Learning From Your Mistakes

Part of the process of becoming a better photographer is looking at why you didn't get the picture you wanted.  Below are some of the missed frames from our day at the Center for Birds of Prey.

Mistake #1, shutter speed too slow.  My camera was set at ISO 100 and I dialed in 1/125th of a second.  As soon as I saw this, I knew I had to jack up the ISO to 400 or even 800 to get a fast enough shutter. (The focus was not great either, but more on that later)

Once my settings were dialed in, I was constantly switching between AI Server Mode (to track objects in motion) and one shot mode.  I was in single point focus at this point, but I should have been in AI Servo Mode.

Even when all your settings are dialed in, sometimes you just don't get the shot.  If I had just waited another half second, this guy would have been right in the center of my frame.

Don't forget to watch who is in your background!  Those damn photographers!

And even when you get everything right, sometimes the subject doesn't co-operate.  Patience is most definitely a virtue.