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Indoor Animal Shots
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Feb 21, 2019 22:39:59   #
Pysanka Artist Loc: Rochester, NY
 
I took some shots tonight of an animal presentation at a local recreation center. I used my Canon 7D Mark II with my EF100mm f/2.8L MACRO IS USM lens, ISO 8000, Tv priority 1/250, AE partial metering, fluorescent WB, and single point spot focus. Here are the best shots of each animal out of the camera with no editing. How did I do? What can I do to improve? I find I had a hard time getting a focused shot with the low contrast animals (rat, kangaroo and legless lizard). What can I do while shooting those low contrast animals to improve my chances of getting a sharp image? Comments welcome . . . . . . thanks for looking!

Legless Lizard
Legless Lizard...
(Download)

Cat
Cat...
(Download)

Iguana
Iguana...
(Download)

Eurasian Eagle Owl
Eurasian Eagle Owl...
(Download)

Kangaroo
Kangaroo...
(Download)

Rat
Rat...
(Download)

Lemur
Lemur...
(Download)

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Feb 21, 2019 22:56:45   #
olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida
 
Pretty cool group!! Nice presentation!

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Feb 21, 2019 23:48:33   #
ernman111
 
first up, these are nice shots. good contrast and color balance. on a scale of 1-100, i'd vote them a 90... :-)

my first observation is the effects of the low f-stop. like the cats head is just about all that is in focus. Was that the effect you were shooting for?

Indoor photograph without flash is always tricky. Even if you are in a fluorescent environment, typical settings for that may not always be the best. There are so many variables to account for. Also, I would have shot at a lower shutter speed -1/125 unless there is a lot of movement.

trying to find a single f-stop and shutter speed is also tricky. Most settings are somewhat forgiving. the balance depends on what effect you are looking for.

I rarely shoot at less than about f5.6 unless the light is very low and the objects are stationary (like inside a museum or art gallery). I like a fuller depth of field unless I am doing emphasis work. I also like to use a zoom lens vs. a fixed focal length in such situations as these. just more versatility and they are really good nowadays.

one thing i like to do before the main action starts is take test shots - lots of them. That is the nice thing about the instant results of the digital era.

just keep practicing. If you are not already familiar with the relationship between fstop and shutter speeds, it is a good thing to understand. ISO is no longer much of an issue since most cameras have amazingly high numbers. ISO is only something to worry about in extremely low-light issues.

anyway, sorry for the war and peace diatribe. just hope it helps...

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Feb 22, 2019 07:39:27   #
fergmark Loc: norwalk connecticut
 
I think you have done a really nice job with these. I do think that the owl and lemur are far more interesting, including the owner. The lens is giving you excellent bokeh, fairly essential to the success of these kinds of images.

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Feb 22, 2019 08:02:28   #
Pysanka Artist Loc: Rochester, NY
 
ernman111 wrote:
first up, these are nice shots. good contrast and color balance. on a scale of 1-100, i'd vote them a 90... :-)

my first observation is the effects of the low f-stop. like the cats head is just about all that is in focus. Was that the effect you were shooting for?

Indoor photograph without flash is always tricky. Even if you are in a fluorescent environment, typical settings for that may not always be the best. There are so many variables to account for. Also, I would have shot at a lower shutter speed -1/125 unless there is a lot of movement.

trying to find a single f-stop and shutter speed is also tricky. Most settings are somewhat forgiving. the balance depends on what effect you are looking for.

I rarely shoot at less than about f5.6 unless the light is very low and the objects are stationary (like inside a museum or art gallery). I like a fuller depth of field unless I am doing emphasis work. I also like to use a zoom lens vs. a fixed focal length in such situations as these. just more versatility and they are really good nowadays.

one thing i like to do before the main action starts is take test shots - lots of them. That is the nice thing about the instant results of the digital era.

just keep practicing. If you are not already familiar with the relationship between fstop and shutter speeds, it is a good thing to understand. ISO is no longer much of an issue since most cameras have amazingly high numbers. ISO is only something to worry about in extremely low-light issues.

anyway, sorry for the war and peace diatribe. just hope it helps...
first up, these are nice shots. good contrast and ... (show quote)


Thanks for all your comments erman111! They certainly help and give me things to consider. I wasn't necessarily looking to use a low fstop -- that's just what the camera ending up setting with the Tv of 1/250 and ISO 8000. I was more concerned with stopping motion. The trainers do not stand still and neither do the animals! Do you think 1/125 would have sufficed?

One of the reasons I used my fixed focal length is that it is a better lens than my zoom and gives cleaner shots.

Yes, I did take some test shots ahead of time -- perhaps I should have upped my ISO to get a greater DOF. Yes, I am familiar with the shutter/fstop/iso relationship. Again, I appreciate your comments!

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Feb 22, 2019 08:02:58   #
Pysanka Artist Loc: Rochester, NY
 
fergmark wrote:
I think you have done a really nice job with these. I do think that the owl and lemur are far more interesting, including the owner. The lens is giving you excellent bokeh, fairly essential to the success of these kinds of images.


Thank you fergmark!

