Advice for an amateur

17 years ago

I have to say, some of the pics on this forum are absolutely stunning. You folks know your stuff.

I posted a few raggedy pics last year. I am still trying.

I have a Cannon Powershot. Yesterday I was trying to get some Merganser shots. I don't know if it is the lighting, or they are just plain out of range. This shot is over 50 yards, maybe 70. Would a tripod help? (these birds are beautiful, but very shy). I have all the lens settings on auto.

Thanks for any tips.

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Comments (11)

sowngrow (8a) G
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Hi-I'm an amateur like you. Do you have a motion setting on your camera? That might help when you're taking photos of moving objects like the Merganser. It took me awhile to realize the majority of photos on this forum are usually taken with equipment that far exceeds my price range and camera knowledge. I'm sure the pros on here, who sell their photos on the links they have on their member pages will have better advice for you. I've learned I'll have to accept the quality I can get for the money I can afford to pay for my equipment, but I'm sure with a bit of tweaking and knowledge you'll be able to improve upon your shots. Keep trying!
dzyg
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Thanks for sharing your picture, I have never seen a mersanger irl. I am just an amatuer also but can get some pretty nice shots without using a DSLR. What kind of powershot do you have? What is the optical zoom on it. You can get a very nice shot with a 12x zoom camera but the key factor is do not go into the digital zoom or you will loose clarity. Also auto setting isn't usually the best setting to use, especially on a sunny day. Your Merganser looks a little washed out in the whites, you could have fixed this with either upping the shutter speed or changing your aperature. I usually will preview a shot in the P mode to see what shutter speed and aperature the camera picks and if things looked washed out a bit then I switch to either shutter or aperature priority mode and adjust things that way. Also you need to be careful with the cropping of the shot on your computer if you crop too much your picture will also loose clarity. The below shot is taken with a Canon Powershot S2IS it has a 12x zoom but I went to 15x so I was just a little into the digital. The Blue Winged Teals were approx 50 yards away from me, this was the closest I could crop it without loosing any clarity. This was taken on a cloudy day with no tripod. I guess I picked this picture cause it was one of the further shots I have taken with my camera and you can see I couldn't crop it down to just have the birds in the shot.

Donna
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Konrad___far_north
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
On auto mode the camera doesn't know what shutter speed you need, you might get lucky sometimes, it's OK for general shooting. You have a S3IS...this camera can do much better.
I think this camera has TV setting, turn dial to TV [shutter priority],..should be in your manual, then set ISO, when lighting is very good go to 100 and set shutter speed starting at around 1/250, when picture still blurry go up 1/ 500/sec. and so on. If picture turns out too dark, go up ISO to 200 or more.
Konrad
luc_quebec
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Hi Tom,

If you have a S3 IS it is just like mine.

Use the "Spot metering mode" for birds. P.73 of your manual user guide.

I personnally use the Aperture mode with ISO 200 or less.

The Canon PowerShot S3 IS is a very versatile cam.

Hope that helps,

Luc
tom_nwnj
Original Author
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Yes, mine is S3IS

Thanks folks !!
rachel_frome_ky
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Kenn gets beautiful photos with his Canon S3-IS, so it can be done if you are close enough and the light is right.

I used a Canon Powershot S2-IS since 2005 and got some fair photos, then thought I was upgrading when George bought me an Olympus SP-550 18 X zoom for my birthday in 2007. But the lens aperture on point-and-shoots is too small to let in enough light for fast shutter speeds unless conditions are perfect, or you use a flash. I made sure the light was low, coming from behind me, and spent most of my energy getting as close to the subject as possible.

July 2007, Canon Powershot S2-IS, Pied-billed Grebe

Aril 2007, Canon Powershot S2-IS, side-lit Rose-breasted Grosbeak

10-13-07, Olympus SP-550 18 X zoom, hand-held photo in

woods, Yellow-rumped Warbler
From 10-13-07, 10-20-07; George climbing L. R., Yellow-rumps, trapped Great Blue Heron

10-6-07, Olympus SP-550 18 X zoom, hand-held photo in woods, Male Cape May Warbler
From 10-02-07 to 10-12-07, Poppy, fish hatchery birds, Boren visit, dogs

11-28-07, Olympus SP-550 18 X zoom, hand-held, auto ISO with overexposure, juvenile Red-tailed Hawk
From 10-21-07, to 11-28-07; Fall leaves, Poppy Mnt pics, Vet hospital, Oxygen therapy, hawk

I was disappointed by the lack of detail compared to forum DSLR photos even in the best of the photos.

