how to
photograph
wild birds

Lesson 7

Let's shoot photos in Tv (shutter priority AE) mode

Birds move too quickly. I want to take photos that completely freeze their flapping wings and the splash of the water around them.
Let's try to use the Tv mode! (Also known as S mode on some cameras.)

Image
Common Kingfisher, Fast shutter speed
Common Kingfisher, Fast shutter speed
Common Kingfisher, Fast shutter speed
Enlarge

To capture the moment this Common Kingfisher flew out of the water, I set the shutter speed to 1/8000 of a second in Tv mode. Although the bird dropped the fish, this setting froze the moment the bird took off along with the splash of the water.

Note: Some camera models only offer a maximum shutter speed of 1/4000 of a second.

Image data
  • Aperture value: f/7.1
  • Shutter speed: 1/8000 second
  • ISO speed: ISO1600
  • Exposure compensation: -1
  • Focal length: 420mm
  • DSLR Camera (APS-C image format)

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What kind of photos can I take in Tv mode?

Image

Tv (shutter priority AE) mode lets the photographer select the shutter speed. The smaller the number, the faster the shutter speed. At fast shutter speeds, the camera can freeze the movement of splashing water.
Conversely, the larger the number, the slower the shutter speed. Slower shutter speeds let you capture the flowing arc of splashing water.
Adjusting the shutter speed can dramatically change the feeling of a photo.

Note: The LCD monitor indicates the shutter speed as a fraction, but on the viewfinder, only the denominator is displayed. Therefore, 8000 means 1/8000 of a second, 0.5" means half a second, and 15" means 15 seconds.

Note: Some camera models only offer a maximum shutter speed of 1/4000 of a second.

Let's examine the differences between shutter speeds

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1 Set your camera's shooting mode to Tv.

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Tv (shutter priority AE)

2 Turn the dial on the top of the camera and note the numbers displayed in the viewfinder. Then try taking photos at different settings and compare the results. 40 means 1/40 of a second, which is a relatively slow shutter speed, and 8000 means 1/8000 of a second, which is a very fast shutter speed. In Tv mode, the camera automatically adjusts the brightness.

Note: Some camera models only offer a maximum shutter speed of 1/4000 of a second.

  • Image
    Turn the dial on the top.
  • Image
    Viewfinder screen
  • Image
    The effects of different shutter speeds

Note: During handheld shooting at a slow shutter speed, camera shake can be a problem. When shooting at slower shutter speeds, make sure you mount your camera on a tripod or monopod.(See Lesson 4.)

Red-crowned Cranes, Slow shutter speed

I tried to create a sense of vibrancy by deliberately blurring the motion of the wings of the Red-crowned Cranes in flight. This photo was taken at 1/40 of a second. Differences in shutter speed determine the degree to which the wings appear blurred. Ideally, I would have taken a sequence of shots, changing the shutter speed each time.

  • Aperture value: f/11
  • Shutter speed: 1/40 second
  • ISO speed: ISO100
  • Exposure compensation: -1
  • Focal length: 500mm
  • DSLR Camera (35mm full-frame format)
Image
TV (shutter priority AE) mode
TV (shutter priority AE) mode
Red-crowned Cranes, Slow shutter speed
Enlarge

Common Kingfisher, Fast shutter speed

To capture the moment this Common Kingfisher flew out of the water, I set the shutter speed to 1/8000 of a second in Tv mode. Although the bird dropped the fish, this setting froze the moment the bird took off along with the splash of the water.

Note: Some camera models only offer a maximum shutter speed of 1/4000 of a second.

  • Aperture value: f/7.1
  • Shutter speed: 1/8000 second
  • ISO speed: ISO1600
    Exposure compensation: -1
    Focal length: 420mm
    DSLR Camera (APS-C image format)
Image
TV (shutter priority AE) mode
TV (shutter priority AE) mode
Common Kingfisher, Fast shutter speed
Enlarge

Comment from a learner

When our instructor told us to try to take a photo that perfectly freezes splashing water, like the pictures you see in magazines and ads, my excitement soared. I came across a large bird—a Swan Goose—bathing in a watering hole at the zoo. When it started vigorously shaking the water off its feathers, I used the Tv (shutter priority AE) mode and took a bunch of photos at various shutter speeds using the continuous shooting mode.

Camera settings

TV (shutter priority AE) mode + ISO AUTO + Continuous shooting mode

Note: Photos were taken at 1/30, 1/250, and 1/2000 of a second

Image

To set the “continuous shooting mode,” press the <DRIVE> button, turn the dial to select “continuous shooting mode” while pressing the <DRIVE> button, and then press the <DRIVE> button again.

  • Image
    Swan Goose, by a learner
    Swan Goose, by a learner
    Swan Goose, by a learner
    Enlarge

    Aperture value
    f/11
    Shutter speed
    1/30 second
    ISO speed
    ISO100
    Exposure compensation
    +1
    Focal length
    235mm
    DSLR Camera (APS-C image format)
  • Image
    Swan Goose, by a learner
    Swan Goose, by a learner
    Swan Goose, by a learner
    Enlarge

    Aperture value
    f/5.6
    Shutter speed
    1/250 second
    ISO speed
    ISO200
    Exposure compensation
    +1
    Focal length
    235mm
    DSLR Camera (APS-C image format)
  • Image
    Swan Goose, by a learner
    Swan Goose, by a learner
    Swan Goose, by a learner
    Enlarge

    Aperture value
    f/11
    Shutter speed
    1/2000 second
    ISO speed
    ISO800
    Exposure compensation
    0
    Focal length
    240mm
    DSLR Camera (APS-C image format)

Message from Mr.Tozuka

At a slower shutter speed (1/30 of a second), not only is the entire swan blurred, but there is also some camera shake as well, resulting in a poor shot. At a medium shutter speed (1/250 of a second), the camera movement is gone but the splash of the water is not completely frozen because the bird is moving so forcefully. Speeding up the shutter speed (to 1/2000 of a second) freezes the splashing water and clearly captures the swan's eye just as it flies from the water.