Posted by Ian Mason on December 1, 2011 at 9:20 AM
1D Mk iv, 300mm f4 is, 1/640s, f4, iso 400
The first from an new and experimental pond set up. Unfortunately birds are few a far between at the moment. It's definitely colder today though, so hopefully that will attract more soon.
Posted by Matt Cole on December 1, 2011 at 9:26 AM
that's very nice Ian and your set-up looks very promising. I look forward to seeing more.
Matt
Posted by John Robinson on December 1, 2011 at 10:16 AM
Good one Ian. Interesting perch. Not sure about it but no big deal.
Looks like you've gone for the low level set up. Look forward to some great reflections !!!
JR
Posted by Ian Mason on December 1, 2011 at 10:26 AM
Hi John
Yes, it's ultra-low-level, and focussing is a real challenge. Most shots look this this ( I call it art myself ). Hopefully the reflections will be sufficiently diffuse but so far every shot is very different. This is actually the ONLY bird I have so far
A lovely shot Ian and your setup looks very promising. A slight nit is that I'd like to have seen the right hand foot in focus seeing as the left one is, but I'm sure that will come
Posted by Neil Burton on December 1, 2011 at 11:49 AM
Please zoom out and get some reflections ;) I do like it. It is so warm here not even the sparrows are coming down.
Very different Ian and very nice too. I'm so used to seeing your wildfowl images in this form that somehow the tit seems a bit strange . . . . almost as if it should be a duck !
A work in progress and looks like we are going to be seeing some great images... at the moment I am not sure about the perch, it just doesn't look right somehow, but I am sure that will get perfected as the project continues... Why is focussing a challenge? Can you not select an appropriate point, and fine tune manually? Curious and interested...
Echo everyone's comment re perch but otherwise a different and pretty image.
Posted by Nick Mckeown on December 1, 2011 at 3:30 PM
Different image Ian and like the others not sure about the perch coming out of the water like Excalibur! However if you had a full height total reflection that could be very interesting! Looking forward to more images, keep them coming Sir!
Message for Neil: It was only 5 degrees here today with squally snow showers at higher level. My sparrows were queuing up at my feeder this morning!
Nick.
Posted by Ian Mason on December 1, 2011 at 3:35 PM
Thanks all. I have a few perches in mind and it's good to get feedback. Focus is difficult for a number of reasons. The intention is to blend the water seamlessly with the background. This requires the water to flow over the back and front edges of the "pond" and the lens axis to be at water level (infinity pond). The autofocus is therefore thrown by the edge of the pond and the water surface. At present, I am using a beanbag, which interferes with the manual focus ring. DOF is very small, so pre-focussing on the perch is likely to miss the eye. Finally, birds are so scarce at the moment I get bored out of my mind waiting for one to land, and I need to take the occasional shot of a magpie or something, which messes up any previous settings!
Posted by Nick Mckeown on December 1, 2011 at 3:46 PM
Goodness Ian you have set yourself a challenge! I know what you mean about getting bored waiting for birds to land. I end up reviewing my images on the rear screen, look up and the bird is there in the perfect pose....total panic! I am sure it will be worth it in the end.
Nick.
Posted by Dave Bartlett on December 1, 2011 at 4:08 PM
Sounds like a fascinating project Ian. I spent ages assembling a new setup for the winter and have also had hardly any visitors - the feeders were packed this time last year (and every other year!). Hopefully things will improve soon. I like the image as it stands; the perch did make me think, but then its different, which is good!
Dave
Posted by Paul Whippey on December 1, 2011 at 5:07 PM
Sounds like an extremely technical setup Ian. The results speak for themselves though. Looking forward to seeing some more of the fruits of your efforts!
Posted by David Sewell on December 1, 2011 at 5:42 PM
All sounds very technical to me, but I do like the result even if I agree about the perch looking a little odd. Still, I will look forward to seeing how this series develops.
Going to be away for a while... Ian can you not just use a single focus point above and away from the waters edge?
Posted by Guy Rogers on December 3, 2011 at 5:06 PM
Hello Ian.
Its an excellent start and your setup looks promising the perch may seem a little strange not to sure why but it does make a very attractive image so it works for me.
Discussion
16 repliesThe first from an new and experimental pond set up. Unfortunately birds are few a far between at the moment. It's definitely colder today though, so hopefully that will attract more soon.
Matt
Looks like you've gone for the low level set up. Look forward to some great reflections !!!
JR
Yes, it's ultra-low-level, and focussing is a real challenge. Most shots look this this ( I call it art myself
Looking forward to seeing how this progresses...
Message for Neil: It was only 5 degrees here today with squally snow showers at higher level. My sparrows were queuing up at my feeder this morning!
Nick.
Nick.
Dave
David
Its an excellent start and your setup looks promising the perch may seem a little strange not to sure why but it does make a very attractive image so it works for me.