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03/16/2010 11:57:14 PM · #76 |
I left you a comment vawendy. I think this shot is one of my all time favorites. I love it.
Message edited by author 2010-03-16 23:57:30. |
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03/17/2010 12:58:56 AM · #77 |
Here are a couple of shots to illustrate what JB said about aperture, DOF, focal length, and distance to subject.
 300mm @ f5.6 from about 35 or 40 ft. with monopod. This one shows quite a bit of the local terrain. The longer distance gives some DOF at f5.6.
 Same 300mm lens @ f5.6 from about 10 ft with monopod. I was going for the eye focus, and bird only in this one. Not cropped.
 400mm @ f5.6 from about 20 or 25 ft, cropped to about 2/3 frame. The background detail is eliminated, except for the wire, which I wanted as a leading line.
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03/17/2010 12:41:25 PM · #78 |
Originally posted by jbsmithana:
The Right Equipment – Part 2
Assignment
Take your favorite lens out in the back yard and try shooting in aperture priority mode...
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Wow...this was a good read! Thank you for posting this. Just a couple of questions (I know I'm a pest):
1. Now that the equipment is squared away and we have our first assignment, would you please elaborate on the bird as a model itself? For example, what do you look for when selecting your model (especially if within a flock) and how do you approach positioning yourself in relation to your model and the lighting. I realize this is rather a broad question, and I'm really curious to know more about your thought process than specific environments. I use the 80-400 Nikon lens and realize that lighting conditions become something to think about when the limit of my pocket book doesn't allow for faster glass. ;-)
2. Earlier in this thread, the use of the fill-in flash was mentioned. Since I recently got a new flash, I'm curious to know how on the equipment list a flash would be useful. I suspect my favorite bird models will frown on a flash, but perhaps I'm wrong and they will be more tolerant than I am giving them credit for...;-)
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03/17/2010 01:15:49 PM · #79 |
I don't shoot flash much with wildlife, but in my limited flash experience, mostly when shooting at dusk, the birds hardly even notice the flash if they do at all.
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03/17/2010 01:17:26 PM · #80 |
Originally posted by hihosilver:
Originally posted by jbsmithana:
The Right Equipment – Part 2
Assignment
Take your favorite lens out in the back yard and try shooting in aperture priority mode...
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Wow...this was a good read! Thank you for posting this. Just a couple of questions (I know I'm a pest):
1. Now that the equipment is squared away and we have our first assignment, would you please elaborate on the bird as a model itself? For example, what do you look for when selecting your model (especially if within a flock) and how do you approach positioning yourself in relation to your model and the lighting. I realize this is rather a broad question, and I'm really curious to know more about your thought process than specific environments. I use the 80-400 Nikon lens and realize that lighting conditions become something to think about when the limit of my pocket book doesn't allow for faster glass. ;-)
2. Earlier in this thread, the use of the fill-in flash was mentioned. Since I recently got a new flash, I'm curious to know how on the equipment list a flash would be useful. I suspect my favorite bird models will frown on a flash, but perhaps I'm wrong and they will be more tolerant than I am giving them credit for...;-) |
Glad your reading and are interested Mae! I have one more section on Equipment and it will talk about flash, hopefully coming tonight or tomorrow. I'll also be getting to thoughts on composition issues, light and how to get those darn models to behave! Stay with me as I do not want to get to far ahead of myself (besides, I don't have it all written down yet, just don't tell anyone). |
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03/17/2010 01:19:33 PM · #81 |
Originally posted by MelonMusketeer:
I don't shoot flash much with wildlife, but in my limited flash experience, mostly when shooting at dusk, the birds hardly even notice the flash if they do at all. |
Most birds ignore flash but some are skittish at first. Hummingbirds, and many other small birds, jump when exposed to flash but eventually they settle down and gt used to it. We'll talk about it in the next segment. It is a useful tool.
Message edited by author 2010-03-17 13:19:49. |
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03/17/2010 02:25:44 PM · #82 |
Thank you for posting this thread in the first place, and for offering to share the length and breadth of your experience.
I do apologize if I jumped off topic.
