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| Osprey taking off from nest tree Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming |
Someone observed an osprey nest across a canyon from a parking overlook in Yellowstone National Park. So several of us mounted our cameras and long lenses on tripods or monopods and waited for some bird action. Eventually there was a changing of the brooder on the nest. This osprey moved to the end of the branch and, after some preening and fluffing of feathers, took off to hunt.
I was ready with a 100-500mm lens zoomed out to 500mm on a monopod, my shutter speed set to 1/1000 second, the aperture wide open at f/7.1 and the ISO at 5000 under overcast skies as it lightly snowed. These settings, particularly the very fast shutter speed, froze the flight of the bird along with the falling snow (visible at a larger magnification than here).
Knowing that the bird would eventually fly away, I selected a shutter speed to ensure the wings were stopped in flight. Because of the overcast conditions, there was little light. Opening the aperture as far as it would go and then raising the ISO created the proper exposure. Waiting paid off in about 10 frames on continuous drive. This was one of two that were the best wing position.
Learn how shutter speed affects motion, whether blurred as for waterfalls or stopped as for birds in flight, is an essential skill for any photographer. Getting to Know Your Digital Camera teaches you these basic techniques so you can create the photos you imagine. The class meets November 14, 2026, at the Lifelong Learning Center in Missoula, Montana. Click the link for details and registration.