Getting a sharp image of any passerine in flight is not an easy task, especially when they’re coming toward you. I’m convinced I’d have missed this shot if I’d still been shooting with my Canon 7D.
1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
The focus tracking system of the Canon 7D Mark II is quite impressive (and intimidating, I must say). It’s significantly easier (for several reasons) to get the bird sharp if it’s flying parallel to you but this one took off at a quartering angle toward me. These little birds are so incredibly fast in flight that most AF systems can’t keep locked on to them at this flight angle (of course the skill of the photographer comes into play here too – it all can’t be blamed on the camera..). I remember in the field (3 days ago on Antelope Island) that I didn’t even check my camera screen to see how this shot turned out because I assumed I either missed the bird altogether or it would just be a big blur.
Some of the bird is soft (the wings) due to motion blur at this shutter speed and to lack of depth of field (the tail) at f/6.3 but the head is sharp enough and there’s nice light on the face so the image works for me as is. I was delighted to get a songbird in flight and sharp coming toward me like this. Thanks, Mark II.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I decided to throw in “dessert” by concluding this post with a little whimsy. I took this photo of another juvenile White-crowned Sparrow yesterday, also on Antelope Island. I get a kick out of the image for several reasons – the bird’s wings aren’t even slightly lifted while it’s this far off the perch, I like the position of the feet between the budded stems and I also enjoy how the tail follows the upward angle of the perch. The sparrow was simply jumping down from a higher position on the twig and I caught it in mid-air.
It’s not a great shot but it does amuse me.
Ron
Absolutely love the second shot, loved the space between the feet and the budded stem, what an action! I will take your word and get the 7D Mark II…
Ron:
Thank you so much for posting this kind of information. Aside from loving all of your images, I am trying to learn as much as I can from you.
My main photography work is not birds, nature or wildlife, so a 24-70mm and a 70-200mm had always worked well for me (I do medical photography and children). But I recently moved to an area where I have bald eagles flying over my home and perching in the trees every day. So I am expanding my lens collection- just ordered a used 500mm 4.0. But I also need to learn a lot more about technique. I have the Canon 5D Mark III, and have not learned to use many of its functions: based on your post, I am going to look up its focus tracking capabilities!
I just wish I could spend some time with someone like you and learn hands on in the field!
Thanks so much.
Good for you on your choice of lens for birds, Roberta. The 500 f/4 is truly an exceptional piece of glass.
An incredible image – beautiful detail and wonderful motion.
Ron, while your first shot is impressive for the technical reasons you stated, I’m captivated by the pleasing angles and smile inducing nature of the second.
Thank you, Mike. I heard through the grapevine that you’re finally feeling better and was delighted to hear it. Hope to run into you at HW or in the field sometime soon.
The flight shot is AWESOME. Yes, sparrows are extremely difficult to catch in flight. And you did more than just get a picture. You got an EXCELLENT picture!
Thanks very much, Howard.
Great photos! What is especially impressive to me (and this is exposed in much of your work – thanks!) is the physical capabilities evidenced by these animals. Look, this bird, not yet fully mature and with a brain smaller than a green pea jumped down from an inclined perch to a lower, inclined perch. It did this with such confidence it didn’t spread it’s wings (the parachute) nor even look where it was going (the route guidance). Amazing!
Art, I often marvel at the same thing (their “physical capabilities”). And some of those capabilities become much more apparent when seen up close through a powerful lens and frozen by fast shutter speeds – one of the many reasons bird photography is my passion.
Love the exercising sparrow. Twenty jumping jacks… And you captured it.
While a poor workman blames his/her tools a good one takes some of the credit. Both of these shots are delightful.
I’ll take some of the credit, Elephant’s Child but it’s also nice to have a more advanced tool, finally. It’s been five years since Canon came out with the 7D and though I loved that camera it was way past time for an upgrade.
Sighed in appreciation of the beauty of the first shot and laughed outloud at the second…love them both! The bird in the second frame has obviously been swept off his feet by something…or someone!!!
Patty, I was somewhat surprised to see this bird do this without opening its wings at all. I keep coming back to that when I look at the image. It must have been pretty confident in its athletic abilities, especially for a juvenile.
Fabulous shots. Just says what good tools an do for a good photographer.
Thanks, Rich. I know that you just got the Mark II also and have been struggling with some of the AF and exposure settings, as I have been. Hopefully we’ll both get it as right as possible down the line. And soon…
I love both of these shots. In the first one I would expect some softness from motion. The second one is just felicitous. Great catch!
“felicitous”
Couldn’t remember the meaning of that word, Susan – had to look it up (thinking “cats” as I did so, though I knew that wasn’t it…). Thank you, for the comment and for the reintroduction to the word. I subscribe to Dictionary.com’s “Word of the Day” but they’ve apparently missed that one so far and my memory failed me.
That in-flight shot makes the sparrow look almost raptor-like in intensity. But I’m especially enamored of the second image…that bird is perfectly matched to the perch in every color, and I can imagine it not as part of a branch, but rather as the leg and foot of a MUCH larger sparrow he realizes he’s about to encounter. I’m easily amused, as you can tell…..
It’s always fun to hear the reactions of others to shots like that one, Chris. I especially enjoyed your observations and I share your “easy amusement…).
You have as usual an amazing eye Ron. So glad to have the equipment to compliment your artistic vision.
Thanks, John. Now if I can just develop my skills enough to take full advantage of the capabilities of the new camera…
I loved the dessert ! Delicious , funny , and no calories !
“no calories”
I’d never even considered that, Kris. You’re absolutely right!
They’re both delightful, Ron! Thanks…
Thank you, Alison.