This article features 22 consecutive Bird Detection AI images of a duck landing on snow, captured using the M.Zuiko 100-400 mm zoom. All photographs were captured handheld using an OM-D E-M1X. The incoming duck was approximately 50 to 67 metres away.

Since the subject duck was a fair distance away all of the images in this article were cropped to about 3000 pixels on the width.

I wouldn’t normally bother photographing a duck from this distance, but I was doing some field testing with my E-M1X’s Bird Detection AI intelligent subject tracking.

As long as I did my part and kept incoming ducks in centre frame as I panned with them, my E-M1X would do a good job acquiring and holding auto-focus. I was most likely to miss frames when my panning was inaccurate or jerky.

NOTE: Click on images to enlarge.

Like most folks who are experiencing various stages of COVID-19 restrictions I’m definitely finding that my photographic skills in terms of tracking with birds-in-flight have deteriorated. I’m very much looking forward to better days ahead.

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. Photographs were cropped to approximately 3000 pixels on the width.

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