my first "decent" bird shot

[cristen]

Camera Canon EOS 500D
Exposure 0.033 sec (1/30)
Aperture f/5.6
Focal Length 300 mm
ISO Speed 100
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash Off, Did not fire


I never trusted myself to take pictures of birds but I tried it anyway.

The shot is still soft even if I sharpened it in Photoshop. Pls C&C on the camera settings, and pointers on composition will be appreciated too. Is the bokeh in the background disturbing or does it enhance the photograph? Thanks.

[Josephine M]

Love the picture! Nice job

[cristen]

Thank you, Josephine

[Madog]

Was this shot on a tripod?

[Hill Country Hack]

Overall a good shot.
Yes, it is a bit soft. It appears to me the maximum focus is on the barb in front of the bird. The bokeh helps to allow the bird to stand out.

If this was handheld, then your shutter speed was too slow and the missed focus may be due to camera shake. The general rule of thumb is a 1:1 ratio of shutter speed to focal length at a minimum. You shot at 300mm focal length so if you were hand holding your would need a shutter speed of 1/300 or greater. If you use a triopod you can shoot at the slower shutter speeds with a long focal length.

If your lens allows you could have opened the apeture more to gain the shutter speed and increase the ISO. The increased ISO will induce noise, but most will clean up in post production. Sometimes one has to eat the noise if the situation dictates.

[Tito87]

I don't find the bokeh disturbing, at all; actually, I think that's what makes the picture. Nice shot. What do you see beyond the hill?

[cristen]

Originally Posted by Madog

Was this shot on a tripod?

It was a hand--held shot,Madog. So I will take your question as a compliment. Thanks!

Originally Posted by Hill Country Hack

Overall a good shot.
Yes, it is a bit soft. It appears to me the maximum focus is on the barb in front of the bird. The bokeh helps to allow the bird to stand out.

If this was handheld, then your shutter speed was too slow and the missed focus may be due to camera shake. The general rule of thumb is a 1:1 ratio of shutter speed to focal length at a minimum. You shot at 300mm focal length so if you were hand holding your would need a shutter speed of 1/300 or greater. If you use a triopod you can shoot at the slower shutter speeds with a long focal length.

If your lens allows you could have opened the apeture more to gain the shutter speed and increase the ISO. The increased ISO will induce noise, but most will clean up in post production. Sometimes one has to eat the noise if the situation dictates.

Thank you so much for the pointers, Hill Country Hack. I seldom use my zoom as it is a bit heavy and difficult to handle for me. But I couldn't resist the birds chirping in my backyard. I took this shot through my window, with a 6" x 4" opening of the screen (to keep away bugs, flies and mosquitoes), so movement was limited. Plus I have to take a quick shot as those birds don't stay long in one place. Lol... you're right. The barbed wire seems more focused.

I really don't like bumping up my ISO because noise would add to the softness my shots always seem to have (shaky hands, arthritic fingers). But with your explanation, I will have to pay more attention now to my settings.

Originally Posted by Tito87

I don't find the bokeh disturbing, at all; actually, I think that's what makes the picture. Nice shot. What do you see beyond the hill?

... beyond the hill..? you quite lost me there....

Thank you, Tito87. I kind of like the bokeh too, even if it was there unintentionally... lol

[Madog]

"It was a hand--held shot"
Nice work. I thought maybe a tripod in part because the wire is sharper than the bird, and at 1/30 some subject movement could soften the image a bit. Looks like a quick little bird
I'm guessing IS was in effect (and working very hard) here as well.
What lens did you use?

[cristen]

Originally Posted by Madog

"It was a hand--held shot"
Nice work. I thought maybe a tripod in part because the wire is sharper than the bird, and at 1/30 some subject movement could soften the image a bit. Looks like a quick little bird
I'm guessing IS was in effect (and working very hard) here as well.
What lens did you use?

I used a canon zoom lens EF 75-300mm 1:4-5.6 II. It's low end and it does not have IS. It's quite heavy

[Madog]

Originally Posted by cristen

I used a canon zoom lens EF 75-300mm 1:4-5.6 II. It's low end and it does not have IS. It's quite heavy

In that case double or triple the compliment from before. Who needs IS if you can handhold like that Considering some of the softness is probably due to being at the long end and wide open. Keep shooting.