Posted by Cliff Young on November 16, 2008 at 11:18 AM
Sorry I missed all the (UKNP) fun at Bradgate last month - only just "discovered" NPN! I was around at the same time but by coincidence so thought I'd belatedly share my own efforts with you. Here's one of a red deer stag making his way into the trees and looking as though he is bearing the scars of the rut on his side.
Posted by Rene de Heer on November 16, 2008 at 4:26 PM
No replies? Ok let me be the first. Nice to see you on UKNPN! The image is nice but lacks a bit of sharpness and the light isnt ideal. I would also try to have the deer a bit more off center. In other words; create a bit more space in front of the deer. Exposure looks pretty good to me. If i may give you a tip: take the time to reply to images of others as well...it might well give you more responds on your own images! Good luck and hope to see more
Rene de Heer
Posted by Cliff Young on November 16, 2008 at 4:56 PM
Rene, appreciate your comments and advice - always welcome. Regards Cliff
Posted by Guy Rogers on November 16, 2008 at 5:22 PM
Hello Cliff.
Welcome to UKNP. Rene as just about covered it. It might also help if you give some info on the camera settings and lens. This might help with comments and advice given to you.
Posted by Matt Cole on November 16, 2008 at 6:00 PM
welcome to UKNP Cliff. Rene has provided some good comments.
Matt
Posted by Cliff Young on November 17, 2008 at 1:44 AM
Good points, thanks. This was taken with a D300 and 70-300mm VR lens with settings AP f/8 and 1/125s. I spotted him behind a dry stone wall as I was passing by having just been photographing the general Bradgate scenery using a wide angle lens. He wasn't of a mind to hang around while I changed settings (as well as lens) so I just managed to fire off six frames in the 20 seconds he was in view using the wall as support.
Welcome to the forum Cliff. Be prepared for honest critique and plenty of good advice.
Robert
Posted by Andy Astbury on November 18, 2008 at 6:38 AM
Hello Cliff - welcome to UKNPN
For me, the big fault in your image is that focus is on the bracken behind rendering the subject a bit soft focus-wise.
The image is obviously a crop - otherwise the stag would be in focus
Unless you had the D300 in manual focus
The D300 AF system is superb - but it needs setting up properly to get the very best out of it. If you want any help just drop me a line.
Posted by Cliff Young on November 18, 2008 at 7:06 AM
Hi Andy, interesting comments thanks. According to the Metadata the camera was set to AFC 9 point dynamic focus although ViewNX shows the focus point to be pretty much on his left shoulder so that confuses me. There is only marginal cropping (none off the top as I was already short there) on the version I uploaded, I'm guessing to about 80% of the original but no more. I concluded that the softness that several have commented on was due to the relatively slow shutter speed for a handheld 300mm VR lens and moving subject, note particularly his rf leg. I'm intrigued by your comments about setting up the D300 AF system though - please tell me more............ Cliff
Discussion
8 repliesRene de Heer
Welcome to UKNP. Rene as just about covered it. It might also help if you give some info on the camera settings and lens. This might help with comments and advice given to you.
Matt
Robert
For me, the big fault in your image is that focus is on the bracken behind rendering the subject a bit soft focus-wise.
The image is obviously a crop - otherwise the stag would be in focus
Unless you had the D300 in manual focus
The D300 AF system is superb - but it needs setting up properly to get the very best out of it. If you want any help just drop me a line.