Posted by Barry Southon on February 2, 2009 at 10:04 AM
Having found a subject often easier said than done. Positioning for a shot lighting and settings all questions to be answered then the subject departs. Happens so many times. I'm taking what I can and then ask the questions after the event post shot analysis if you will.
This IRHW was in a well protected environment dark undergrowth a male IRHW in full colour was nearby.
My question being how should I deal with both light and dark feathers whilst retaining dark detail I have lost the whites?
Is it a step too far?
Using a car as hide. Canon 1D3 Canon 800mm 1/800sec f/5.6 ISO400
Hand held RAW to lightroom cropped PS4 to resize.
Thanks for looking
Advice Critique Comments most welcome.
Barry
Posted by Dave Courtenay on February 2, 2009 at 10:34 AM
I would give up on the hand holding business, With an 800 you are going to need a support, This image is soft and its either camera shake,misfocus or the crop or all the above, I normally expose for the whites as there is nothing worse than blown whites, As you used the car as a hide did you not have a beanbag with you-best support there is
Dave
Posted by Barry Southon on February 2, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Dave
Beanbag on the shopping list. Prior to returning stateside
I have to echo Daves words Barry and recommend you abandon any idea of handholding that lens combo. It may sound like we are banging on about the same old thing when we post these comments but believe me when I say, without proper support you will NEVER get a good sharp image. It seems to me that the 'image stabilizer' found on a lot of lenses now make photographers think they can hand hold these big lenses. Well IS may help but it is no substitiute for proper lens technique. Overall the image as seen on my screen is too dark. Try lightening the image and lower the contrast, that may help retain some detail in the whites. Again though, as Dave states, if you dont get detail in the whites when exposing you won't be able to bring out that detail. Apart from that, the composition looks good to me.
Robert
Posted by Barry Southon on February 2, 2009 at 1:20 PM
Dave / Robert
Thanks for the comments the image looks much lighter on my monitor than it does when posted. Also ordered a beanbag.
Barry
Posted by John Chapman on February 2, 2009 at 2:43 PM
You have done remarkably well here for a handheld 800, I wouldn’t have got any sort of image. But the lack of support shows.
Never forget, that any mechanical/electrical aid has limits to its functionality.
Re light and subject. There is an old phrase which comes to mind, “No light, no point”, and no matter how good you are with your post processing, if the original image is c**p, then you are on a hiding to nothing.
Stand back and think about where you are going. You will know certain things. The sun rises in the east and set in the west, and travels thro’ the southern sky. With a little research, you can find out north for any area you might visit. So now you can plan your route, so that the sun is invariably coming from you to any potential subject. A black and white subject is always a compromise re exposure, unless it’s an overcast day.
Re camera support, you have three choices, a beanbag, a window mount or a tripod.
I personally prefer a tripod firmly tied down in the front seat passengers area with a head on it with an Arca quick release system on it. Second is the window mount, again with a head on it fitted with an Arca quick release system fitted. Using either method I can watch the road ahead, see a potential subject, mount the camera on its tripod/window mount support point the lens in the approximate position I hope to be shooting in. I’m now free to concentrate on positioning the car as required in preparation for taking your shot. When using a beanbag you have to have a hand on it or the lens if so positioned in order to stop it falling out of the car. Saying that I always have a number of beanbags to hand, they make wonderful cushions for your lens as you are driving around.
One last thing, there will come a time when you will want to convert your car into a hide. So start doing some research in preparation for this.
Any queries, well you have my number in more ways than one.
All been said.... a beanbag is much better than a tripod... it absorbs any vibration from the mirror etc... as for exposure get some practice using fill flash preferably with better beamer or similar at around -2 to -3 EV, if you have a search on the web you can find a lot of useful info....
Discussion
7 repliesThis IRHW was in a well protected environment dark undergrowth a male IRHW in full colour was nearby.
My question being how should I deal with both light and dark feathers whilst retaining dark detail I have lost the whites?
Is it a step too far?
Using a car as hide. Canon 1D3 Canon 800mm 1/800sec f/5.6 ISO400
Hand held RAW to lightroom cropped PS4 to resize.
Thanks for looking
Advice Critique Comments most welcome.
Barry
Dave
Beanbag on the shopping list. Prior to returning stateside
Barry
Robert
Thanks for the comments the image looks much lighter on my monitor than it does when posted. Also ordered a beanbag.
Barry
Never forget, that any mechanical/electrical aid has limits to its functionality.
Re light and subject. There is an old phrase which comes to mind, “No light, no point”, and no matter how good you are with your post processing, if the original image is c**p, then you are on a hiding to nothing.
Stand back and think about where you are going. You will know certain things. The sun rises in the east and set in the west, and travels thro’ the southern sky. With a little research, you can find out north for any area you might visit. So now you can plan your route, so that the sun is invariably coming from you to any potential subject. A black and white subject is always a compromise re exposure, unless it’s an overcast day.
Re camera support, you have three choices, a beanbag, a window mount or a tripod.
I personally prefer a tripod firmly tied down in the front seat passengers area with a head on it with an Arca quick release system on it. Second is the window mount, again with a head on it fitted with an Arca quick release system fitted. Using either method I can watch the road ahead, see a potential subject, mount the camera on its tripod/window mount support point the lens in the approximate position I hope to be shooting in. I’m now free to concentrate on positioning the car as required in preparation for taking your shot. When using a beanbag you have to have a hand on it or the lens if so positioned in order to stop it falling out of the car. Saying that I always have a number of beanbags to hand, they make wonderful cushions for your lens as you are driving around.
One last thing, there will come a time when you will want to convert your car into a hide. So start doing some research in preparation for this.
Any queries, well you have my number in more ways than one.
HTH
Phil