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Beaver reflection alternative

Discussion

4 replies
Posted by john macpherson on November 12, 2009 at 5:09 PM
Whilst Ian H (post below) was lurking in the long grass and fighting off those less perspicacious photogs who wanted his (excellent) spot, I'd given up on the beaver queue as my puny 300f2.8 was too short to get decent images. My 1DMk2 had packed in after two days, and the 1Ds2 with 300 and either of the tc's required too high iso for decent images so I decided on a different mission. I'd noticed there was a great deal of insect actvity and a regular patrol by several dragonflies, at least one of which I was determined to ambush. So prefocused on a gap in the grass at waters edge and waited. As Ian notes, we were there for a couple of hours, but I got it. The little oof thingies against the dark bground might be visually intrusive, but for the dragonfly they meant supper!

1DsMk2, 300f2.8 & TC1.4x, 1/750th @f5.7, ISO 100.
Posted by Ian Haskell on November 12, 2009 at 5:21 PM
Hi John, pleasure to spend some time with you on this trip! I respect your creativity in your photography...its taught me to think differently about what I take. I wouldn't say your 300 is puny. I really like this shot and remember seeing the dragonfly buzzing around more than I saw the beaver. Fantastic shot by the way especially as it has a monochomatic feel to it and tells a story too. Thanks for a good time and excellent guidance. :cool:

Ian :toast:
Posted by john macpherson on November 12, 2009 at 6:36 PM
Well Ian you did a damn sight better with the beaver than I did! The best shot I got there was the one I took with your camera! You really did need the 500 though - I was just getting a smudge in the frame with the 300 on the FF camera. That beaver shot of yours though is very clean - really impressive - way better than I would have expected - I just forget how much the 1D3 is improved over the 2 series cameras in low light. I think you found the best angle too, but I could not resist the dragonflies!
Posted by Craig Jones on November 12, 2009 at 6:56 PM
Love the framing to this image/subject,works very well and the light makes the image IMO,very nice :wink: :wink: :wavey:
Posted by Dawn Monrose on November 13, 2009 at 10:44 AM
Very nice, artistic shot. Love the backlighting, but the dragonfly is just a bit too central for me. However, I really like the way the grass/reeds frame it!