Posted by Craig McCann on February 16, 2010 at 5:36 AM
Half term is here! This week I'm hoping to be out as much as possible to try and get some stuff for WPOTY.
Went for a ride out yesterday for some Hares, though the conditions weren't favourable, so I went after some Grouse on the near-by moor. The fog was fairly dense and the snow was falling steadily, not the ideal conditions for crawling around the moors!
Canon EOS 1D Mk III + Canon 500 mm f/4.0 (not mine!)
AV, ISO 250 @ 1/13
frying pan with ball head screwed on
C&C welcomed & appreciated,
Craig..
Posted by John Chapman on February 16, 2010 at 7:14 AM
I'm afraid I'm with John on this one, regarding it not working.
I've been in the same situation many times when photographing deer. The early morning mist and fog makes a stunning, surreal and atmospheric setting when the whole of the scene is taken in with our eyes. The trouble is when you try and go in close to your subject with a long lens, the foggy atmosphere just doesn't really come across. It unfortunately gives the impression that the image may be missing the necessary contrast adjustment, rather than being captured in a foggy situation. At least it does when the image isn't accompanied by a description outlining the shooting conditions or the photographers intention.
IMHO, the portrait, such as this, would work much better when the air is clear and crisp.
Perhaps, in conditions such as fog, it may be worth going for the wider picture showing the bird in it's (foggy) environment.
I like the pose and composition very much, but agree the 'magic' you may have experienced has not come over as well as you wanted. I tried a Ps tweak on it and adjusted the levels and contrast and it certainly whacks up the presence of the image, but it makes it a wholly different image. Not better or worse, just different.
I'm not quite sure - you can perhaps comment - but I think you might have used too slow a shutter speed at 1/13 which might have allowed the snow to blur to invisibility, when a faster speed may have allowed them to record which may have added something extra to the image.
Still a nice shot though!
Posted by Dawn Monrose on February 16, 2010 at 1:09 PM
This is a nicely composed shot, although I agree that it doesn't portray what I think you were hoping it too. At close range like this, the fog just makes the image look washed out. As mentioned, a small tweak to levels and contrast, and you have a very nice grouse portrait, but I can see you were going for something more atmospheric.
Still a nice shot, hope to see some more from your half term outings!
Posted by Craig McCann on February 17, 2010 at 4:10 AM
Hi everyone,
Firstly thanks very much for the C&C and advice! I'm always up for learning new things!
Secondly, I now see where everyone is coming from and went back out yesterday in slightly better conditions!
Discussion
5 repliesWent for a ride out yesterday for some Hares, though the conditions weren't favourable, so I went after some Grouse on the near-by moor. The fog was fairly dense and the snow was falling steadily, not the ideal conditions for crawling around the moors!
Canon EOS 1D Mk III + Canon 500 mm f/4.0 (not mine!)
AV, ISO 250 @ 1/13
frying pan with ball head screwed on
C&C welcomed & appreciated,
Craig..
I've been in the same situation many times when photographing deer. The early morning mist and fog makes a stunning, surreal and atmospheric setting when the whole of the scene is taken in with our eyes. The trouble is when you try and go in close to your subject with a long lens, the foggy atmosphere just doesn't really come across. It unfortunately gives the impression that the image may be missing the necessary contrast adjustment, rather than being captured in a foggy situation. At least it does when the image isn't accompanied by a description outlining the shooting conditions or the photographers intention.
IMHO, the portrait, such as this, would work much better when the air is clear and crisp.
Perhaps, in conditions such as fog, it may be worth going for the wider picture showing the bird in it's (foggy) environment.
I'm not quite sure - you can perhaps comment - but I think you might have used too slow a shutter speed at 1/13 which might have allowed the snow to blur to invisibility, when a faster speed may have allowed them to record which may have added something extra to the image.
Still a nice shot though!
Still a nice shot, hope to see some more from your half term outings!
Firstly thanks very much for the C&C and advice! I'm always up for learning new things!
Secondly, I now see where everyone is coming from and went back out yesterday in slightly better conditions!
Thanks again,
Craig..