Goldfinches at feeder - is this memorable?

[OceanHorizons]

Hello everyone. The local goldfinches finally found my bird feeder! (Lately I've been, um, a bit obsessed with bird photography.) Today there were probably a dozen of them fighting for the best spots on the feeder, and I was try to catch a shot that really showed the interaction between the birds to make it more memorable than just a bunch of birds eating. So:

To your eye, is this shot memorable?

I'm new to photography as a serious hobby, so any other critique about technique/composition is welcome.





Camera Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure 0.001 sec (1/800)
Aperture f/6.3 [trying to get all the birds in acceptable focus]
Focal Length 154 mm
ISO Speed 200 [my camera is noisy at higher values]
Flash Off, Did not fire
Exposure Bias +1/3 EV [I adjusted to ettr]
Canon Exposure Mode Aperture-priority AE
Metering Mode Evaluative
Lens Model EF-S55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

[karen_s]

Almost. It's so very cool that you got a bird in flight. I am finding that to be quite the challenge. I like the middle birds too, the butt shot on one side and the head on the other made me smile.

Anyway, what holds the shot back a bit for me (from being memorable anyway) is the distance from the action. It took me a moment to notice the top bird is none to happy with the newcomer and I think if you could have zoomed in closer, the argument would be much more apparent. The closer you are to them, the more the viewer is likely to feel a part of the action as opposed to a being relegated to the position of distant observer.

Overall though, a pretty good attempt to get something different. You did catch the action and I know form experience it's not all that easy.

And I got hooked on birding myself last summer. I would guesstimate that I take 500-1000 shots to get one that I consider memorable or post worthy (to Flickr that is). For me, the key has been a longer lens (got a 300 but a 400 would be better), patience, and learning their behaviors to the extent I can start to predict what they will do next ( well, as much as a human can predict a bird). I look for eye contact, unique poses, arguments, anything average people do not see and I try to get as close as possible.

[OceanHorizons]

karen_s: Thanks so much for the reply. I keep telling my significant other that I "need" a 400mm...

I'm hoping these little birds will stick around so that they can get used to me and I can get closer. (I was probably 15-20ft away for this shot - I was worried to get too close and scare them away). I'm going to keep the feeders full and my fingers crossed!

Thanks for the encouragment - I appreciate the insights you shared about bird photography.

[kingpatzer]

If you don't have a long lens, get yourself a radio trigger and put your camera on a tripod close to the action, focus in on the feeder with a bit of room around it, use a tight aperture to get lots of depth of field, and then sit back at the distance and wait.

And wait.

And wait.

And wait.

And eventually you'll find some excuse to push the button. Do that a few dozen times, and you'll end up with a couple of images that might be worth something.

As for this particular image -- it probably could use some cropping. You have good opportunity for a "frame inside a frame" type composition using the window in the background. But ultimately, I think birding shots tend to need something we can interpret as "outdoors" in the background. A flat wall to me is a difficult background to make work for a quasi-wildlife shot.

[OceanHorizons]

kingpatzer, thanks for the reply.

Originally Posted by kingpatzer

get yourself a radio trigger and put your camera on a tripod close to the action,

That's an interesting idea - I have a wired remote but the cord isn't very long, so I'll have to get a wireless remote. I've read that with the Canon Rebels you have to be almost directly in front of the camera to trigger it (as the only receiver is on the front of the body) - do you have any experience with this? I'm wanting to get a wireless remote anyway, so I guess I'll just have to experiment to find out where I can stand so as not to be in the shot.

The little birds at my feeder tend to, erm, poop a lot... suppose I'd better cover my camera with plastic wrap or something? (I always have my lens hood on)

And wait. And wait. And wait.

yeah, I'm learning about this!

But ultimately, I think birding shots tend to need something we can interpret as "outdoors" in the background.

Yeah, I didn't have the feeder in the best spot - I have a really small, in-town yard, and the only tree in my backyard is right up against the house --- so I'm learning really quickly how important it is to watch my background.

Thanks again.

[JFSanders]

Originally Posted by OceanHorizons

karen_s: Thanks so much for the reply. I keep telling my significant other that I "need" a 400mm...

I'm hoping these little birds will stick around so that they can get used to me and I can get closer. (I was probably 15-20ft away for this shot - I was worried to get too close and scare them away). I'm going to keep the feeders full and my fingers crossed!

Thanks for the encouragment - I appreciate the insights you shared about bird photography.

Get there early and open the window and shoot from inside the house. You should take off the screen if there is one. It looks like the feeder is close to your window.

Jim

[kingpatzer]

Originally Posted by OceanHorizons

kingpatzer, thanks for the reply.

That's an interesting idea - I have a wired remote but the cord isn't very long, so I'll have to get a wireless remote. I've read that with the Canon Rebels you have to be almost directly in front of the camera to trigger it (as the only receiver is on the front of the body) - do you have any experience with this? I'm wanting to get a wireless remote anyway, so I guess I'll just have to experiment to find out where I can stand so as not to be in the shot.

What you will want is something like these. The cable will go into the cable release off of the camera from the receiver, and you just sit back however far you want and click off the transmitter when you want to take the shot. You'll have to pre-focus, but it is pretty straight forward once you figure it out.

And you'll be able to use the set for off-camera flash as well.

[OceanHorizons]

Originally Posted by kingpatzer

What you will want is something like these.

Thanks for the link - I'm still learning the terminology for all the different accessories! I'm actually on a pretty tight budget at the moment, but a wireless trigger's now on my ever-growing wish list.

[OceanHorizons]

Originally Posted by JFSanders

shoot from inside the house.

Jim, thanks for the reply. My house is a "fixer-upper" with very old, drafty windows, so the window that looks out onto the feeder is currently covered with plastic... I haven't taken it off yet because it's still fairly cold at night in my neck of the woods. As soon as it warms up the window will be accessible again so I'll try some shots from inside.

[JFSanders]

Come on brother! Sometimes you have to suffer for your art...

Moose Peterson regularly shoots from his office. Although the photos I have seen of his office suggest he aint sufferin for his art there. Maybe on his Alaska trips.

Jim