Cute But Stupid
In flight..
Posted by amy (Nanaimo, BC, Canada) on 28 May 2007 in Animal & Insect and Portfolio.
Life's a voyage that's homeward bound.Herman Melville
This shot is pretty much how I shot it... all I did was a titch of cropping.
You can view my gallery of images and calendar for sale at: cute but stupid . I'm slowly adding more to the site and if there is something in my portfolio you would like to purchase but is not available on my site just contact me and I'll make it available.
I appreciate all visits and comments and thank you always... ;-)
@kaveh: Hey kaveh!! Yeah, that focus thing... my panning has always been a bit iffey and am still trying to get a grip on it. But I just loved the wings so much that I decided to post the image anyways.. Thanks so much for the comment!! ;-)
Richard_Irwin from Belper, United Kingdom
Panning is both really fun, and also really hard, especially in portrait view, but this looks like a good try, especially as you shot it at 1/100 sec.
I have taken hundreds of panning shots with my D70, and after early frustration, found the autofocus pretty useless (not quick enough) with this camera, so I now set the focus manually to a set distance, the shutter to 1/500, and have got OK results.
28 May 2007 8:40am
@Richard_Irwin: Great tip, Richard!! Thanks!! My panning has always left a lot to be desired. And this shot I was focusing manually... I tend to keep on trying to focus as I pan. ;-D
Helen from Melbourne, Australia
Great shot Amy. It may be blurred but it gives that feeling of speed .... and thanks to Richard for the tips. I just deleted my bird shots from the weekend. I wish I'd visited here first!
28 May 2007 10:30am
@Helen: Hey there Helen!! I thought that too about the blurring adding the feeling of speed (and the little bugger was fast). I just loved how his wings looked so decided to post it... Thanks as always Helen... ;-)
Scene by Sharon Photography from Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Great capture and great tips ... panning is EXTREEMLY difficult, but I think you have made an excellent attempt. Keep up the good work!
28 May 2007 10:41am
@Scene by Sharon Photography: Thanks Sharon!! Panning is extremely difficult!!!! Never been one of my strong suits... but now with Richard's tip? I may actually start getting the shot I really want!!
@Faramarz: Thank you! ;-)
@badala: Hey badala!! Thanks oodles.. ;-)
@Evie: Thanks Evie! ;-)
Rahul from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Good one Amy, this shot needed a bit more shutter speed or smaller F-stop number. F5.6 or F8 would have done the job since the background is blurred anyways.
Ok, let me share a trick here with you, which someone asked me to work on. Try shooting some shots in the apperture priority mode, or even better sports mode, that will give you perfect idea of what shutter speed will do the required job, and what shutter speed will freeze the subject in mid air.
I tried it and it kinda worked, have a try pal, you will be amazed. ;-) Now you owe me one LOL
Wow, guess this is my first serious "one and a half cents" on your page, else i can never stop smiling the moment i know its Amy there. ;-)
28 May 2007 2:36pm
@Rahul: Here we go again with me flying by the seat of my pants! The aperture priority thing is a great idea! That's how I started out with my first camera 25+ years ago. There are so many buttons and gadgets on these new fangled cameras that I get lazy. ;-) Good point about the sports mode... always forget about those. Will definitely try that... and will start working in aperture priority... Roberta pointed this out to me as well. But ya gotta admit that occassionally the screw ups are the best of the bunch... watch for Wednesday's post... just a teaser.. ;-)
Levine from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Practice ur panning a lil bit more and u can do it perfectly in no time :) Remember ya....Take as much as u can, practice as much as u can.
28 May 2007 4:43pm
@Levine: Yep! There're enough winging birds down at the marsh that I should be able to practice a lot!! Thanks!! ;-)
@Yvon: Thanks you for that Yvon!! ;-)
Teng Tan from Australia
It's a valiant attempt and one definitely gets better with every attempt. I have yet to try birds in flight. Panning is much easier with larger objects.
28 May 2007 11:49pm
@Teng Tan: Thanks for that Teng Tan!! It is HARD! But with Richard's tips I may improve sooner than later! That's why I posted it... knew I'd get some feedback!! ;-)
Candace from Emmaus, United States
I think it's a GREAT shot and I have to agree with Helen...it gives it a sense of speed. Now I'll have to go out and try my sport setting for some quick action ones too.
29 May 2007 2:52am
@Candace: Yeah, Candace, Rahul's advice on the sports mode was good.. I always forget about those settings. And Richard's tip is great, too. I have to get back over to the marsh to try them out. Thanks so much for the visit and comment!!! ;-)
Jen from Jessup, United States
You have such wonderful bird shots!!!!
Sorry I missed you over the weekend...kept busy all weekend with family!!!
29 May 2007 10:49am
@Jen: Thanks again Jen!!!
And no worries about the weekend.. family should take priority over the Am3... it's when work interupts my blogging that I get tetchy!! LOL
@Anup: Thanks again Anup!! ;-)
Rahul from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Haha... ok hold down to your pants and try the tricks, trust me you are gonna love it.
About your low patience level, it gets me wondering rather, it can be a WOW factor for your hubby there. ;-) Ok, wont want to eleborate that, but it can be a pain too for him hehehe... I am sure "her highness" there will sure get what i meant, with her amazing sense of humor. Dont ask me to eleborate on that hahaha....
29 May 2007 6:44pm
@Rahul: You are just the biggest tease Rahul!!! LOL And yeah, it can be trial for my husband... but he's pretty laid back! And he is compensated.. wink wink nudge nudge.. LOL ;-)
Rahul from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Hahahahah.... you understood it so well. Ohhh dear.... like the compensation part, just could not stop laughing out real hard reading that, until people in the office were wondering what am i up to... This is AMY at her best, with her fantastic sense of humor and among us we dont really had the need to say much or elaborate ever. ;-) You got my point, but at times slow and steady rocks pal, so have patience. Aikksss ssshhh... wink wink nudge nudge.. LOL ;-)
30 May 2007 3:31am
@kairospix: Thanks K!! ;-)
Nikon D70
1/100 second
F/14.0
ISO 200
450 mm (35mm equiv.)