This article discusses combining imaging technologies… specifically Pro Capture L with Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking.

I went to Grimsby harbour this morning with the specific purpose of testing how well Pro Capture L would work when combined with my E-M1X’s  Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking.

When I first bought my OM-D E-M1X I hoped that Olympus may add birds to its Intelligent Subject Tracking capability. I was intrigued with the prospect of combining imaging technologies to see what would happen.

After spending a couple of hours shooting test photographs I came away quite impressed with the potential of combining these imaging technologies on a regular basis.

Photographing birds-in-flight using Pro Capture L in combination with Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking is a very different experience. One that requires changes to shooting technique. I’ll need a lot more practice before combining these imaging technologies feels natural. My impression is that it will be worth the effort.

Before you view the photographs featured in this article I’ll give you a bit of background. I believe that all of the images are of the same gull, repeatedly dropping the same object in mid-air and diving after it. The bird was too distant for me to determine what was causing its abrupt mid-air dives while I was capturing these photographs. My E-M1X estimated that the distance to subject varied between 40 and 74 metres depending on the fly pass. The gull was flying over the open water of the harbour during all of these image captures.

It circled back a total of 6 times, dropping the same object with each pass, then diving in mid-air to retrieve it. I was able to capture usable images from each of its dives/retrievals. Combining the imaging technologies of Pro Capture L and Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking creates a powerful approach to capture birds-in-flight. Future articles will provide further comment.

I have divided the photographs based on the fly pass that yielded the image.

NOTE: Click on images to enlarge.

First Pass…

Second Pass…

Third Pass…

Fourth Pass…

Fifth Pass…

Sixth Pass…

I have no idea why this particular gull was behaving in this manner. Perhaps it was a young bird playing around, or practising mid-air retrievals.

The fact that I was able to reliably capture usable photographs from each fly pass that the gull made indicates to me that combining the imaging technologies of Pro Capture L and Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking has interesting potential, and deserves further investigation.

Technical Note

Photographs were captured hand-held using camera gear as noted in the EXIF data. Images were produced from RAW files using my standard process. Crops are noted for each photograph.

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