Shutter Speed and Bird Photography
High end digital point and shoot cameras on the market today are popular with birders because they allow them to capture pictures of birds in flight.
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Shutter speed is generally defined as the amount of time a camera's eye, the lens, stays open to capture an image. Most cameras on the market allow you to choose from a range of shutter speed settings.
The slow end of the shutter speed range approaches the one frame every three seconds level. Typically, keeping a camera lens open for that amount of time during daylight conditions invites too much light into the picture, ruining it. The fast end of the shutter speed range approaches the one frame every 1/2000 of a second level. Generally, bird photography enthusiasts opt for the faster settings. With few exceptions, birds are characterized by flight. Higher shutter speeds, in the 1/500 - 1/2000 range, are necessary for capturing clear pictures of birds in flight.
Shutter speed settings are equally important to consider for non-flight pictures of birds. There are many species of birds that can sit still and pose for long periods of time. However, there are equally as many bird species characterized by constant and fidgety movement.
A good rule of thumb for bird photographers is to keep shutter speed settings at the 1/500 - 1/1000 level to compensate for any bird movement on the ground.
For example, hummingbirds in flight are often considered a quintessential nature photography subject. Hummingbirds also live an entirely different life at rest in the branches. If you are out taking hummingbird pictures you will almost always want to have a fast shutter speed setting. The male Anna's Hummingbird pictured at left was taken at close range with approximately a 1/500 shutter speed setting. The speed was sufficient to capture the image with his tongue sticking out. It also might have been a sufficient speed to capture a clear image of his flying away in search of flowers rather than friendship.
There are times when speed is not an issue. You might have a model bird, your favorite house sparrow for example, sitting pretty in a tree, asking you to take his picture. In those rare instances, you might want to consider lowering the shutter speed and experimenting with the aperture setting. The aperture setting regulates the amount of light the lens allows in when taking the picture. Lower aperture settings allow in more light, adding greater focus and clarity to the scene. Higher aperture settings, on the other hand, allow in less light and provide a sharper focus on the subject and a blurred background effect.
Photo composition follows the mastery of technical issues such as light and shutter speed. Good technique makes for good pictures. Good technique and good composition make for better pictures. The picture of the terns below contains all three elements. A higher shutter speed under good light conditions produced a clear picture of the pair of black terns. The blue water background coupled with the curving driftwood compliments the terns.
© 2002-2007. Patricia A.Michaels