Good thing I didn't post ALL of my questions...::stares sheepishly at toes:: |
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03/17/2010 02:29:47 PM · #83 |
Originally posted by hihosilver:
Thank you for posting this thread in the first place, and for offering to share the length and breadth of your experience.
I do apologize if I jumped off topic.
Good thing I didn't post ALL of my questions...::stares sheepishly at toes:: |
LOL! No problem. I love questions so keep them coming. Helps me remember to cover certain subjects I might otherwise forget. |
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03/17/2010 05:28:54 PM · #84 |
OK, I tried aperture priority and I hated it :-( The camera wants to keep the ISO low so it slows down the shutter speed to where I get camera shake ... OK, person shake ;-) My 100-300 f/4 is my bird lens and it gets heavy after awhile. (I know, I should use a monopod, but I broke the head on mine and I haven't gotten around to replacing it. So I handhold.)
So ... if I let the camera set the ISO and I set the speed and aperture I'm happier with my results. With this camera. With the D200 I usually set all 3 variables. It's possible I am a control freak =:-o |
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03/17/2010 05:38:07 PM · #85 |
Originally posted by MaryO:
OK, I tried aperture priority and I hated it :-( The camera wants to keep the ISO low so it slows down the shutter speed to where I get camera shake ... OK, person shake ;-) My 100-300 f/4 is my bird lens and it gets heavy after awhile. (I know, I should use a monopod, but I broke the head on mine and I haven't gotten around to replacing it. So I handhold.)
So ... if I let the camera set the ISO and I set the speed and aperture I'm happier with my results. With this camera. With the D200 I usually set all 3 variables. It's possible I am a control freak =:-o |
I'm so glad you posted these thoughts! I always photograph birds in shutter priority which in a sense is very uni-directional (even when crossing motions). Without have practiced in aperture priority, in my mind's eye, I try to see the idea of controlling the DOF for more yummy foreground / background blur or to make unwanted foreground items disappear, but was wondering if I would end up in MANUAL mode to balance the settings. Your post answered that question. (I hope I understood you correctly! I'm so dumb at these things...)...;-) |
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03/17/2010 05:38:59 PM · #86 |
Originally posted by MaryO:
OK, I tried aperture priority and I hated it :-( The camera wants to keep the ISO low so it slows down the shutter speed to where I get camera shake ... OK, person shake ;-) My 100-300 f/4 is my bird lens and it gets heavy after awhile. (I know, I should use a monopod, but I broke the head on mine and I haven't gotten around to replacing it. So I handhold.)
So ... if I let the camera set the ISO and I set the speed and aperture I'm happier with my results. With this camera. With the D200 I usually set all 3 variables. It's possible I am a control freak =:-o |
Have you tried aperture priority, but setting your own ISO? I never let my camera choose my ISO... (it gives it too much power, and it gets tyrannical!)
I do aperture priority and 800 ISO (if there's not enough light for less) I've never had to do manual mode, but sometimes I'll use exposure compensation if the background is predominantly light or dark. Also, I've found that spot metering can be very handy if the background is completely different than the bird.
Message edited by author 2010-03-17 17:42:45.
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03/17/2010 05:41:08 PM · #87 |
I am glad you brought up the subject of crop factor, especially the D300 crop sensor and the D700 full frame cameras. This was one of the reasons I didn't buy the 12mp D700. With a crop factor/DX lens on your D300, you gain the 1.5x reach at 12mp. With the same lens on your D700 you gain 1.5x reach at just over 5mp! Because the D700 only uses less than half the available sensor area, you are left struggling with a low mp jpeg.
eta: If you are using full frame/FX lenses on your D300, you get the same 1.5x crop factor. Same lens on the D700, you get full frame but lose the extra length gained by crop sensors.
Message edited by author 2010-03-17 17:43:21. |
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03/17/2010 06:08:22 PM · #88 |
Originally posted by MaryO:
OK, I tried aperture priority and I hated it :-( The camera wants to keep the ISO low so it slows down the shutter speed to where I get camera shake ... OK, person shake ;-) My 100-300 f/4 is my bird lens and it gets heavy after awhile. (I know, I should use a monopod, but I broke the head on mine and I haven't gotten around to replacing it. So I handhold.)
