Posted by Paul Inglis on April 25, 2008 at 6:36 AM
…blown whites!
The techs are;
Body: Nikon D2Xs
Lens: Nikon 600mm f/4DED-IF AF-S II Nikkor & TC 17E II
Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority
Metering Mode: Spot
Exposure Comp: -0.7 EV
AF Mode: AF-C
Sensitivity: ISO 200
White Balance: Cloudy
Shutter Speed: 1/500 sec
Aperture: f11
Focal Length: 1000mm
Tripod: Gitzo G1548 & Levelling Base
Head: Wimberley Gimbal V2
Minimum processing with Lightroom and Photoshop (80% of Full Frame).
Comments & Critique welcome!
Hi Everyone,
This is more of an exposure exercise than for critique of the image itself (all welcome nonetheless). Anyhow it was really, really sunny and an exposure nightmare! Rather than simply pack up and go home I decided to stop and have a tinker. The rocks have some flare but I’m more interested in whether the bird is exposed correctly. Let me know your thoughs!
Happy shooting,
Posted by Andy Astbury on April 25, 2008 at 7:08 AM
It doesn't look too bad from here Paul
But I wouldn't use spot metering in that scenario, in fact I hardly ever use it - dynamic is best.
What have you got your Tone Compensation set to?
Honestly, blinkies are a damn rare occurrence on my D2Xs so you have got the setup wrong somewhere as it appears you find it it a common problem.
Posted by Paul Inglis on April 25, 2008 at 7:13 AM
Cheers Andy,
The Tone composation is set to 'Normal'. Will try dynamic more - I usually only use that for landscape work!
Posted by Andy Astbury on April 25, 2008 at 7:22 AM
I usually only use that for landscape work!
Now why on earth would you do that then - Nikon Dynamic is like the Canon boys Evaluative - use it for virtually everything Paul
There is definately a difference in exposing for reflective white plumage, compared to textured white plumage.
I think in these situations we have to make the choice between retaining a small amount of specular highlights, and protecting as much shadow detail as possible, or exposing to remove all specular highlights and possibly losing some shadow detail.
I think you have made a worthy exposure choice in this slightly back-lit shot, as any specular lighting is restricted the edge areas, and probably gives a true account of the high contrast situation, as the eye would see it.
In these 'on the edge' situations i think much of it is down to personal preference.
Although i personally use incident metering, i would still have had to make a compensation decision in this instance, due to the reflective nature of subject/light direction, and feel i would have made a similar choice to you.
I suppose one advantage of exposing to remove all specular areas, is that it could be restored more easily if required, compared to exposing to protect a small amount of specular areas, and the possibility of not regaining detail in that area {if it was felt to be needed}.
Your evaluative meter is always going to be in error in a scene like this. Your base exposure 1/400; f11 at ISO 200 is 1/3 of a stop too bright for the conditions - bright sunlight. This means that your -2/3 compensation is only -1/3 and therefore you will have to do some work in processing to recapture the highlight detail.
When conditions are bright sunlight set the camera to manual metering and set a "sunny f16" expose value- in this case 1/500; f11; ISO200. You will still have to compensate -2/3 of a stop to retain detail in the brightest highlights, but you will be starting from a correct base exposure. I very rarely use any of the automatic exposure modes and if you trying to shoot birds in flight, you definitely want to be setting your exposure manually.
I use spot all the time on my D2xs, and sometimes Centre Weight, hardly use Matrix at all, suppose each to their own but i found massive blown highlights on matrix, Ah well.
Posted by David Taylor on April 25, 2008 at 1:19 PM
Don't know anything about the technicalities, but it looks fine on my screens.
Looks good to me Paul. I was having similar problems last weekend and started looking to purchase a light meter - haven't decided yet. I had once thought that with RAW, it wasn't critical. However I do find I have a problem with noise when I adjust the brightness on raw files. Can be corrected, but more work in PS!
I have used the "sunny f16" rule for 35 years, and as such always use manual and virtually ignore the meter, and with a little juggling for light and dark birds the results are usally pretty good.
Posted by John Chapman on April 28, 2008 at 6:00 AM
Posted by Paul Inglis on April 28, 2008 at 2:17 PM
Hi Everyone,
Thanks to everyone who replied to my post, individuals who sent me a PM and those folks who’d emailed directly! It appears that I’m getting the hang of photographing these birds during the midday sun and aim at producing some stunning imagery in the near future! One can only hope – yeah!
I have addressed a few problems thanks to one particular individual who shall remain anonymous – Cheers Mr A!
Discussion
12 repliesThe techs are;
Body: Nikon D2Xs
Lens: Nikon 600mm f/4DED-IF AF-S II Nikkor & TC 17E II
Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority
Metering Mode: Spot
Exposure Comp: -0.7 EV
AF Mode: AF-C
Sensitivity: ISO 200
White Balance: Cloudy
Shutter Speed: 1/500 sec
Aperture: f11
Focal Length: 1000mm
Tripod: Gitzo G1548 & Levelling Base
Head: Wimberley Gimbal V2
Minimum processing with Lightroom and Photoshop (80% of Full Frame).
Comments & Critique welcome!
Hi Everyone,
This is more of an exposure exercise than for critique of the image itself (all welcome nonetheless). Anyhow it was really, really sunny and an exposure nightmare! Rather than simply pack up and go home I decided to stop and have a tinker. The rocks have some flare but I’m more interested in whether the bird is exposed correctly. Let me know your thoughs!
Happy shooting,
But I wouldn't use spot metering in that scenario, in fact I hardly ever use it - dynamic is best.
What have you got your Tone Compensation set to?
Honestly, blinkies are a damn rare occurrence on my D2Xs so you have got the setup wrong somewhere as it appears you find it it a common problem.
The Tone composation is set to 'Normal'. Will try dynamic more - I usually only use that for landscape work!
Now why on earth would you do that then - Nikon Dynamic is like the Canon boys Evaluative - use it for virtually everything Paul
Why make work for yourself matey!
There is definately a difference in exposing for reflective white plumage, compared to textured white plumage.
I think in these situations we have to make the choice between retaining a small amount of specular highlights, and protecting as much shadow detail as possible, or exposing to remove all specular highlights and possibly losing some shadow detail.
I think you have made a worthy exposure choice in this slightly back-lit shot, as any specular lighting is restricted the edge areas, and probably gives a true account of the high contrast situation, as the eye would see it.
In these 'on the edge' situations i think much of it is down to personal preference.
Although i personally use incident metering, i would still have had to make a compensation decision in this instance, due to the reflective nature of subject/light direction, and feel i would have made a similar choice to you.
I suppose one advantage of exposing to remove all specular areas, is that it could be restored more easily if required, compared to exposing to protect a small amount of specular areas, and the possibility of not regaining detail in that area {if it was felt to be needed}.
choices, choices
Alan
When conditions are bright sunlight set the camera to manual metering and set a "sunny f16" expose value- in this case 1/500; f11; ISO200. You will still have to compensate -2/3 of a stop to retain detail in the brightest highlights, but you will be starting from a correct base exposure. I very rarely use any of the automatic exposure modes and if you trying to shoot birds in flight, you definitely want to be setting your exposure manually.
John
Looks good from this end.
Thanks to everyone who replied to my post, individuals who sent me a PM and those folks who’d emailed directly! It appears that I’m getting the hang of photographing these birds during the midday sun and aim at producing some stunning imagery in the near future! One can only hope – yeah!
I have addressed a few problems thanks to one particular individual who shall remain anonymous – Cheers Mr A!