How to capture birds in flight?

[OldBoy]

To capture birds in flight then the most important skill is panning. Try with larger birds like Grey Herons first before moving onto Swifts and Swallows.

[Cutter]

I have just had a day photographing Red Kites, the method I used was to point my camera to get a meter reading from the green grass in the field at about F6.3 with a shutter speed of at least 1/500sec and if the light doesn't allow this keep bumping the iso up until you get the right shutter speed. Then turn you camera to manual and put the same settings in, this way when you point your camera to the sky you wont get a silhouette . Then its A1servo plus panning and firing off as many shots as your camera will allow. Then just see if you have been lucky enough to get one with a sharp eye. Hope this helps.
This was one I took:

[cosmicma]

here's a tip

a birds breast / chest is on the same focal plain as the eye

a much bigger target than the eye to focus on

as for birds in flight
practice , practice and more practice
the lens doesn''t matter ( to a degree ) it only determines the distance
there's already some good advice given within the thread so i'm not going to repeat it

[patrickwilson86]

When you go out for birding you should be calm and quiet. Don't make loud noises and try to avoid making any noise. Don't talk loud and watch your steps so the dry branch woudn't crack under your feet. Don't run towards birds, you will scare them and it is very unlikely to get any shots at all. However if you whistle some melody you may even attract some birds. Don't wear too bright or contrasty clothes. Camouflage is not nessesary, but your outfit should be of natural, not very bright colors.

Check the following articles for birding photography tips

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/185...otography-tips

http://www.photographytalk.com/photo...ht-canon-mk-1v

Hope you will learn new tips for birding photography.

[patrickwilson86]

Focus technique is a factor that is overlooked when it comes to birds in flight photography. Keep in mind that this is the most difficult type of photography I have ever done (and I have done a lot!).

[cosmicma]

Originally Posted by patrickwilson86

Focus technique is a factor that is overlooked when it comes to birds in flight photography. Keep in mind that this is the most difficult type of photography I have ever done (and I have done a lot!).

with todays autofocus in most DSLR's i wouldn't really be to concerned about that i would be more concerned in keeping the subject in the center of the frame