Posted by Barry Southon on February 24, 2009 at 10:18 AM
I can't believe over two years have elapsed since I first posted my efforts in capturing one of these ever moving species. Maybe I'm a slow learner but even though I say it myself I feel I'm getting a better understanding of what I'm trying to do.
Thank you all for your imput I try and take on board as much as I can and also emulate what you demonstarte so well.
Not the best of perches, for what I believe is a broadleaved woodland species. I believe I can detect some seeds on the top of the post, not a problem, in fact its sound strategy when first setting up your perch, but not when actually doing any photography. When I first started out, I used to do what everyone else did, and drilled holes strategically on my perches, and then stuffed it full of seed/suet, I soon learnt that there were better ways, for example, drill your hole, but make it just big enough to take a small plastic tub, film canisters were just right. That way you can take the tub out, and clean it. I hasten to add that I no longer drill any holes.
Seeing as this shot appears to be taken at a feeding station, then you have a good foundation to work from here,
I thought that Titmice were paler, is there a slight blue cast here, tho’ it might well be this laptop. What’s going on around its feet ??
Still an excellent capture, and as I said, a good foundation to work from.
Hi Barry,
I think it's definately the never ending learning cycle (amongst other things) that makes this such a fun and often challenging hobby.
A nice image of a particularly photogenic and attractive species.
Posted by Mike Smith on February 25, 2009 at 2:20 AM
Barry
90% the way there.....
Good perch and set up (subject to Ray's advice above)
I understand why you chose F8 - sharpest aperture for your zoom lens at 500mm
I undertsand why you chose iso 200 - to minimise noise artefacts
but then you let common sense go out of the window....... your ambient light is only allowing 1/15s on these settings when rule of thumb says you should be around 1/750s to get sharp images for 500mm on a 1D3. Don't forget you are trying to shoot at 13x magnification. With very good lens technique you may get down to 1/60s, but no way would 1/15s freeze any action or prevent camera shake from mirror slap vibrations
End result blurred mushy images
Bump up your iso to increase shutter speed and deal with any noise in post processing, you can reduce noise in a sharp image, but you cannot sharpen a mushy image.
Posted by Barry Southon on February 25, 2009 at 5:58 AM
Thanks guy's that's just the kind of feed back I need without tech speak.
I'll be trying to implement advice and progress further during the next four months.
First forget at the moment, what Mike and myself have said above, even tho’, Mike touched on what I’m about to suggest.
Let me start with an analogy. Interior decoration is very similar to photography, particularly when it comes to a feeding station, 90% of the finished product is in the preparation, so think about your preparations, and do them slowly and thoroughly.
Photography is all about light and how it illuminates your subject.
Find your location and in your minds eye, position the “killing zone” and where the hide will be. Take a compass with you, the sun rises in the east sets in the west, the compass could help you decide the final positions of the “kill zone” and your hide with reference to shadows etc. which will fall on the site. If its winter don’t forget that trees etc. will be in leaf. If you have trouble, visualising the “kill zone” re the hide. Ram a stick in the ground where you perches will be, and put your coat over it, now go to where the hide will be and look back at your perch location, using your compass if necessary. Look for shadows and where they will fall and when.
Any wild life coming to your site will want to feel secure, so cover when approaching is important. But that can be sorted later. Light and how it falls is the main criteria to bear in mind.
If you get the basics right, then what Mike said re low shutter speed and mush etc. will fade away.
Make the design of your “kill zone” adaptable, you will want different perches, and don’t forget water, very attractive to wildlife.
Discussion
6 repliesThank you all for your imput I try and take on board as much as I can and also emulate what you demonstarte so well.
Canon 1D3 sigma 50mm-500mm 1/15sec f/8.0 ISO200 500mm
RAW to lightroom PS resized.
Thanks for looking
Critique Comments Advice most welcome.
Barry
Kansas / Eastbourne E Sussex
Otherwise, i think you have the background spot on and overall pretty good profile shot, well done Barry.
Drew
Seeing as this shot appears to be taken at a feeding station, then you have a good foundation to work from here,
I thought that Titmice were paler, is there a slight blue cast here, tho’ it might well be this laptop. What’s going on around its feet ??
Still an excellent capture, and as I said, a good foundation to work from.
I think it's definately the never ending learning cycle (amongst other things) that makes this such a fun and often challenging hobby.
A nice image of a particularly photogenic and attractive species.
90% the way there.....
Good perch and set up (subject to Ray's advice above)
I understand why you chose F8 - sharpest aperture for your zoom lens at 500mm
I undertsand why you chose iso 200 - to minimise noise artefacts
but then you let common sense go out of the window....... your ambient light is only allowing 1/15s on these settings when rule of thumb says you should be around 1/750s to get sharp images for 500mm on a 1D3. Don't forget you are trying to shoot at 13x magnification. With very good lens technique you may get down to 1/60s, but no way would 1/15s freeze any action or prevent camera shake from mirror slap vibrations
End result blurred mushy images
Bump up your iso to increase shutter speed and deal with any noise in post processing, you can reduce noise in a sharp image, but you cannot sharpen a mushy image.
I'll be trying to implement advice and progress further during the next four months.
Barry
First forget at the moment, what Mike and myself have said above, even tho’, Mike touched on what I’m about to suggest.
Let me start with an analogy. Interior decoration is very similar to photography, particularly when it comes to a feeding station, 90% of the finished product is in the preparation, so think about your preparations, and do them slowly and thoroughly.
Photography is all about light and how it illuminates your subject.
Find your location and in your minds eye, position the “killing zone” and where the hide will be. Take a compass with you, the sun rises in the east sets in the west, the compass could help you decide the final positions of the “kill zone” and your hide with reference to shadows etc. which will fall on the site. If its winter don’t forget that trees etc. will be in leaf. If you have trouble, visualising the “kill zone” re the hide. Ram a stick in the ground where you perches will be, and put your coat over it, now go to where the hide will be and look back at your perch location, using your compass if necessary. Look for shadows and where they will fall and when.
Any wild life coming to your site will want to feel secure, so cover when approaching is important. But that can be sorted later. Light and how it falls is the main criteria to bear in mind.
If you get the basics right, then what Mike said re low shutter speed and mush etc. will fade away.
Make the design of your “kill zone” adaptable, you will want different perches, and don’t forget water, very attractive to wildlife.
Hope this helps.