5855. PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS: Murmurations.

CHINA - 5 NOV 2023: 7am. Morning bird murmuration in Hainan. Murmuration is the behaviour of a large group of birds that fly together and change direction together. They are usually starlings.Winter, colder months, end of breeding season. Roost together in grass reeds etc.

Murmuration in Hainan. 5 Nov 2023. 7.11am. Sudden appearance. No time to change to TV

Canon R5, 24-105mm. AV, 72mm, 1/100 sec, f/16, ISO 200. 

 

Photo in Digital Camera magazine Feb 2024 shows murmuration of birds just above grass reds and water.
SETTINGS:  1/4000 sec. f/2.8, ISO 450

TO BUY PHOTO:   shutterstock.com/g/toapayohvets

UPDATE:
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2024/05/5855-photography-tips-murmurations.html

Reference: Digital Camera Feb 2024. Pg. 30

1. A fast shutter speed to capture the speed of the changing murmurations.
2. Aperture wide open
3. ISO below 800 to minimise digital noise. 

CHOOSE YOUR FOCUS POINTS
1. Group mode in your autofocus settings. AF area will be larger, easier to track bird movements across the sky.

2. Single-point autofocus will work just as well.

LOOK OUT FOR PATTERNS.
1. Shoot in continuous mode as new patterns appear.
2. Some interesting clouds behind the birds.
3. Memory card is fast enough and has plenty of free space as you may need hundreds of shots to find 'the one.' 

CROP TO GIVE A SENSE OF SCALE.

Photo in magazine shows birds above grass reds and water.
1/4000 sec. f/2.8, ISO 450