[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DAPOSHK1486.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
If there is one rule in wildlife photography, especially when it comes to birds in flight, is DON’T photograph against gray skies. Besides being an exposure nightmare (the range between the gray sky and under the bird too large for one click), it simply looks like shit! Well, swap out the bird and put in a B-17 you’ve waited all year to photograph and guess what, it still looks like crap! Damn!
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DAPOSHK1508.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
Did I know it would look bad when I went click? You bet but I did it anyways for two reasons. First, it’s to break the jynx. That’s nothing other than something in my own head and that’s to at least photograph something for the first time so I won’t get skunked in the future. The other reason was to determine what the shutter speed I would need to blur the props when I have a real photo opp with the B-17. I think 1/90 to 1/125 will do just fine.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DAPOSHK1516.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
Now you might be looking at these photos and saying to yourself, “They don’t look that bad” or as someone emailed in asking why don’t I just stripe in a blue sky with clouds and not worry about the gray skies? Well here’s the deal, I know and that’s all that really matters. I know that better is out there so why settle. I know that with all the digital darkroom tools out there and that most are mastering them now, the only difference will come from the great capture. So that’s why I don’t settle, why I don’t swap out backgrounds and why I push my craft. I mean here is a classic WWII scene, P-51s escorting a B-17, even if I swapped out the gray sky for blue, the Mustangs would still be out of focus because they are traveling perpendicular to the direction I’m panning. I just don’t see why one should put in time to fix a crappy capture. So whether it’s birds or planes, gray skies just suck!
Photos captured by D3x, 200-400VR2 on Lexar UDMA digital film
PS…why can you see into the bellies of these planes if the exposure range is as I suggest? Because I used the Fill Slider in ACR…a marvelous tool when you learn how to use it!