12 http://www.digitalcameraworld.com
theApprentice
ExPanD your
aF arEa
seTTinG a dedicated AF point is essential for shooting
fast-moving subjects like birds, though it can be difficult
to keep your active AF point over the bird... Many of the
enthusiast and pro Canon bodies give you the ability to
expand the AF area making it larger and easier to focus
on the part of the shot you want to be in focus.guy’s top ten tips
1
Don’t use Auto iso
auto Iso has its place, but when tracking flying
birds in the viewfinder the background luminosity
can change too quickly for you to get usable
exposures. you’ll get more consistent results by
locking off your camera settings in manual (m).2
come prepared
It’s good practice to fully charge your camera
batteries and format your memory cards ready
for the day. Bring spare batteries and cards.3
Use the card overflow mode
I’ve set my Canon to use both memory card slots,
with the second as an overflow. this means if my
first card becomes full the camera will start writing
to the second card so I can keep shooting and I’m
less likely to miss that important moment.4
Keep kit in sparkling clean condition
regularly clean your lenses and camera sensor
to avoid having to remove dust spots in post.5
Don’t pan against a bright sky
If you’re trying to shoot a panning shot full of
motion it’s best to avoid bright skies. these will
become bleached out and fail to show the full
panning effect. Pan against darker backdrops,
such as trees or foliage in the background.6
Follow the rules
It’s basic stuff but you’d be surprised at how many
people ignore the rules. Birds of prey are hunting
animals and can be dangerous, so follow the advice
of the handlers and stick to it.7
Arrive early to public displays
Public displays offer some wonderful opportunities
to catch birds of prey close-up and in flight. arrive
early to set up your tripod and ensure you have an
unobstructed view.8
observe the bird
Before taking any photos it can be beneficial to
watch each bird fly as they’ll all have their own
unique characteristics, speed and agility. when you
find a predictable flying pattern you’ll find it easier
to follow them in the viewfinder and take the shot.9
switch off image stabilization
For peace of mind I like to shoot fast-paced action
with the Image stabilization switched off, so I know
that the Is system isn’t taking any battery power
away from the autofocus motor.10
Get down and dirty
It’s a good idea to wear old clothes that you don’t
mind getting dirty for times when you need to get
down low. Getting down to eye-level with birds
usually makes for a stronger composition.hot
shot
iAn’s comment
It was really quite impressive to get so close to this Andean
Condor! Zooming in I was able to get some brilliant details
of the fur which contrasted nicely with the razor sharp beak. Both
myself and Guy zoomed right into the 400mm mark of our telephoto
lenses to capture some tighter portraits. This one of Guy’s has to be
the best of the bunch as he managed to catch the exact moment it squawked!lens Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6l I s II usm
exposure 1/500 sec, f/5.6, Iso 6400