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Feb 22, 2019 09:14:21   #
Red Sky At Night
 
What a great experience. Looking forward to learning from some of the other Hogs.

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Feb 22, 2019 11:59:07   #
ernman111
 
I figured you might have had reasons for using what you did. one can never tell how experienced the person writing is. sounds like you have it under control. I learned all about camera metrics when I was a tech working for Pentax on their strobe line and the camera repair department was on the other side of the aisle. spent many hours with them learning about camera settings...

oh, 1/125 shud work in most cases. I shoot my cats all the time with a flash at 1/60 and most of the pix come out well unless they are flying through the air from furniture to furniture...lol...

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Feb 22, 2019 12:45:14   #
flyguy Loc: Las Cruces, New Mexico
 
Pysanka Artist wrote:
I took some shots tonight of an animal presentation at a local recreation center. I used my Canon 7D Mark II with my EF100mm f/2.8L MACRO IS USM lens, ISO 8000, Tv priority 1/250, AE partial metering, fluorescent WB, and single point spot focus. Here are the best shots of each animal out of the camera with no editing. How did I do? What can I do to improve? I find I had a hard time getting a focused shot with the low contrast animals (rat, kangaroo and legless lizard). What can I do while shooting those low contrast animals to improve my chances of getting a sharp image? Comments welcome . . . . . . thanks for looking!
I took some shots tonight of an animal presentatio... (show quote)


If you put your Canon Camera into "AI Servo Mode" the camera will maintain focus even if the subject moves.

Also, with Image stabilization on, you can set your shutter speed much lower and it should compensate up to three stops of shutter speed, if necessary, and give you a good exposure.

Another thing, which I have done, is to use the "back button" focus which helps me focus better better and shoot faster.

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Feb 22, 2019 13:48:51   #
Pysanka Artist Loc: Rochester, NY
 
flyguy wrote:
If you put your Canon Camera into "AI Servo Mode" the camera will maintain focus even if the subject moves.

Also, with Image stabilization on, you can set your shutter speed much lower and it should compensate up to three stops of shutter speed, if necessary, and give you a good exposure.

Another thing, which I have done, is to use the "back button" focus which helps me focus better better and shoot faster.


Yes, I used AI Servo Mode and IS and BBF!

Reply
Feb 22, 2019 17:50:24   #
Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC
 
The last image is absolutely awesome!
btw, Love her nail decor....

lots of good thoughts here... so have considerable merit...
Albeit if this were a commercial assignment I would have been using flash illumination exclusively...
Sharpness issue solved... simply hire a lighting assistant and train them how to move with you to position a small softbox in a three quartering scenario...

"What can I do to improve?" Pysanka Artist never show unedited imagery... and only show outstanding post processed captures... On the commercial side of the equation you are only as good as your weakest image... words to live by if you wish to pursue recompense for your efforts...

Food for thought... lots of hobbyist never even attempt to master off camera illumination, which relegates them to mediocre at best... For now forget worrying about your camera and lens so much and get serious about off camera lighting... it will totally open up an entire new world of excellence that can almost never be achieved shooting "available ambient light"

Hope this helps and thanks for sharing... looks like fantastic fun at this event...
All the best on your journey Pysanka Artist

Reply
 
 
Feb 22, 2019 21:14:25   #
Pysanka Artist Loc: Rochester, NY
 
Thomas902 wrote:
The last image is absolutely awesome!
btw, Love her nail decor....

lots of good thoughts here... so have considerable merit...
Albeit if this were a commercial assignment I would have been using flash illumination exclusively...
Sharpness issue solved... simply hire a lighting assistant and train them how to move with you to position a small softbox in a three quartering scenario...

"What can I do to improve?" Pysanka Artist never show unedited imagery... and only show outstanding post processed captures... On the commercial side of the equation you are only as good as your weakest image... words to live by if you wish to pursue recompense for your efforts...

Food for thought... lots of hobbyist never even attempt to master off camera illumination, which relegates them to mediocre at best... For now forget worrying about your camera and lens so much and get serious about off camera lighting... it will totally open up an entire new world of excellence that can almost never be achieved shooting "available ambient light"

Hope this helps and thanks for sharing... looks like fantastic fun at this event...
All the best on your journey Pysanka Artist
The last image is absolutely awesome! br btw, Love... (show quote)


Thanks for all the food for thought!

Reply
Feb 23, 2019 14:47:27   #
krashdragon
 
I think those are pretty darn good for that type of setting. However, some great tips for improving are also posted. I'm making notes of those.
Cute animals, too.

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Feb 28, 2019 09:08:47   #
Low Budget Dave
 
Every one of the shots is good. The only one that I would have changed is the legless lizard. Because their eyes are so small, you need to get really close to see the color and texture detail that makes them so interesting. I would have tried to get closer to him, even if it means ending up with a way-too-thin depth of field.

You might try getting really close to the iguana for the same reason. You seem to be pretty good at getting the eye in focus, and as the old saying goes, if the eye is sharp then the photo is sharp.

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May 14, 2019 18:55:47   #
DavidPhares Loc: Chandler, Arizona
 
The owl and the last shot are excellent. Keep at it.

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