Any advice for curing lousy shots?

[Diamond Lil]

Hawks take off just as I'm about to shoot and in no predictable direction. Not like ducks anyway.
http://www.moviephotoforums.com/photopost/data/510/Lousy_Hawk_Shot.jpg

And geese! Dang it! They are so big that getting a decent focus on them is truly challenging.
http://www.moviephotoforums.com/photopost/data/510/Lousy_Goose_Shot.jpg

[tude]

On your 70-300 what did you have the IS set for?

[Diamond Lil]

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-shocked017.gif IS M1 http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-angry032.gif

[tude]

For motion objects IS 2 and green box:rofl:
Or action mode.
Scott Kelby does great resource books for M or P modes to get the shot you want IE shutter speed.
The compositions were awesome!
I really mean that;)

[Diamond Lil]

For motion objects IS 2 and green box:rofl:
Or action mode.
...
Yeah, that cute little slider button on the barrel. http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-happy120.gif
...
Scott Kelby does great resource books for M or P modes to get the shot you want IE shutter speed.
The compositions were awesome!
I really mean that;)

The photoshop expert Scott Kelby?

Thanks Mike. You are very supportive.

[Diamond Lil]

Mike,
These look like a good deal to me: Scott Kelby's Digital Photography Boxed Set, Volumes 1 and 2 (Includes The Digital Photography Book Volume 1 and The Digital Photography Book Volume 2). What do you think?
Amazon $29.69

This looks good also: Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera (Updated Edition)
Amazon $17.13

Any thoughts?

[tude]

Lil you probably have forgotten more about photography than i will learn.
I love Kelby's books cause he will show you a shot and tell you how to achieve it (I keep one in my cam bag to reference fireworks shots cause I forget) point is with his books you might see the parallels between film and digital.
I recommend him for beginner and the novice alike.

[Diamond Lil]

Mike, it has been so long that I tend to fly by the seat of my pants these days. A refresher of the basics would be very much so welcome.

[Diamond Lil]

This is a bit better.

http://www.moviephotoforums.com/photopost/data/510/IMG_1307m_2.jpg

[EZE RIDER]

It sure is!