As photographers many of us have an overreliance on C-AF (continuous auto focus) and on occasion may sub-optimize our image capturing potential. Sometimes this happens when we lose sight of our photographic objectives, and fall into habitual ways of using our camera gear.
Category Archives: Birds in Flight
Focus and Recompose Technique
Focus and recompose technique is something that was very commonly used back in the days when DSLRs only had a limited number of auto-focus points, mainly clustered around centre frame.
Importance of Frame Rate
This article discusses the importance of frame rate, specifically when photographing perched birds and insects taking flight. As photographers each of us has our own approach on how we use our camera gear. I appreciate that many people use continuous auto-focus for the bulk of their photography that involves wildlife subjects in motion.
Catch-As-Catch-Can Photography
For me, catch-as-catch-can photography has always meant living in the moment and reacting to photographic opportunities as they reveal themselves. There can be special feelings of creativity… spontaneity… and sometimes excitement that happen when we work in challenging conditions, or have to respond quickly to unplanned situations.
I suppose ‘catch-as-catch-can’ photography may be viewed by some folks as a ‘seat of the pants’ approach. Given the lack of detailed preparation and planning that is involved with ‘catch-as-catch-can’ photography… this is likely a fair assessment.
BIF Shutter Speeds
BIF shutter speeds are often discussed amongst bird photographers. While there certainly are variations in approach, there are also some general guidelines that many photographers follow.
1680 EFOV Handheld Technique
This article discusses how I adjusted my 1680 mm efov handheld technique when using the M.Zuiko 150-600 mm f/5-6.3 IS zoom lens with the M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter. While I wouldn’t normally use this set-up for birds in free flight, there are times when it comes in handy when photographing birds or insects taking flight from a distant perched position.
Bird Photography After 10
This article discusses doing bird photography after 10 o’clock in the morning… which is not considered to be an ideal time of day. Birds are most active earlier in the morning and later in the afternoon.
My schedule has been a bit crazy lately, so I try to fit in some field practice when I can. I ended up arriving at Hendrie Valley just as some other photographers were leaving. The good news was that I was able to get a parking spot. 🙂 Continue reading Bird Photography After 10
First Swallows of 2025
The first swallows of 2025 have returned to Biggar Lagoon Wetlands in Grimsby, and were welcomed by a good number of bird watchers and a few photographers.
DxO Smart Lighting
DxO Smart Lighting is an adjustment that I use with all of my RAW files, regardless of the subject matter in my photographs. I can’t comment on the use of this function with larger sensor cameras, but I can say that I’ve found this tool to be very useful with all of my images captured with smaller sensor cameras like Nikon 1 and Olympus/OM System M4/3 equipment.
Local Bird Photography
For many folks, doing local bird photography is their best option from both cost and time commitment perspectives. Flying to an out-of-country location to spend a week with a professional photographer/guide to photograph exotic birds can be an exciting prospect. From a practical perspective it is simply out-of-reach financially for many of us.