Avoid camera shake for still photography of orcas in a choppy boat
Jul 1, 2019 12:15:01 #
JFCoupe
Loc: Kent, Washington
High shutter speed is essential even in calmer water. Second suggestion would be to use auto ISO and shutter priority. This ensures that your shutter stays at 1/1600 or higher setting as lighting conditions vary, etc.
Jul 1, 2019 12:22:47 #
Jul 1, 2019 12:56:24 #
[quote=RahulKhosla]Any ideas for easy ( portable, light, travel-friendly) solutions to stabilise a camera in a boat that’s moving
Use the highest ISO you’d be happy with. Take a test shot on Aperture priority setting and check the shutter speed the camera selected. Then switch to manual settings. Select the aperture and use a faster shutter speed. You’ll have an under exposed image with less or no motion blur whose brightness you can fully correct in post processing.
Use the highest ISO you’d be happy with. Take a test shot on Aperture priority setting and check the shutter speed the camera selected. Then switch to manual settings. Select the aperture and use a faster shutter speed. You’ll have an under exposed image with less or no motion blur whose brightness you can fully correct in post processing.
Jul 1, 2019 12:57:15 #
RobertW
Loc: Breezy Point, New York
The Olympus Tough TG 3 has a fast lens (f2.0) and ther's no danger of damage if you just tether it to youself
Jul 1, 2019 13:00:41 #
wdross
Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
RahulKhosla wrote:
Any ideas for easy ( portable, light, travel-frien... (show quote)
Rent an Olympus or Panasonic with 5 axis IBIS along with a matching ILIS lens along with using the Olympus EE-1 viewsight (can be used on any camera). Using the IBIS and ILIS can yield sharp pictures at 2 second or longer. Faster shutter speeds make it even easier. The EE-1 viewsight makes it easier to keep the camera on the subject. Should yield 50% or better shots even on a boat in choppy water (I would think 75% or better with good handheld technique and a little practice).
To give you a relative idea of stability of such a system, I have been able to shoot 4 out of 4 sharp shots at 2 seconds while viewing the articulated screen and holding my csmera at full arm's length above my head to get the right perspective. If you think I am steady enough at holding a camera above my head for 2 seconds, I have some really good stock in the Brooklyn Bridge that I would like to sell you. The stability is all in the system.
Jul 1, 2019 13:02:38 #
Move your ISO higher to 800 or even more so that you can use a higher shutter speed. Use shutter priority, not A Mode, and set your shutter speed to at least 1/1,000 second or even higher. Set your drive to fast continuous. You won't get much with just a single shot.
Jul 1, 2019 13:59:33 #
RahulKhosla wrote:
Any ideas for easy ( portable, light, travel-frien... (show quote)
Get a Panasonic G9 or G95, or an Olympus OM-1 E-M1 Mark II or X.
These Micro 4/3 cameras will amaze you with their ability to keep an image steady, despite camera movement. They will also amaze you with their quality, especially from raw files. The reach of their lenses with a 2X crop factor makes the lenses 2/3 to 3/4 LIGHTER than full frame lenses. Rent one and try it!
Jul 1, 2019 14:14:43 #
Jul 1, 2019 14:26:26 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
RahulKhosla wrote:
Any ideas for easy ( portable, light, travel-frien... (show quote)
If Nikon set switch on lens to VR and on the normal active switch select ACTIVE. Shoot at least 1/4000 sec. at a decent f stop, at least 3 to 4 stops down from wide open. Good luck.
Even though you may not need VR at such a high shutter speed, the boat movement makes it a sure thing.
Jul 1, 2019 14:54:02 #
RahulKhosla wrote:
Any ideas for easy ( portable, light, travel-frien... (show quote)
Fast shutter speed, 1/1000 or faster.
Jul 1, 2019 16:24:06 #
Architect1776 wrote:
High shutter speed, stand with knees slightly bent and absorbing motion keeping upper body more stable.
Beyond that I don't know as that is what I do.
Beyond that I don't know as that is what I do.
That and timing your shot to the top and bottom of the motion. Also, the heavier the camera the more inertia it has and the easier it is to stabilize.
Jul 1, 2019 17:12:50 #
RahulKhosla wrote:
Any ideas for easy ( portable, light, travel-frien... (show quote)
Generally heavier cameras are easier to hold steady. Beyond a fast shutter speed and higher ISO, I can only suggest a Kenyon Gyrostabilizer.
Jul 1, 2019 17:35:04 #
pquiggle wrote:
That and timing your shot to the top and bottom of the motion. Also, the heavier the camera the more inertia it has and the easier it is to stabilize.
Only true for cameras with no stabilizers...
Jul 1, 2019 17:56:59 #
The following works for me. It might work for others, too:
High shutter speed (1/4000 of a second) and High ISO (at least 3200) while shooting diving cormorants in continuous mode at 10 shots/second have created such successful almost impossible images as as a hole in the water into which the bird had dunked his head to make a fish catch; droplets of water frozen in space increased the drama of the shot. I spiked the exposure a bit in Lightroom. I can't post it here since I'm far from home and my External storage right now, but while photographing birds, that combination has become my M.O. If I were in your lucky shoes on an unsteady boat shooting breeching whales, that's what I'd probably be doing right now. Good luck, and, most of all, have fun.
High shutter speed (1/4000 of a second) and High ISO (at least 3200) while shooting diving cormorants in continuous mode at 10 shots/second have created such successful almost impossible images as as a hole in the water into which the bird had dunked his head to make a fish catch; droplets of water frozen in space increased the drama of the shot. I spiked the exposure a bit in Lightroom. I can't post it here since I'm far from home and my External storage right now, but while photographing birds, that combination has become my M.O. If I were in your lucky shoes on an unsteady boat shooting breeching whales, that's what I'd probably be doing right now. Good luck, and, most of all, have fun.
Jul 1, 2019 19:01:26 #
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.