So ... if I let the camera set the ISO and I set the speed and aperture I'm happier with my results. With this camera. With the D200 I usually set all 3 variables. It's possible I am a control freak =:-o |
Control? Who you? Hey, if you can control all the variables while shooting moving subjects like birds then more power to you. Like I said all people are different and each has to find the system that works for them. The main issue is that the aperture you use is very important to the final outcome of the image. I find it easier to not to use auto ISO and set it manually. After a bit of practice you kind of know what situations are going to drag down the shutter and so you up the ISO before you shoot. I'm lazy so I only end up having to be aware of if my shutter speed is dropping to low. But I believe in the old saying, if it ain't broke don't fix it or in other words if what you are doing works don't change it! |
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03/17/2010 06:16:37 PM · #89 |
Originally posted by MaryO:
OK, I tried aperture priority and I hated it :-( The camera wants to keep the ISO low so it slows down the shutter speed to where I get camera shake ... OK, person shake ;-) My 100-300 f/4 is my bird lens and it gets heavy after awhile. (I know, I should use a monopod, but I broke the head on mine and I haven't gotten around to replacing it. So I handhold.)
So ... if I let the camera set the ISO and I set the speed and aperture I'm happier with my results. With this camera. With the D200 I usually set all 3 variables. It's possible I am a control freak =:-o |
I'm not sure of exactly waht you are saying but see my response to Mary. I learned to use aperture priority when I started. Most bird photographer books recommend it so it is what I got used to and I'm comfortable with it. With my setup the only thing I have to worry about is whether I need to increase my ISO or not for this specific shot. And on my D300 that is an easy thing to change. Well, that is not entirely true as we will see. There is also the issue of exposure compensation which we will talk about soon. In any case find a way to assess and take care of all these factors that you find comfortable and then go with it. As I said there is always more than one way to skin a cat! |
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03/17/2010 06:17:32 PM · #90 |
Originally posted by hihosilver:
Originally posted by MaryO:
OK, I tried aperture priority and I hated it :-( The camera wants to keep the ISO low so it slows down the shutter speed to where I get camera shake ... OK, person shake ;-) My 100-300 f/4 is my bird lens and it gets heavy after awhile. (I know, I should use a monopod, but I broke the head on mine and I haven't gotten around to replacing it. So I handhold.)
So ... if I let the camera set the ISO and I set the speed and aperture I'm happier with my results. With this camera. With the D200 I usually set all 3 variables. It's possible I am a control freak =:-o |
I'm so glad you posted these thoughts! I always photograph birds in shutter priority which in a sense is very uni-directional (even when crossing motions). Without have practiced in aperture priority, in my mind's eye, I try to see the idea of controlling the DOF for more yummy foreground / background blur or to make unwanted foreground items disappear, but was wondering if I would end up in MANUAL mode to balance the settings. Your post answered that question. (I hope I understood you correctly! I'm so dumb at these things...)...;-) |
She's on to something ... |
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03/17/2010 06:57:11 PM · #91 |
Originally posted by vawendy:
Have you tried aperture priority, but setting your own ISO? I never let my camera choose my ISO... (it gives it too much power, and it gets tyrannical!)
I do aperture priority and 800 ISO (if there's not enough light for less) I've never had to do manual mode, but sometimes I'll use exposure compensation if the background is predominantly light or dark. Also, I've found that spot metering can be very handy if the background is completely different than the bird. |
I usually spot meter ... come to think of it I probably haven't played enough with the other metering modes on this camera. Anyway, I did try setting the ISO with aperture priority but I wasn't happy with the shutter speeds the camera chose. The D700 happens to produce decent shots at rather high ISOs, which is why I'm content to let it decide that one little thing ;-) |
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03/17/2010 08:24:37 PM · #92 |
Let's move on through equipment and get to what you all want to talk about.
The Right Equipment – Part 3 - Final Chapter
Without getting carried away with equipment needs there are a few other items I consider helpful in Bird / Nature photography. Of course there is the tripod and / or a monopod. I don̢۪t think we need to spend much time here as the need for and use of these items is well documented on DPC. Flash is also well documented on DPC but not so much for this type photography. Let̢۪s start there.
