• Everything Photography

  Making that bird eye sparkle

  Posted by Rajan Panandiker on April 20, 2023 at 7:01 pm

  Hello everyone:
  I have a crazy question. As I am sure you all know, getting that animal eye in focus and sparkle is so important in wildlife, especially bird photography. May is the best month of the year for birding to catch spring migration with breeding plumage and I am getting ready. So here is my problem and dilemma:

  in many of the birding hot spots, you will see some of the pro photographers using a flash to get the front lighting +eye sparkle. Often with a flash range extender. I tried that myself. But I face two problems: 1) my flash syncs at 250 which is too slow to freeze any action even on a perched bird and 2) my flash does not refresh fast enough and stops after 2-3 flashes. Recall camera shoots 15-20 images/sec but flash recycles only every 1-2 sec.

  Any experience with this approach?

  Thanks so much

  Sudipta Sinha replied 1 year, 7 months ago 2 Members · 1 Reply
• 1 Reply

• 

  Sudipta Sinha

  Member

  April 21, 2023 at 9:40 am

  I don’t know about other pro-photographers or hobbyists like me. However, one ethical standard we should maintain while doing wildlife photography. The baseline is no-flash for me. The catchlight at the eye gives life to the photo. However, if you position yourself, this can be achieved even by playing with natural light and proper angles. I think many pros practice this also.

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