A Kingfisher and a different exposure setting
Until now I have always used the ESP exposure setting on the Olympus OM-D EM-5, however I recently noticed that this metering setting struggled to reveal the eyes on dark birds. I remembered that I used either center weight or spot metering with my previous Olympus digital camera, the E620 so I decided to try these exposure settings out on the visits to the local nature reserve, Blashford Lakes, yesterday and today.
On the Saturday there was an ideal subject, a Coot (Fulica atra), just outside the Tern Hide. This bird has a black head and red eyes.
The spot metering worked very well as you can see with this shot.
The Saturday proved to be an excellent day as a Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) landed on a perch right in front of the Ivy south hide, and decided to remain for some time preening. This allowed to trial all 3 exposure settings.
ESP exposure setting.
Center weighted exposure setting.
Spot exposure setting
It then moved on to a different perch that was directly in sunlight, brightening the colour of the feathers.
A couple more on the last perch before flying away. The second showing it had caught a fly.
I exclusively used the spot metering mode today, although there was very little around close to the hides.
A Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) swallowing a fish.
A Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) outside the Woodland Hide.
and finally an immature Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) on a tree.
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