Flash and Flash Extenders
For me flash is essential. Birds and other animals are normally timid, hiding in the recesses of bushes and trees tucked down in the shadows. They are not always sitting out there in the light, facing the sun, eyes lit up and shinny (ok, so you Florida people are the exception). Sometimes you will only be in a place for a short time and the weather is not cooperating as happened to me a couple of times in Costa Rica last month. Flash and flash extenders can save the day. An added benefit to flash is that it gives the animal or bird that light glint in the eye that attracts the viewer.
I have used my onboard flash of my D300 in a pinch, my SB-800 flash head the most, multiple heads set up around my hummingbird feeder occasionally as well as a flash extender that can throw out the flash for well over 100 feet. Here are a couple of shots I used flash on and why.
 – This hummingbird was feeding in the shadows but the background was sunny and I knew it present a pleasing green hue. I used fill flash from my SB-800 set with a flash compensation of minus 1.5 if I remember right. I could not have gotten the shot without it as the bird would have been very dark and the processing required to bring him out would have ruined the shot. If I increased exposure too much then the background would have blown out completely. Fill flash was the answer.
 – This shot was taken from a moving tram elevated in the jungle canopy. The bird was very shaded, again with a brighter background. Even with using exposure compensation to increase the exposure a bit this shot would not have been possible without flash.
 – Shot in my backyard using my SB-800, again with a flash compensation of -1 or so. A Varied Thrush is a very timid bird and hard to get out into the light. You often will have no choice but to shoot them in the shadows. Without the flash his beautiful color would have been muted and lost. His eyes would have shown little life.
You might have noticed that I almost always (except when the subject is a great distance away) use minus flash compensation. You need to be careful as flash can overpower the delicate feathers and color of a bird. Too much flash can make the image look harsh so you want to play a round a bit to keep the light soft.
I do not have much knowledge using high speed flash or focus traps and the like so if anyone does feel free to give us all a little help in that area.
Flash extenders are a bit more to lug around but work well if you need increased reach when using telephoto lenses. They also reduce the power needs to get the same amount of flash. You can see one here:
Better Beamer
As you can see they clamp on to your flash head and are not overly stable so it is not something I carry around all the time but I have used them with success.
Filters
This one is simple. I do not use any filters on my lenses. No matter how good the filter it will steal light and decrease the quality of the image. No matter how small an amount I do not consider it a good trade off when you need all the light and shutter speed you can get. Many will disagree with me and say you need to keep a filter on to protect the lens element. Of course this is your choice but I have found that lenses are pretty tough. By using a lens hood to protect from glare you also benefit from it as protection for the front element. I̢۪ve broken two or three lens hoods from bumps and drops and the lens has come through ok. I consider them expendable as they did their job by protecting the lens.
There is one exception to this and that is with a circular polarizer. Although I seldom use it when shooting wildlife or birds they have a place in landscape photography. At times the two do blend together as when shooting birdscapes or herds of animals on open plains and the like. I always carry a circular polarizer and love it when shooting the wide open spaces.
As for other effects filters today most can be replicated in post processing.
Other various tools of the trade
Binoculars – I normally carry a small pair. Although I can use my telephoto lens it is more convenient to use binocs to scan the area or do actual bird watching and the like. It also saves on batteries for your camera.
Backpack / Vest – You will likely need to carry spare batteries and cards, a second or third lens, a cleaning cloth and brush, a remote cord, a flash, a tripod and who knows what else (lunch, drink?). How you carry it is completely up to your personal preference. I have a full photographers backpack but it never leaves the car. I’ve tried vests and they are just not comfortable for me. I have a sling pack and have used it to great success but find it a bit limiting in what I can take.
Today I normally use a regular daypack for all my gear. The kind they make for school or travel which has front pockets for pens and such which is great for batteries, cards and other small items. Some have a laptop compartment or sleeve which is good for flash and larger items. I keep my 80-400 lens in a pouch in the bottom of the bag and my camera with a shorter lens on top of that. I stuff my lunch and jacket on top of that. I carry my monopod or strap it to the side. Same with a tripod if I carry it (I have a lighter carbon fiber tripod). They also all have outside mesh pockets for water. This is the way I have carried all my gear to China, Thailand, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Italy, etc. I always carry it on the airplane with me and then leave what I don̢۪t need in my suitcase (locked) at the hotel room and carry the pack with me in my travels once I get to where I̢۪m going.
