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Bruna Mentrup posted in the group Wildlife Photography
Continuation: Capture Wildlife In Low light
“Silent Wings (Barn Owl)”
1/6000sec – f/5.6 – ISO 640 – Nikon D4- Nikon 70-200mm – Manual Mode – Flash Not FiredWhen photographing birds, the general perception is that you need a focal length of at least 600mm. As mentioned above, I used a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens for this shot. I kept my shutter (Tv) speed fast, my ISO low, and my aperture f/5.6. Why these bazaar camera settings? How can it work?
It can only work if you understand light and how your camera operates. Owls are generally active moments before the sun dips and during the evening. It means you will be dealing with low light, so you must analyse the situation before you press the shutter. I was relatively close to the Owl in flight and the Owl of medium size. Thus, the choice of the 70-200mm lens. I could shoot out of hand and follow the Owl until it flew past the golden light coming in from the side. My speed is fast enough in case it decides to grab its prey. My aperture (Av) of f/5.6 for blurring background is also wide enough to get a medium-sized bird in focus. The low ISO is because I have underexposed my image in the camera. The eye is sharp, not because of my choice of settings; it’s a combination of activating the correct tracking systems in the camera and my experience in tracking and panning birds in flight.
#WildlifePhotography
#BirdPhotography
#BarnOwl
#AvianPhotography
#DPCtribe
2 Comments-
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Thank you Bruno. I am working on some articles that I will soon post. We are also going to do a summary of the low light photography and place this under articles.
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Bruna Mentrup
TUTOR
I started my wildlife photography journey with nothing but a passion for capturing what I had seen unfold before me for years.
Determined I could achieve that, I set out with the most basic equipment, and eventually, my efforts were rewarded.
I, fortunately, love travel and being in my own company, so I spend months on the road in perfect partnership with the animals, great light, and the landscape. My confidence grew, and my images started to speak for themselves; so did my range of equipment, as did the awards.
My proudest moment was being made a Licentiate by the Photography Society of South Africa. I take so much pride in the steps I have taken, and it gives me such joy to see my work in magazines and hanging on walls of game lodges across Africa.
My philosophy is that anyone can acquire technical skills in photography. Still, you need heart, passion and a deep connection with what is around you to capture the finest of what Mother Nature has on offer.
Hi Bruna. Thank you for sharing the details and providing context. This is truly what is beneficial of this site – to get input/feedback that will permit one to improve their own skills. Perhaps posting something like this under “Articles & Tutorials” will give it more sustainability and longevity, otherwise the post will quickly be “lost” in the timeline.