a difficult shot
Feb 6, 2016 20:03:53 #
Given:
At f5.6 there isn't much DOF
At 1/400 second there is motion blur and camera shake
At ISO 1250 there is too much noise
Harsh direct sunlight and deep shadow made it an exposure nightmare
Lots of dynamic range doesn't help if you subject is a uniform black, top to bottom
Lots of resolution doesn't help if all the dots are the same color.
The wind was blowing hard and the bird was in constant motion.
Bird only fills 1/4 of frame
But i shot him anyway and my question is:
"What could i have done to make this shot?"
At f5.6 there isn't much DOF
At 1/400 second there is motion blur and camera shake
At ISO 1250 there is too much noise
Harsh direct sunlight and deep shadow made it an exposure nightmare
Lots of dynamic range doesn't help if you subject is a uniform black, top to bottom
Lots of resolution doesn't help if all the dots are the same color.
The wind was blowing hard and the bird was in constant motion.
Bird only fills 1/4 of frame
But i shot him anyway and my question is:
"What could i have done to make this shot?"
Feb 6, 2016 20:55:44 #
Let me have a crack at this. First, I have to wonder why you would use such a high ISO with the amount of available that I see? At F5.6, I can also tell that your lens settings were way off. Even given the high contrast situation, you have way too much CR that could be reduced or eliminated if you set a proper aperture to match the lens' "sweet spot". This would probably be somewhere between F7.1 - F11.
Now then, the last part of the equation of I may, includes the shutter speed. I know you said that it was very windy and the bird was in constant motion, but 1/400 sec. should be just be fine, even after re-adjusting your aperture and ISO.
This is why I like to shoot in manual under these situations. I would start out at ISO 200 (I doubt I could get away with ISO 100) with the aperture at F7.1, and a shutter speed of at least 1/400 sec. If this was still too dark, I would bump the ISO to 400, but no more. I would then re-adjust one of the other components as needed.
This is assuming that you are using a lens that can reach 200mm or so. You did not mention what lens or distance from the subject you were. This all plays into the equation also. How did I do? Lol.
Now then, the last part of the equation of I may, includes the shutter speed. I know you said that it was very windy and the bird was in constant motion, but 1/400 sec. should be just be fine, even after re-adjusting your aperture and ISO.
This is why I like to shoot in manual under these situations. I would start out at ISO 200 (I doubt I could get away with ISO 100) with the aperture at F7.1, and a shutter speed of at least 1/400 sec. If this was still too dark, I would bump the ISO to 400, but no more. I would then re-adjust one of the other components as needed.
This is assuming that you are using a lens that can reach 200mm or so. You did not mention what lens or distance from the subject you were. This all plays into the equation also. How did I do? Lol.
Feb 6, 2016 21:09:07 #
tainkc wrote:
...This is assuming that you are using a lens that can reach 200mm or so. You did not mention what lens or distance from the subject you were. This all plays into the equation also. How did I do? Lol.
sorry: 300mm/2.8 with 2X extender, about 70 feet.
lens is about 50 years old and has high CA.
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Feb 6, 2016 21:15:01 #
Beside the above comment (SOOC).
There is the PP issue: I hope you used raw as this is a flagrant case where dynamic range is an issue. That the black feathers in the shadows react like a 'black box' is the single problem I would address.
There is the PP issue: I hope you used raw as this is a flagrant case where dynamic range is an issue. That the black feathers in the shadows react like a 'black box' is the single problem I would address.
Feb 6, 2016 21:23:55 #
Rongnongno wrote:
Beside the above comment (SOOC).
There is the PP issue: I hope you used raw as this is a flagrant case where dynamic range is an issue. That the black feathers in the shadows react like a 'black box' is the single problem I would address.
There is the PP issue: I hope you used raw as this is a flagrant case where dynamic range is an issue. That the black feathers in the shadows react like a 'black box' is the single problem I would address.
no raw, jpg only, normal camera settings for contrast, sharpening, etc...
The lack of detail in his back and tummy feathers is my major concern
Feb 6, 2016 21:29:43 #
oldtigger wrote:
The 2x explains a lot of it. I won't even use a 1.4. Too many things I don't like about them. Even though it is an old lens, if it were a quality lens (I bet it is), you should be getting tac sharp photos with plenty of dynamic range (being a 2.8) even shooting in Jpeg. You have to know where that sweet spot is and work from there.sorry: 300mm/2.8 with 2X extender, about 70 feet.
lens is about 50 years old and has high CA.
lens is about 50 years old and has high CA.
Feb 6, 2016 21:30:30 #
oldtigger wrote:
It is a black bird. They are very difficult to photograph just right.no raw, jpg only, normal camera settings for contrast, sharpening, etc...
The lack of detail in his back and tummy feathers is my major concern
The lack of detail in his back and tummy feathers is my major concern
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Feb 6, 2016 21:31:52 #
oldtigger wrote:
no raw, jpg only, normal camera settings for contrast, sharpening, etc...
The lack of detail in his back and tummy feathers is my major concern
The lack of detail in his back and tummy feathers is my major concern
Hence raw IF your camera can do that.
Feb 6, 2016 22:07:48 #
Rongnongno wrote:
Hence raw IF your camera can do that.
its a D810 so i guess it could shoot raw.
are you suggesting the camera is not capable of exposing the tummy for a jpg without blowing out the sky and wings?
Would an in camera HDR have helped?
Feb 6, 2016 22:20:00 #
oldtigger wrote:
its a D810 so i guess it could shoot raw.
are you suggesting the camera is not capable of exposing the tummy for a jpg without blowing out the sky and wings? Yes
Would an in camera HDR have helped? No as you said the bird was moving constantly
are you suggesting the camera is not capable of exposing the tummy for a jpg without blowing out the sky and wings? Yes
Would an in camera HDR have helped? No as you said the bird was moving constantly
Note that 'shooting raw' does not preclude you from using JPG at the same time. Use raw + JPG fine mode.
Feb 6, 2016 22:28:47 #
Rongnongno wrote:
Note that 'shooting raw' does not preclude you from using JPG at the same time. Use raw + JPG fine mode.
So reading between the lines i get the idea i should have dropped ISO to 200 to ditch the noise and increased exposure a notch to get the tummy up out of the mud.
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Feb 6, 2016 22:45:40 #
oldtigger wrote:
So reading between the lines i get the idea i should have dropped ISO to 200 to ditch the noise and increased exposure a notch to get the tummy up out of the mud.
It really is a two part solutions. One SOOC (as per the first advice), one in format choice in order to pull every pixel out of your camera.
Your camera creates low noise so not really an issue*. I have a D800e and really do not find much difference, if any, between 200 and 800 so on your newer camera it should be the same.
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* my opinion
Feb 7, 2016 21:05:03 #
Does the D 810 have D lighting as a menu option? D lighting will often pull details out of the shadows.
Feb 8, 2016 00:20:49 #
naturepics43 wrote:
Does the D 810 have D lighting as a menu option? D lighting will often pull details out of the shadows.
I just tried the active D. It did just fine.
If it weren't for the high ISO noise i could have saved the picture. Thanks
Feb 8, 2016 00:26:39 #
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