I̢۪ve done the same thing when backpacking but with a bigger pack. I just find that regular packs are better suited for all your needs while the specialized photo packs are great for your photo gear but limiting for everything else. But that is just me and I̢۪m sure there are better ideas out there so lets here them.
That is it on gear. There are of course other things I might carry but they are not as critical as what I have listed. If you know of some indispensable piece of gear that we bird / wildlife photographers should carry feel free to chime in. I̢۪m a gadget freak so go for it.
Assignment
If you are not a flash user for outdoor photography then here is your chance to give it a try. Take you longest lens and your flash and go out and do a little searching for wild things in the trees and bushes. Don̢۪t have a separate flash head? No problem, use your onboard flash although you might be limited in distance you will be surprised at how at least the eyes of the subject will pick up the light. Try and take some photos of birds or animals that are backlit or who are in the shadows. Try it with and without flash. Experiment with lowering the flash output with flash compensation to just gently light the subject, maybe only bringing out the eye highlights. Let us know what you think.
Next up- Let̢۪s talk autofocus and exposure
Message edited by author 2010-03-17 23:27:46. |
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03/18/2010 12:08:49 AM · #93 |
I went out in my back yard about 20 minutes before sunset, and got one shot at a pair of cardinals that were feeding where I toss the feed that my parrots don't eat.
I used the 180 f2.8 that was in my bag, and on cam flash. It actually does work to bring up the colors of the subjects some. This was shot at 2.8 & 1/180 so it's not all that sharp because the birds were in motion, and I had the monopod hooked in my belt so that I could move about easily. I only had about five minutes to get a bird shot for today, or I would have probably used a longer lens and S B 28 flash.
ETA
 Details with the image.
Message edited by author 2010-03-18 00:41:09.
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03/18/2010 07:22:20 PM · #94 |
Today was gloriously springlike and sunny ... not exactly optimal for using flash, so I waited till late afternoon when the bird feeders and their trees were mostly shaded. Got some interesting results. I've played with flash and birds before so this wasn't totally a new thing but for stationary birds it definitely brought out more detail and color in shadowed areas.
Did not work as well for moving birds since my flash sync speed is only 1/250 and that just isn't fast enough for stop action, though I did get some interesting motion blur:
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03/18/2010 08:16:15 PM · #95 |
BTW (you guys will appreciate this) I went out to my favorite wetlands park today and saw: an American Wigeon (new duck for me!!!), a pair of Wood Ducks, a pair of Hooded Mergansers, numerous American Shovelers, some Greenwinged Teals, Mallards and Canada Geese (I know, they're everywhere), Northern Pintails, Gadwalls, at least 4 different hawks (individuals, not necessarily different species) and assorted songbirds. Plus interesting bits of plant life greening up, turtles and even a few bugs and an early butterfly. And I was being serenaded by about a gazillion frogs (which made me wonder where all the herons were hanging out today). I love that park :-)))
And if I had a 500mm lens I might even have some great pictures of one or more of those birds. I have some decent pix and a lot that are just good enough to ID the species. I might have some better ones if there hadn't been a fellow who kept appearing behind me just when my subject birds appeared to be getting used to me and drifting in my direction. They abruptly turned around at the sight of the newcomer every time. I hate that ::sigh:: |
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03/18/2010 09:15:47 PM · #96 |
My backpack is loaded with my Sony, the 37mm lens, the 200mm, and the 500mm. Also the video camera & 2 P&S cameras. A monopod, its ball head, & a gorilla-pod. My laptop. A 150GB USB drive. Batteries & media. All the battery recharging gear. Circular polarizing filters, UV filters, & a small pair of binoculars. Microfiber cleaning cloths. I tested each camera before I put it in the bag. All the date/times are correct. Did I forget anything?
