Heron in flight and a Godwit!

Down at the estuary again today, managed to grab a few nice shots

1. Godwit:


2. Heron:


3. Heron (my favourite! ):


xx

Nice one.

Really like the 2nd Heron shot (3).

What f were you using ? - Have you stopped down at all to get so much of a big bird within the depth of field or do you think that it's because the wings are pointing up rather than out ?

The EXIF is still on there - f6.3 That's the widest this lens can go anyway - which I generally have to do to get an even near adequate shutter speed 90% of the time! It usually seems to work OK, though the lens does perform best at f8.

I've never found the depth of field too much of a problem with herons actually - only ever with the smaller birds. I think it has to do with the distance they are from the camera actually, as the herons rarely come close or fly close.

xx

Love 2 n 3 Z!!!!

Don't forget your ISO, use that to your advantage also, you have a capable camera that should be excellent even at 1000 ISO. Get the shutter speed and aperture you want and use your ISO to compensate in light differences.
I don't think I even bother going below 640 ISO on my 50d, I do not notice any difference with using 100 iso for example.

Lovley Heron shot, Laura (#3)

Thanks DJ - forgot to mention that, I do use the ISO to my advantage, though I do find it has too much noise for my liking much above 800 - so I try to keep 400 or less. I think they were at 400 actually, if memory serves me correctly

xx

I don't tend to look at the bird or animal pics taht often but these look impressive to me. Well done.

I think it depends on the lighting and exposure how far you can go with the D300 (and S). I'd agree that in some situations and certainly indoors, dull tungsten lighting, dark areas I wouldn't want to go beyond about 800 ISO. However, outside in good daylight, good exposure 1250/1600 wasn't too bad if the picture rather than the quality was a priority. i actually won a major competition with the D300 at 1250 ISO in low lighting. Did need cleaning up a bit in PP though.

Thanks Stu! I personally do try to aim for quality always - and it's hard enough with this bleedin' lens as it is! Soooo I don't like to push the ISO up unless I'm really keen to get an ID shot - then I will cheerfully push it as far as it will go if necessary!

xx