Getting a decent Swan Pic with the 100mm .. or not
Mar 11, 2014 10:48:17 #
Today is the first day I hunted down the swans. They were very skiddish since they have not seen me since last year. They swam away and then some flew away. I'm going to keep a little diary of my progress here.
I have a 100mm Macro F2.8L IS and a crap 75-300. I used the 100mm today.
It was cloudy and the sun wasn't quite up yet when I started so I started out very far away with a super high ISO. I will post 3 progressive photos as I was able to get a little closer and turn down the ISO. So let's see what I can do with the equipment I have in the coming days. :-)
I had to belly crawl through cattails, and I got frozen elbows and came home full of cattail fluff. It's the price you pay...
Oh yeah... and has anybody ever gotten their snowshoes all tangled up in the reeds while you're sinking into 3 feet of snow? I swear that I'm really Charlie Brown sometimes!!
I have a 100mm Macro F2.8L IS and a crap 75-300. I used the 100mm today.
It was cloudy and the sun wasn't quite up yet when I started so I started out very far away with a super high ISO. I will post 3 progressive photos as I was able to get a little closer and turn down the ISO. So let's see what I can do with the equipment I have in the coming days. :-)
I had to belly crawl through cattails, and I got frozen elbows and came home full of cattail fluff. It's the price you pay...
Oh yeah... and has anybody ever gotten their snowshoes all tangled up in the reeds while you're sinking into 3 feet of snow? I swear that I'm really Charlie Brown sometimes!!
First Shot - ISO 6400 F/2.8 1/200 sec
(Download)
Mid Shot - ISO 3200 F2.8 1/200 sec
(Download)
End Shot - ISO 800 F2.8 1/250 sec
(Download)
Heavily Cropped ISO 2000 F/2.8 1/200 sec
Heavily Cropped ISO 800 F/2.8 1/200 sec
Mar 11, 2014 10:52:05 #
Mar 11, 2014 10:57:05 #
JohnnyT789 wrote:
Nice shots and #3 is my favorite.
Thanks, Johnny, but I am just getting started. I will hopefully post improvements on these in coming days. The swans will become more comfortable with me so I can get closer and if I get the sun that would really help my ISO-shutter speed situation.
Mar 11, 2014 15:08:53 #
I suppose that the fact that they were agitated meant that you had to keep your shutter speed up. Did you try a slower shutter speed? Don't forget that the image stabilisation should help you to get away with that. And at 100mm, 1/100 sec should be enough to eliminate camera shake.
I like that the guy on the right in #3 seems to be checking out his own reflection. Best of luck getting closer, and the sun is only a matter of time.
I like that the guy on the right in #3 seems to be checking out his own reflection. Best of luck getting closer, and the sun is only a matter of time.
Mar 11, 2014 15:38:00 #
With swans, you want as fast a shutter speed as possible. I will get closer. I did last year. It took a couple of weeks visiting them every day. I think they remember me though. They didn't all fly away the first time this year. And then there is the sun factor.... That is not as predictable.
Mar 11, 2014 15:39:39 #
The reason you want a 500 shutter speed or more is for when they stand up on the water and flap those big gorgeous wings. It doesn't last long, and you have to be ready.
Mar 11, 2014 16:04:30 #
Nightski wrote:
The reason you want a 500 shutter speed or more is for when they stand up on the water and flap those big gorgeous wings. It doesn't last long, and you have to be ready.
Good point. But you wouldn't need 1/500 for a re-take of your "Ballet of Swans" shot, or something similar.
Mar 11, 2014 16:11:15 #
R.G. wrote:
Good point. But you wouldn't need 1/500 for a re-take of your "Ballet of Swans" shot, or something similar.
The ballet of swans was not in focus.... RG, you picked on my mercilessly about my shutter speed being to slow last year! Really! You make me nuts sometimes, my friend.
Mar 11, 2014 16:17:57 #
Hi Nightski, very nice shots. Did you over expose #3, the snow doesn't look so blue?
Mar 11, 2014 16:20:09 #
Blues wrote:
Hi Nightski, very nice shots. Did you over expose #3, the snow doesn't look so blue?
No, I did a better job of adjusting it a bit in post. All my shots were a little blue as it was so dark this morning and I had trouble getting my shutter speed up enough to shoot moving animals. I knew they'd be a little blue, but not so bad that I couldn't fix it in post.
Mar 11, 2014 16:23:32 #
Nightski wrote:
.....RG, you picked on my mercilessly about my shutter speed being to slow last year! Really! You make me nuts sometimes, my friend.
Yes, and then it was your exclusive use of ISO 100. I'm just trying to suggest what I think would be more appropriate settings. Did I see ISO 6400 ?!? How did that feel - rebellious? :-)
Mar 11, 2014 16:27:32 #
R.G. wrote:
Yes, and then it was your exclusive use of ISO 100. I'm just trying to suggest what I think would be more appropriate settings. Did I see ISO 6400 ?!? How did that feel - rebellious? :-)
Scary :shock: But hey, the 6D handled it pretty well didn't it? Perhaps it's hard to tell since I had to crop so much. If only those Canon 400mm F2.8L IS lenses weren't so expensive!
You aren't suggesting that I am stubborn, are you?
Mar 11, 2014 16:31:33 #
Nightski wrote:
Scary :shock:
I can guarantee you the ISO police will not be round banging on your door demanding an explanation. Would you still consider using 1/5 sec for a hand-held shot on a cold windy morning (as you have done in the past? :) ).
Mar 11, 2014 16:35:34 #
R.G. wrote:
Well, I can guarantee you the ISO police will not be round banging on your door demanding an explanation. Would you still consider using 1/5 sec for a hand-held shot on a cold windy morning (as you have done in the past? :) ).
Sure... bring up the past ...LOL
Mar 11, 2014 16:35:49 #
Nightski wrote:
....You aren't suggesting that I am stubborn, are you?
Don't be silly. Just because it took you the best part of a year to get off of ISO 100 for everything :-) .
Yes, the 6D did OK, especially since those are crops.
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