This articles shares a total of 22 consecutive, unexpected cardinal captures. These photographs were created using the Pro Capture H mode with my Olympus OM-D E-M1X. This feature uses a fast frame rate of 60 frames per second and captures full resolution RAW files. All of the photographs in this article are displayed as 100% captures without any cropping.
NOTE: Click on images to enlarge.
The question that may be in your mind right now is “Why are these cardinal captures unexpected?” Well… I was concentrating on the female cardinal in the bottom right-hand corner of the frame, waiting for her to take flight.
I was completely oblivious to the other female cardinal in the background flying towards the cardinal on the bench.
All of the photographs with two birds in them were completely unexpected cardinal captures. And, since I was completely unaware of the second bird flying into the frame, all of the later images in the run of the second bird were also unexpected cardinal captures. When I set up to take this image run I was hoping to get 4-6 usable images of the first cardinal taking flight. I had no idea I would end up with the treasure chest of photographs that were captured.
As the cardinal on the bench began her flight launch movements, I had my E-M1X’s shutter release half depressed. This enabled my camera to capture and store images in its temporary memory.
As the first cardinal begins to take flight you can see the other bird rapidly approaching.
The image above is one of my favourites in the action sequence. I like the wing position of the bird in the foreground as well as the anticipation created by the other cardinal approaching.
As you view the photograph above, as well as the next seven images, the action heats up as the incoming cardinal draws in closer. You’ll notice that the two birds go slightly in and out of focus as they respectively enter and leave the frame. This is caused by the Pro Capture H Mode locking focus on the first frame of the run, and applying that focus to all of the photographs in the sequence.
With the first female cardinal almost completely out of the frame, the incoming bird is now coming into good focus as it is entering the exact space vacated by the first cardinal.
These unexpected cardinal captures include some of the second bird preparing to touch down. It extends its legs and digits in the next few images in the series.
The photograph above is one of my favourites. I love the position of its wings. Touch down continues with the next three images.
All of the photographs in this article that you have viewed thus far… including the one above… were captured before I fully depressed the shutter release on my E-M1X. They were all being captured and stored in temporary memory by the Olympus Pro Capture H mode. As soon as I fully depressed the shutter release on my E-M1X all of those photographs in temporary memory were then confirmed and written to my memory card.
Before leaving home, I planned to use Pro Capture to photograph small birds taking flight. Accordingly, I changed the number of pre-shutter and post-shutter frames in Pro Capture. For the images in this article I had my pre-shutter frames set to 20, and post shutter frames set to 5. I may tighten this up further in the future when photographing small birds using Pro Capture H.
As the cardinal landed on the loose seeds on the bench it skidded counterclockwise and ended up with its back facing my camera. This made the last three images unusable.
All of the 22 consecutive images you just viewed in this article were captured in a total of 0.37 seconds. I included all 22 photographs in this article (even the ones where subject birds were going in and out of focus) to give readers a good demonstration of the power of the Olympus Pro Capture H mode. Showing all 22 images also provides examples of the practical considerations a photographer needs to keep in mind when using it.
Technical Note:
Photographs were captured hand-held using camera gear as noted in the EXIF data. All images were produced from RAW files using my standard process, and are displayed as 100% captures without any cropping.
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Great sequence, Thomas!
I was wondering, wouldn’t you have got C-AF if you were to use Procapture L, instead of pro capture H ? In some cases the focus may shift as the bird’s flying, so I assume the ProCapture L would be better to achieve continuous AF?
Hi Randy,
Yes, you are correct. If I would have used Pro Capture L then my camera would have been able to continuously auto focus on the first cardinal in the frame. As the cardinal took flight and left the frame my camera could have stayed locked on it with AF-C. If I was quick enough to pan with the departing bird I may have captured a couple of additional images of the first cardinal.
Using Pro Capture L would have meant that the second cardinal entering the frame would likely have stayed out of focus and I would have missed all of the images in the back half of the image run… some of which were my favorites.
Whether a photographer uses Pro Capture H vs Pro Capture L is a judgement call. There is a significant difference with frame rates between the two Pro Capture modes (60 fps for H and 18 for L). Depending on the size of the bird and its flying angle when being photographed Pro Capture H may yield a much higher number of in-focus images. I typically use Pro Capture H with small birds as the tend to leave the frame very quickly. I usually plan on getting 6-7 useable images of small birds taking flight when using Pro Capture H… assuming of course that the bird flies off at a 90 degree angle to my camera. Using Pro Capture L would yield 2 images (and if I was very lucky 3 photos) from the same flight action of the bird.
It all comes down to the objective of a photographer when using one of the Pro Capture modes.
Tom
Thanks very much, Thomas, for generously sharing your experience and knowledge!
Regards,
Randy
You’re most welcome Randy!
Tom
No argument there.
Tom,
Wonderful sequence — in fact, I was thinking I can retitle the post as “Thomas Stirr’s Cardinal Rules on Cardinal Captures” (pun intended). Fascinating how technology and nature can meet and converge out on the field. Sure makes me appreciate the Olympus’s Pre- and Post-captures in Pro Capture mode, taking in the moments before and after full shutter button press. I also love that full-wing spread capture; the sequence though makes me appreciate the interplay of the two birds feeding, taking off and flying in one after another.
Oggie
http://www.lagalog.com
Hi Oggie,
Being in the right place… at the right time… with the right gear… can pay dividends. Sometimes Mother Nature arrives hand-in-hand with Lady Luck!
Tom
Tom,
As they say, luck favors the prepared. And migolly, does the Oly OM-D EM1X in your able hands can do wonders.
Oggie
http://www.lagalog.com
Thanks Oggie!
Tom
I always thought it was fortune favors the bold…
Ed,
I was just paraphrasing Louis Pasteur’s quote of “Chance favors the prepared mind”
Oggie
http://www.lagalog.com