Saturday morning we all pile into the mini-van to drive to Birmingham's airport. By midnight Saturday night I'll be asleep at the Asa Wright Nature Center in Trinidad, Port of Spain. I'm going with the family to take my 87-year-old Mom on a vacation to try to get her life-list of birds spotted up to 1000. I am going to do the photography, so suddenly I'll be trying to do an expert job on a brand-new subject--I want to get a BIF, a BOS, BIW & anything else that holds still long enuf. Needless to say, I've been reading this thread with interest. Although of course I will admit I've got a secret hope of using the 37mm lens on some new flowers (working on my own life list). And I might even get a tropical sunset or one of those postcard shots of the beach. The video camera will probably be mostly pointed at my family members. We'll be there for a week.
We've been getting ready for this trip for months. We all (six of us) got our immunizations. I've been familiarizing myself with the gear. All the cameras can go for more than a week without a problem. If I can't connect the laptop to power, of course it will be dead, so will my MP3 player & my iPhone, but I'm being a total American & taking them along anyway. I might get electricity & wifi, if I do I can post to this thread while I'm there. "D This is the most exotic photography trip I've ever done, I'm looking forward to it, even my toenails are painted. By the end of the trip, my family members will have no more doubts about my inability to put that camera down & just act like a regular human! |
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03/19/2010 01:21:29 AM · #97 |
 
Woo Hoo, new (to me) lens arrived today. I had to trim the aperture ring to make it "Ai'd" so that it would fit my Fuji. That took about 10 minutes. It seems to be lovely contrasty, and about as sharp as my Nikon lenses.
I got these shots on the way home this afternoon, and shot a couple of the same with flash, however, it was not necessary with the light and the reflection off the water on the birds.
 pixelpig , you are going to be dying to have your 18-70 lens for the wide shots of the bays and sunsets/sunrises. Pack it in your regular luggage if you have to.
Maybe this will help with the power question; Trinidad Power Outlets
Have a marvelous trip, and do post pix if possible.
ETA One other thing, keep up with your passport.
Message edited by author 2010-03-19 01:47:33.
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03/19/2010 08:55:31 AM · #98 |
Originally posted by pixelpig:
By midnight Saturday night I'll be asleep at the Asa Wright Nature Center in Trinidad, Port of Spain. I'm going with the family to take my 87-year-old Mom on a vacation to try to get her life-list of birds spotted up to 1000.
...
By the end of the trip, my family members will have no more doubts about my inability to put that camera down & just act like a regular human! |
But, but, but ... aren't photographers normal? Didn't everyone reading this thread start drooling all over the keyboard when they read your post? After we moved the cameras around our necks out of the way (can't drool ON the camera, after all). We're normal ... for a certain value of normal ;-)
Wait, you said "regular," not "normal." Well that brings up a whole 'nother set of questions I refuse to think about this early in the morning.
Have a blast; I can't wait to see your pictures!! |
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03/19/2010 08:59:04 AM · #99 |
Thanks, I think you are right re the 18-70 lens. Now that I'm all geared up & organized, hopefully there will be more trips in my future so yep I'll remember to keep up with the passport.
Looks like you have a lovely new lens to enjoy. I don't know what it means to trim the aperture ring to make it "Ai'd"? Pls explain a little bit? |
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03/19/2010 09:02:42 AM · #100 |
Originally posted by MaryO:
Originally posted by pixelpig:
By midnight Saturday night I'll be asleep at the Asa Wright Nature Center in Trinidad, Port of Spain. I'm going with the family to take my 87-year-old Mom on a vacation to try to get her life-list of birds spotted up to 1000.
...
By the end of the trip, my family members will have no more doubts about my inability to put that camera down & just act like a regular human! |
But, but, but ... aren't photographers normal? Didn't everyone reading this thread start drooling all over the keyboard when they read your post? After we moved the cameras around our necks out of the way (can't drool ON the camera, after all). We're normal ... for a certain value of normal ;-)
Wait, you said "regular," not "normal." Well that brings up a whole 'nother set of questions I refuse to think about this early in the morning.
Have a blast; I can't wait to see your pictures!! |
Hehe, I already caused some worry w/the video camera--the other females in the trip are all packing make-up & blow-dryers. [evil grin] I've been exercising my shutter finger, 'cos I'm going to try to wear it out! |
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