HOW TO TAKE SHARP BIRDS IN FLIGHT PICTURES

[@andrewwheeler348]

Interesting and helpful video, good tips. I now realise my shutter speed has been too low so I'll fix that. Thanks.

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

@@andrewwheeler348 Hi Andy, really pleased you found it useful. Thanks for watching, all the best Steve.

[@Rob.1340]

Cheers Steve, good video. All the best. 👍📷😎

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks very much Rob, thanks for watching. Cheers Steve.

[@alanfulford9913]

There are some great tips in this video that I'll be looking forward to trying out. I am also glad that I've found your channel following the great talk that you gave to our camera club last night .

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Hi Alan,sorry I haven't replied earlier but your comment didn't show up in my notifications. Still thanks very much for your kind words I'm really pleased you enjoyed the video also pleased you enjoyed the talk. All the best, Steve.

[@Chrispitchwildlife]

That was a pleasant video to watch, thank you! 😀

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks very much Chris, really pleased you enjoyed it. All the best Steve.

[@JPLamoureuxsTravels]

Nice one buddy! Brilliant video! Loved it there! You did very well tolerating the traffic too lol 😂

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks very much mate, yes I think you must have chilled me out a bit. Cheers, all the best Steve.

[@roylansbrian4722]

Great video

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks very much, really pleased you enjoyed it. All the best Steve.

[@donaldstewart3799]

Great video Steve, are you using back button focusing on your Z8.

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Hi Don, thanks very much pleased you enjoyed it.since I got the Z8 with eye tracking I don't need to use back button focusing . When I use a DSLR I do use back button focusing. All the best Steve.

[@CamillaI]

Great work Steve some good advice here 👍

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks very much Mark, much appreciated mate.

[@NaturallyCuriousUK]

Some useful tips in there Steve. Hope business is good. Keep up the good work buddy. 👍🙂👍

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks very much Graham, yes everything is going well here. Hope you're good too. Cheers mate, all the best Steve.

[@rogerhance5883]

Nice Grebe in flight shots Steve

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks very much Roger, seeing the grebe in flight made my day. All the best Steve.

[@cynical1952]

Good video Steve and some useful advice. I now have the same combo as you and find the Z8 is awesome for BIF. 🙂

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Hi Steve, yes I'm getting so many more keepers of BIF. Keep well mate. Cheers Steve.

[@antonoat]

Great video Steve, loved the Grebe in flight shots. I've been photographing birds for 35+ years and only seen them flying half a dozen times in all those years! Seems like a cracking venue, shame it's so far from us in North Yorks! Guessing you are enjoying the 180-600 zoom, many times having a zoom is a godsend especially in a hide etc. Cheers and all the best!

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks very much, I'm really pleased you enjoyed it. Yes as I say it's only the second time I've seen a grebe in flight. I was so pleased to capture a few images. Yes I love the 180-600 zoom so sharp and a very flexible option. Thanks for watching, all the best Steve.

[@tectorama]

Some nice shots there Steve. We always try and get to the Causeway when we go to Abberton.

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks very much, yes it's a great spot isn't it?

[@boblaird8475]

Brilliant video Steve I struggle with birds in flight this might help me. I used a Nikon D500 and a sigma 150-600 contemporary

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Hi Bob, pleased you found it useful. I think the D500 and the Sigma are a great combination for BIF. All the best Steve.

[@ianwilsonwildlifephotography]

Great informative video Steve. I have struggled knowing which mode to use for birds in flight. I have a Z6ii and not overly impressed with the animal eye tracking on it so when you were referring to using the 5 point box was that Dynamic Area Autofocus? If you could let me know that would be great. Ian 👍

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks Ian, pleased you found it useful. Yes that is right I was referring to dynamic area, although on the Z6II it's a group of 9 rather than 5 active AF points. Thanks for watching, all the best Steve.

[@ianwilsonwildlifephotography]

Very much so Steve and thanks for confirming my thinking. Look forward to your next video. 👍

[@musiqueetmontagne]

Great stuff Steve, lovely shots as ever...Do you use Sport or normal VR with BIF shots hand-held with the 180-600? Cheers, Robert.

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Hi Rob, I've been using normal VR for birds in flight so far but I will experiment a bit more.

[@musiqueetmontagne]

@@SteveHedgesPhotography Cool, thanks for the reply. Your shots are brilliant so we know that normal VR at least is good. 🙂

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks very much, really appreciate your kind words. Cheers Steve.

[@JoeMaranophotography]

Great stuff Steve! I really struggle with BIF with my G9 so I have started shooting electronic shutter at 20fps versus the 9fps of the mechanical as I have twice as much chance of a shot being in focus just due to the extra frames. Saving for that G9ii is taking a long long time :(

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks very much Joe. I really hope you get the G9II soon. I'm not one for just buying new gear all the time but the auto focus on my Z8 is just another level. I'm sure the G9II will give you a similar upgrade in AF performance. I'm certainly getting more keepers these days. Cheers mate.

[@JoeMaranophotography]

@SteveHedgesPhotography Yeah if the original G9 had decent autofocus for fast moving subjects I wouldn't need to upgrade at all! This is just a necessity! I'll be keeping an eye on OM1 and OM1ii prices as well just in case although I prefer Lumix for their ease of use. I would be tempted at a Z8 but I can get a G9ii and a 200 2.8 for about the same price and I think I need a prime as if I bought say a Z8 I would probably only have one zoom lens which isn't as versatile.

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Yes I only upgraded to the Z8 because my Z6II didn't have bird or animal eye detect otherwise I would have stuck with the Z6II. I don't know anyone with a G9ii but I do know quite a few people with the OM1 and it's an awesome camera. So worth keeping an eye on I think.

[@AlexMcDougallPhotography]

@@JoeMaranophotographyAs a G9 wildlife shooter I can totally sympathise with you on the bif photography. I have the lumix 100-300 mm mkii lens and even stationary birds can be difficult to focus on. It drives me mad.😂

[@JoeMaranophotography]

@AlexMcDougallPhotography I don't have too many struggles with non moving subjects (plus can always use the faster AFS for that) but yeah it's a real nightmare for me!

[@labandjbify]

Do you over expose for the sky ?

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

It depends on the bird but yes I normally do. If it's a white bird like an egret I might not need to depending on light conditions.

Harder than bif are flying bats ;) great video! Thanks!

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks very much pleased you enjoyed it. Yes I hadn't thought about bats. I've never photographed them myself but you're right very tricky to photograph in flight. Thanks for commenting, all the best Steve

[@sexysilversurfer]

Not surprising when they fly when there’s very little light!

[@m0ntague977]

I tried to photograph razorbills in flight and it was hell!

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Ah yes razorbills are particularly hard. I will be at Bempton Cliffs for a few days soon I intend to have a crack at razorbills in flight myself. All the best Steve.