice B. Miller is the founder of Plum Communications (www.plumcomm.com), an editorial services company serving the photoimaging industry. Formerly editor of Studio Photography magazine, Alice has a clientele that includes photographers, manufacturers, publications, and associations. She is a vice president and board member of the International Photographic Council.
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