Canon 30D, 70-200 f/4L, camera settings: 1/1000 sec, f/4, iso 400, back button focus, al servo

Shooting birds in flight is challenging.  Locking on a sharp focus of a moving subject takes practice and patience.  Using back button focus, al servo mode and panning to follow the action will help acheive a good photograph.  Using a fast shutter speed is important too, if your goal is to freeze action.  Bumping up the iso setting and leaving the lens wide open will help maintain a fast shutter speed.  To get the desired depth of field, I do most of my shooting in aperture priority and adjust the shutter speed with the iso setting.  Good camera technique is important, but the light that falls on your subject is the real key to a successful photo.  In this shot the gull was flying into the morning sun… note the shadow cast by the bird’s bill, indicating angle of light is low. The warm light on the leading edge of the wing, the dab of catch light in the eye (click on image to see the catch light) and detail and color tones of the feathers all help to make this a nice capture.