Tern In Flight

[Barbara Ponder]

CC always welcomed and appreciated.

[Geoff F]

You certainly seem to be capturing some excellent real action shots recently.

Possibly a wing up angle looks better than this wing down shot; but still perfect exposure and focus under testing conditions.

[NorthernFocus]

Not bad at all for first go around on terns. Anytime you can see a tern's eye is a good shot. A pure profile is not the most dynamic position by the bird but we take what they give us. You don't have to start getting picky until you have a few dozen in the files

[Shadowman]

Very nice.

[Barbara Ponder]

You certainly seem to be capturing some excellent real action shots recently.

Possibly a wing up angle looks better than this wing down shot; but still perfect exposure and focus under testing conditions.

Thank you Geoff! It was my goal a year ago to nail BIF so I have really been working at it! I love the challenge! Of course these smaller guys are a bit more of a challenge than the larger but still fun!

[Barbara Ponder]

Not bad at all for first go around on terns. Anytime you can see a tern's eye is a good shot. A pure profile is not the most dynamic position by the bird but we take what they give us. You don't have to start getting picky until you have a few dozen in the files

Thanks Dan! I am going to work on them! I love their elegance and so want to get one in it's fishing posture!

[Barbara Ponder]

Very nice.

Thanks John!

[IzzieK]

Not your usual bird posture but the exposure is great here. Now you are pushing me to learn how to use aperture priority!!! I've never done it. ... yet. For fast SS shots I use Shutter Priority not Aperture Priority. I've never rotated my fingers to find that button...maybe in the near future I will, seeing how this option has catapult you to that perfection you sought for in the first place...we'll see.

[Downrigger]

Terrific shot, great image. I'd love to read some discussion of shooting mode for wildlife. I see you used aperture priority - and I do too, mostly. But I heard a pro wildlife fellow once advise shooting wildlife in manual mode, with auto ISO. It has felt a little weird abandoning ISO control, but control of SS and DOF in a lot of ways seems more important, so I am fooling with that approach. Thoughts?

[Barbara Ponder]

Not your usual bird posture but the exposure is great here. Now you are pushing me to learn how to use aperture priority!!! I've never done it. ... yet. For fast SS shots I use Shutter Priority not Aperture Priority. I've never rotated my fingers to find that button...maybe in the near future I will, seeing how this option has catapult you to that perfection you sought for in the first place...we'll see.

Now Izzie, I started shooting in Aperture priority because of YOU When I first came on CC you questioned my using Shutter Priority! I had a couple of issues with DOF shooting Shutter Priority so I switched. I rarely use SP any more. It meant I had to get over my fear of higher ISO's and to some extent have done that. Manual for me is where I eventually want to go but still have a hard time with it.

[Krawuntzel]

Hello Barbara
the tern is nicely captured - however looking at the picture I am not so sure that the presentation is working. The downward swing of the wings gives me the impression, that the bird is trying to get more hight. In your picture I "fear" that it is bumping its head to top of the frame and has no chance to dive to the right. I am just talking about my impression.
Erwin

P.S. to Marks wish:
I'd love to read some discussion of shooting mode for wildlife. I see you used aperture priority - and I do too, mostly. But I heard a pro wildlife fellow once advise shooting wildlife in manual mode, with auto ISO. It has felt a little weird abandoning ISO control, but control of SS and DOF in a lot of ways seems more important, so I am fooling with that approach. Thoughts?
In my opinion it depends on the "wildlife"/"conditions" you make pictures; and it is depending on camera/lens combination; and lot of other parameters. If you are interested in this discussion, why not open a thread?

[Barbara Ponder]

Terrific shot, great image. I'd love to read some discussion of shooting mode for wildlife. I see you used aperture priority - and I do too, mostly. But I heard a pro wildlife fellow once advise shooting wildlife in manual mode, with auto ISO. It has felt a little weird abandoning ISO control, but control of SS and DOF in a lot of ways seems more important, so I am fooling with that approach. Thoughts?

Mark, thanks! I am having a hard time moving to manual but would like to eventually be there. I have used auto ISO on occasions where the lighting was constantly changing or when I needed a starting point to decide where to set it (hope that made sense) I even on VERY rare occasions have used auto to get my starting point. I personally take different approaches in different situations. If it is a subject that I see often and know it is not a once in a lifetime opportunity to shoot then I will experiment with different settings. If it's that rare subject I will shoot in whatever mode I have had success with in the past. Up until a year and 3 months ago I had never taken a photo on anything but Auto so I am really new to this.

[Barbara Ponder]

Hello Barbara
the tern is nicely captured - however looking at the picture I am not so sure that the presentation is working. The downward swing of the wings gives me the impression, that the bird is trying to get more hight. In your picture I "fear" that it is bumping its head to top of the frame and has no chance to dive to the right. I am just talking about my impression.
Erwin

Thank you Erwin and I see what you are saying and agree. Terns are a new one for me so I just need to get out and practice with them. They are much faster than most shore birds and have a somewhat erratic flight pattern so I need to get better at anticipating them.