CHALLENGING MOMENTS BEHIND MY CAMERA
Red Crown Cranes – Japan
Nikon D4, Nikon 600mm lens, 1/3200sec, f/8, ISO 500, Manual Mode, Flash did not fire, Tripod was used, Time 13:58.

Photographing white birds in snowy conditions presents unique challenges, primarily due to the camera’s tendency to underexpose images with extensive areas of white. It is because camera meters are calibrated for neutral grey or green subjects, and bright snow can confuse the meter. The result of underexposing is blue or grey snow and birds. To compensate, I had to overexpose my shots, often by +1.5 to +2 stops.

HERE ARE A FEW ISSUES I HAD TO DEAL WITH:

COMPOSITION AND LIGHT:
Bright snow can wash out detail on white feathers, making the bird appear flat with no detail in the white feathers.
Technical Considerations:
SHUTTER SPEED:
Although these Cranes are large, their movement is erratic and as soon as one takes off, the rest will follow. I had to ensure my shutter speed was fast enough, also pushing my panning ability to its limits. Activating the correct tracking mode in-camera also came into play, especially when they are in flight. A faster shutter speed makes light a real problem.
ISO:
Because I had to overexpose my images, I had to balance my ISO to achieve a fast enough shutter speed to freeze action without losing too much quality or detail in the white feathers. That was the moment when everything I’ve learned became a reality. Auto ISO is most definitely not suitable in these conditions.
APERTURE:
My choice of aperture was based on the size and distance of the bird or birds, my lens of choice, and the desired depth of field, allowing me to keep more of the scene in focus while still blurring the background to avoid detracting from my subject.
METERING MODE:
My choice of metering mode was Spot metering, because the birds were relatively far away from me and were primarily white. Spot metering allowed me to meter specifically on the plumage of the Cranes.
HIGHLIGHT ALERTS AND HISTOGRAM:
My camera’s highlight alert feature (also known as blinkies) and histogram became my best friends during that trip. My blinkies identified loss of detail in areas of overexposure, allowing me to adjust accordingly. Due to the low temperatures, I was essentially shooting in the dark, meaning I couldn’t view my photos on my camera’s LCD screen. The warmth of my breath caused the screen to fog up immediately, so I had to rely on my histogram constantly.
Most frustrating!
Manoeuvring camera buttons with thick and bulky gloves to protect your fingers is extremely difficult. Not to mention that your lashes freeze up and your skin gets stuck on your camera from the cold!
#RedCrownCranesJapan #WildlifeBirdPhotographyJapan #BrunaMentrupWildlifePhotography