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When I try to photograph swans they either come out brilliant white with no feather detail, or I under expose usually to about -1.7ev and get the detail but the rest of the photo, particularly the water is too dark.
Apart from adjusting the exposure, what other ways can I get a decent picture of a swan?
| Camera: | Nikon D50  Check out Nikon Nation! |
| Lens: | 70-300 |
| Title: | Swan |
| Username: | 
Lou_C |
| Uploaded: | 14 May 2008 - 2:54 PM |
| Tags: | Wildlife / nature |
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Comments
Hello Lucy This is a nice image of a swan ... what I would try is first get the other side of the swan .. you are exposing the shadow side of the swan all the light is on his other side .. -1.7 Ev is good ( +ev for a black swan ).. try and get a lower and turn the camera to portrait, this way you will gain reflections. as for colour of water..my local pond the water is what you get according to the clouds and if weather has stired it up.. This image could have a bit cropped of the RHS .. Hope this helps
Dave
Thanks both, I never really noticed the eye, I was too busy looking at feathers but it does look rather dead without a catchlight.
Good point about being on the wrong side of the swan and turning the camera to portrait. Thats something I often forget about and come home with 99% of my photos in landscape
Quote: Thats something I often forget about and come home with 99% of my photos in landscape
You should be aiming much nearer 50/50!
If you can fill the frame more with the swan you will have far less exposure problems. And try to vary the focus point. This is obviously focussed on the central point and it therefore looks as though the swan is swimming out of the frame. If you had used the right side focus point, the bird would be to the right of centre and then moving into the frame.
By doing this, you avoid having to crop in post production and retain the full quality of the sensor.
With all birds in/on the water, I'm afraid you are going to have to get down and muddy! The nearer to water level you are, the better image you will get.
HIH
Ian
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