House Finch

[BCrose]

This was the first shot on my backyard perch that I used a flash.

[AB26]

Monte, it is only getting better. Lovely image.

[jprzybyla]

Hello Monte, nice little bird and a great idea to get them to come to a backyard perch. I noticed it on the jays you recently posted and here again, the focus on the birds tails is soft. It must be a shallow depth of field. I tried to look at the EXIF data but none was available.

[chauncey]

As a follow-up to what Joe said...try to get parallel to the bird to get it all in focus.

[Wavelength]

So lovely; nicely matched background

[BCrose]

Thanks all.

Joe, The EXIF is in the picture frame, bottom left. I have problems with this...Even at f/8 the dof is very narrow. I might try f/11 and flash next time.

WM C Boyer...Ha! I am trying
I know you are correct but it is tricky. Anytime they get parallel they never seem to be smiling

[jprzybyla]

Hi Monte, not sure how close you are to the birds on your perches but when I shoot dragonflies I need f16 for all body parts to be sharp. I am using my 300mm at the minimum focusing distance of 5 feet.

[BCrose]

I shot at f/9 and f/11 this evening and did a little better. Still a bit overexposed on birds body from flash so that needs to be dialed down to 1/16th I think from 1/8 I used today, or put it back a bit further.

[Steve S]

I shot at f/9 and f/11 this evening and did a little better. Still a bit overexposed on birds body from flash so that needs to be dialed down to 1/16th I think from 1/8 I used today, or put it back a bit further.

Flash.......
Bounce it off a large white board (may need to crank it up a little, when bounced). Move it as close to the subject as you can.

[BCrose]

Flash.......
Bounce it off a large white board (may need to crank it up a little, when bounced). Move it as close to the subject as you can.

Thanks for that tip. Never even thought of that but it should make the light much less harsh.

Now I have a new project

[Steve S]

Thanks for that tip. Never even thought of that but it should make the light much less harsh.

Now I have a new project

The bigger the light source and the closer it is to the subject, the softer the light will be.