Photographing Pigeons

[Oakleigh Photography]

Hi

I would really like to take some pictures of racing pigeons similar style to ones here http://www.tourdesmaritimes.com/Phot...n%20Photos.htm.

could anyone offer any advice for improvements on these and what camera settings they should be taken at, and also offer any help on lighting

The photo's were not taken by myself they are just in a similar style as the ones I would like to take

John

[Ellie]

Re: Photographing Pigeons

I think you first need to get friendly with somebody who races pigeons, and then take it from there.

I've never done this sort of photography, nor portrait photography either, but this looks fairly straightforward and fairly 'staged' too. I suppose it has to be because these pictures are for identification and perhaps insurance/selling and so on.

[Oakleigh Photography]

Re: Photographing Pigeons

Hi Ellie

Thanks for your reply. the pigeons I want to take photographs of are my own birds, that is my other hobby.

Its more the technical side of things that I need info on ie what is best settings to take, what would be the best light.

The photo's are taken in a crisp white box with the front open. The idea is to use a darkened room so the bird does not try and fly out over my sholder.

What would be good focal length and what would be a good shooting distance

Many Thanks

John

[Ellie]

Re: Photographing Pigeons

Aha, if they're your birds then it makes things easier

What would be good focal length and what would be a good shooting distance

I'm the absolutely last person to offer tips like this, I'm very much a, "Try it and if it doesn't work, try something else," sort of photographer.

I'm sure somebody else will pick up your question and give you the answers you need

[Ellie]

Re: Photographing Pigeons

Never "bumped" a thread before, but there's always a first time.

It sounds very much like using a lightbox.

Anybody got one?

The photo's are taken in a crisp white box with the front open. The idea is to use a darkened room so the bird does not try and fly out over my sholder.

What would be good focal length and what would be a good shooting distance

[JohnGG]

Re: Photographing Pigeons

I've never tackled anything like this either but I have a couple of thoughts on how I might go about it. Rather than taking a picture of a bird in a natural setting you are going for a portrait to show off the points of your pigeon. Since a pigeon is not too far off the size of the human face I'd choose a lens that would be suitable for taking a portrait of a human sitter. Perhaps the ZD 50mm f/2.0 or the 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 or 12-60mm f/2.8-4.0 zoomed towards their longer ends and taken from a distance of between 1m and 2m. As for lighting, you don't want the modelling that you might aim for to add character to a human portrait. Rather, you need a soft even light so that the bird is lit without shadows. Perhaps use a couple of flashguns, one to each side of and below the bird and firing upwards and away from the subject onto white reflectors angled to bounce a soft light in the right direction.

As mentioned above, this type of shot has not come my way before so I've no idea if these ramblings are sound or complete codswallop Hopefully they will at least give you some ideas to get started with

Cheers,

JohnGG

[Guest]

Re: Photographing Pigeons

Must admit I've ignored this thread - but looking at the picturers - well they are very reminscent of a high street photographers, with all the sins that portrays. However it is useful for an idealised shot of a pigeon.

The key is maintaining a narrow dof as John has said. But I'd question that photographers use of exposure, to get the results shown he has pushed the bird out of its natural colouration, he has in effect stretched it across the histogram. Better results can be obtained by metering on the bird alone and shooting it against a bright background (which will then white out) or a dark background (which will goto black).

I wouldn't try to emulate, this guy can be beaten hands down if you use the cameras exposure functions.

Nick