Gail said I was asking too much of my point and shoots and suggested I buy a used DSLR camera and lenses. The best DSLR camera at the time was a Canon 40D, but I couldn't afford it. However, once I decided what I wanted, George's mom suddenly sent him a hefty Christmas check and he bought me one last year.

Even with my Canon EOS 40D and Canon 400mm lens I wouldn't try for a small bird photo at 70 yards, though! I do the same as I did with the point-and-shoot; I get as close as I can to the bird, now use a filler flash night or day, and make sure the sun is low and from behind me, even if I have to circle the subject.

10-18-08, Canon 40D photo taken without flash, against the light, female Yellow-rumped Warbler, 12:36 p.m.
From Kentucky birds, critters

10-18-08, Canon 40D, pop-up flash, female Golden-Crowned Kinglet, hand-held photo, 10:46 a.m.
From Kentucky birds, critters

On this photo I used a tripod and Corel editing
From 3-9-08, Chispa visit

I couldn't tell the difference in photo quality using different ISO and shutter speed settings compared with auto settings on the 40D, except in shadowy woods, but then, my photos aren't as good as dedicated photographers who take classes and know what they are doing!

Many people edit their photos; sharpening, intensifying color, etc. I use the free Picasa 3 editing software because it is fast and easy to use, but I also bought used Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo XI software that works well, if I take the time to use it. Mostly I treat my heavy Canon 40D/400mm lens combo like a point and shoot-carrying it everywhere and doing quick hand-held photos when opportunities appear. Laziness and technophobia tendencies delayed my buying a DSLR, and even now I barely use its capabilites.

Still, I'm waiting to see if Canon can come up with a much lighter, user-friendlier Canon 1D Mark IV, or a Canon 60D that can automatically adjust lighting in shadowy woods, focus in the dark, and lock onto a moving target in the brush. With my eyesight, it will have to be automatic, and with fast-moving warblers, it will have to be very fast..having extremely high ISO

Once they develop the camera I want, I just have to wait until they come out with something better, then I can buy the barely-used last year versions for a song on Amazon.com
tom_nwnj
Original Author
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Wow, nice pics Rachel, and thanks for the tips. But I think I'll be using this powershot for a while.

I don't know if you have Mergansers near you, but the ones around here are pretty hard to get close to. Maybe, they are not for "public viewing"

I like watching the mergansers when they are around. They are definitely "ducks with an attitude". Maybe it comes from them being hunters. I think most ducks are vegetarians.

I once saw a female merganser dive under a male mallard, come up underneath him, and knock him into the air.

When you do get close to mergansers, you can hear a low grunting sound. Somewhere between a mallard, and a bull frog. It has a metallic tone. Really cool.

Here's a pic from last summer, also in that 50 - 70 yard range. The light was a little better.

{{gwi:1356857}}

Gotta go read my Canon manual!

Thanks all!
rachel_frome_ky
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Oh, I agree; I can't get anywhere close to the few Common Mergansers that come to the Minor Clark Fish Hatchery during migration, the only place I've seen them in this area. I don't even try to photograph them as it would take far more than a 400mm lens to work at that distance.

Kenn uses a teleconverter on his Powershot with great results, but when I tried it, the photos were darker and blurry. The only other solution would be figuring out how to get much closer-perhaps using a blind.
luc_quebec
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Hi Tom,

Rachel is wright on everything.

I use a teleconverter (1.5X) too almost all the time. I bought it on eBay with the ring for about $100.

I look at your last picture and some parts are blurry. Check if the IS is on. If it is try to not take picture under 1/125 s.

I took this picture some times ago with the PS S3 IS. I think is my better one. You may see the setting I used.

http://www.passionphotonature.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3321&highlight=b%E9cassine

Luc
rachel_frome_ky
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Beautiful photo, Luc!
luc_quebec
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Thanks Rachel! It should be better with a DSLR but good enough for me.

Luc

Advice for an amateur

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