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[chiknhurder]

Excellent tips for everyone who wants flock pictures-
Thanks for sharing them!

What kind of camera are you shooting?

 

[One Chick Two]

Hi One Chick Two,

Thanks for the kind words. Chickens can be a real pain to photograph. The best way to assure a good shot, should they happen to move (and they do), would be to do 2 things. Make sure you're shooting as fast a shutter speed as possible and close down your aperture for more depth of field. If you're not familiar with photography terms, the depth of field (DOF) is the distance in front and behind the subject that's in focus. When you have a lot of DOF, everything in the photo (foreground, subject and background) is in focus. When you have a shallow DOF, like the photo of my French Blue Copper Marans rooster on the light, straw colored background, only the subject is in focus. By closing the aperture down (larger number such as f/11, you get more DOF. When you open up the aperture (smaller number such as f/2.8) you get less DOF. You would have to understand how a lens works but follow this advice and it will work.

The second thing is to select the fastest shutter speed possible. The faster it is, the easier it is to 'freeze' objects that are in motion. I shot for years for the Kansas City Chiefs and the only way to freeze a player that's running is to shoot fast shutter speeds and that allows you to freeze the action.

The bad news for all of this is that if you're not shooting an SLR (single lens reflex) camera, like a 35mm film camera, or a DSLR (digital single lens reflex) camera like the digital 35mm format cameras, then you probably won't be able to do any of this. With a point and shoot, you're pretty much at the mercy of the camera. If it has an 'action' mode, set it to that. Flash will also help to freeze the subject in the photo.

If you have just a point and shoot camera, do the following for great shots:
1. ALWAYS shoot in good light. Bright sunlight is the best and lighting is one of the most important factors to great images.
2. If the camera has an 'action' mode, set the camera to that for helping to freeze your subject. The chicken's not going to freeze for you but will appear that way in your photo.
3. If the camera has a manual override that allows you to control the aperture, shutter speed, ISO, etc., learn how to use it.
4. Brace yourself against something. If, for whatever reason, your automatic camera selects a slow shutter speed, any tiny movement will cause the pic to be blurred.


These photos were taken with a Canon 7D and a Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L lens.

If you have additional questions, let me know and I'll provide you a number where you can call me. My phone number is also on the contact page of my website.

Marc
http://www.marc-grant.com
http://www.facebook.com/marcgrantphoto

Thanks Marc!

 

[chiknhurder]

Now! Everybody's assignment is to post up photos of your chickens (or pets).

Marc

 

[Chic_girl]

I'll get right on that- don't doubt me!
I'll just find some past pictures for now...

Oh, and I have a Nikon Coolpix L120, which is considered a point-and-shoot, I believe...

 

[chiknhurder]

I'll get right on that- don't doubt me!
I'll just find some past pictures for now...

Oh, and I have a Nikon Coolpix L120, which is considered a point-and-shoot, I believe...

My first digital camera was a Nikon Coolpix 990. I also had a Nikon N60 and an F100 film cameras but when the first digital SLR's (DSLR) rolled out, and the Nikon's were about $500 more, I made the switch. Nikon's first DSLR, the D100, had a lot problems with it so I picked up Canon's new D30 and have been shooting since Canon's since about 2001.

 

[roostersandhens]

Stunning flock!

 

[TwoCrows]

Stunning flock!

X2!!!

 

[chiknhurder]

Thanks all. I'm new to this business, having been in it for about 10 months, but am enjoying the heck out of it.

 

[Chic_girl]

Good! Glad you've decided to join the chicken-loving community. I am really supportive of this 'urban hen' trend spreading across the US- it helps connect people back to their farm roots that have been lost for so long.

 

[chiknhurder]

Good! Glad you've decided to join the chicken-loving community. I am really supportive of this 'urban hen' trend spreading across the US- it helps connect people back to their farm roots that have been lost for so long.

That's the truth. I have 3 acres and I'm trying to farm it to keep from having to eat the garbage that lines the grocery store shelves.