Swans are some of the most excellent birds for the starting photographer. They have become tame to the point of stupidity – it is far too easy to get far too close to a swan for your own safety. This has two implications. Number one: photographers get bitten. Number two: it’s almost guaranteed when you go out shooting swans, that you will get some killer shots. The trick of course, is getting the unique shot. Something new. This is something that I still struggle with, but I think taking more and more shots will mean more and more of these keepers.
D300 + 300mm VR @ 1/400s f/8
D300 + 300mm VR @ 1/400s f/8
For bird photography, most photographers know to shoot at f/8! f/8 is the way to go – it’s the sharpest aperture on most lenses, and it creates that great depth, also increasing the chance that you will get the all-critical eye in focus. It’s beautiful. HOWEVER. some days the light doesn’t allow for things being quite so stopped down. I mean, the two shots I just showed are at f/8, but at the time, I realised that I was losing shots because the exposures were getting too long. So I opened up wide. See what you think:
D300 + 300mm VR @ 1/3200s f/2.8
D300 + 300mm VR @ 1/3200s f/2.8
D300 + 300mm VR @ 1/2500s f/2.8
D300 + 300mm VR @ 1/2500s f/2.8
D300 + 300mm VR @ 1/3200s f/2.8
D300 + 300mm VR @ 1/4000s f/2.8
D300 + 300mm VR @ 1/1600s f/2.8
D300 + 300mm VR @ 1/3200s f/2.8
And one final image from the park:
D300 + 300mm VR @ 1/2500s f/2.8
Now, time for a general update!
I’ve started the 365 Challenge – Taking one photo per day, for 365 days. I started it on the 17th of April, and you can go see the currently uploaded shots on my deviantArt and/or my flickr, rather than this blog. I’ll keep you up to speed on it. Keep checking things out!
Don’t know what I’m shooting tomorrow. Time will tell!