I hesitate to use Aperture priority when shooting wildlife because it's so easy to forget to watch the shutter speed. If the shutter gets too slow, the picture won't be sharp. As you close down the lens to a small opening, the shutter has to compensate for the light and become slower. Nevertheless, for a portrait of a subject like this wreathed hornbill from Indonesia, a certain amount of depth of field is important to hold focus on the varioius parts of the bird's anatomy. Yes, the eye has to be tack sharp, but in this case you also want that incredible beak to be sharp as well as all of the wonderful feathers that frame the head. Therefore, with Aperture priorty I used f/11. I raised the ISO to 640 to make sure my shutter speed was fast enough, and at 1/250th of a second I thought that would be fine especially with a non-moving subject. I took this hand held with a 70-200mm lens in the bird park on Bali.
8 Comments
Aug 18, 2015, 1:14:51 PM
Jim Zuckerman - Thank you very much, Carol. If you don't already receive the eMagazine, you can sign up for it on the home page of my website with a link at the bottom of the page. Jim
Aug 18, 2015, 12:20:57 PM
Carol Maillet - Jim
Yes you may use my question for the eMagazine.
I live in Laguna Niguel, Ca
Carol
Aug 18, 2015, 8:31:16 AM
Jim Zuckerman - Hi Carol, Thank you for your question. The reason the background is blurred is because it was far enough away from the bird to be soft. Had the background foliage been, say, 2 or 3 feet from the hornbill, then it would have been too defined. But it was about 15 or 20 feet away, and that made all the difference.
May I use your question and my answer in the Sept. issue of my free monthly eMagazine? If so, I would like to ask your city and state, please. Thanks.
Aug 18, 2015, 7:31:15 AM
Jim Zuckerman - Hi Carol, Thank you for your question. The reason the background is blurred is because it was far enough away from the bird to be soft. Had the background foliage been, say, 2 or 3 feet from the hornbill, then it would have been too defined. But it was about 15 or 20 feet away, and that made all the difference.
May I use your question and my answer in the Sept. issue of my free monthly eMagazine? If so, I would like to ask your city and state, please. Thanks.
Aug 18, 2015, 7:31:13 AM
Jim Zuckerman - Hi Carol, Thank you for your question. The reason the background is blurred is because it was far enough away from the bird to be soft. Had the background foliage been, say, 2 or 3 feet from the hornbill, then it would have been too defined. But it was about 15 or 20 feet away, and that made all the difference.
May I use your question and my answer in the Sept. issue of my free monthly eMagazine? If so, I would like to ask your city and state, please. Thanks.
Aug 18, 2015, 2:06:23 AM
Carol Maillet - With F11 I would expect the background to be sharp also. Did you do that it post-processing?
Aug 17, 2015, 12:08:53 PM
Jim Zuckerman - Hi Rosemary, I'm glad you enjoy and learn from my tips. At the LA Zoo, look for enclosures in the shade. That will give you the best light.
Jim
Aug 17, 2015, 9:56:23 AM
Rosemary Sheel - Hi, Jim. Lots of good tips on your blog...love today's colorful hornbill. When the weather here cools off, I'm going to the L.A. zoo to find my own hornbill.