Lesson One – It’s all worth the waiting

A picture paints a thousand words…

 

 

 

The title says it all for this image and I cannot emphasise enough, the patience needed for me to take a shot like this. These creatures are extremely quick in movement, nervous and just don’t stand still long enough to get a decent composition. As I was shooting various angles of these creatures, I noticed this subject climbing into a position that was away from the main group. I ramped the lens upto 800mm and began to follow it.

After a time it had moved around the stage, gone up and down a few times and then parked itself facing away from the lens, I thought I would burst a few frames to see if I could manage to capture anything decent; unfortunatley nothing came of them. Then just as I was about to try another angle by moving the kit around, the subject turned. The image was one of those that I couldn’t believe was happening infront of me. It was as if it had said, look mate; get the shot and then go away and i’ll sit her for a few seconds so you can get it.

I burst with the shutter, Nikon D3, ISO 400, Sigma 300mm – 800mm f/5.6 at 9 frames per second on an 8GB Lexar Digital Media CF. Focusing on the eye which even at this distance on a monopod was difficult and more look than judgement, due to the sheer weight of the equipment.

The final image, 16.67 % of the original; just tells its own story, kept in cavity, a moment of sadness, call it what you will; just captures a moment that unless I was ready I am sure I wouldnt have got. The weeping of the right eye, adds to the story being told and the background consisting of the tree bark just finishes off that final contrast and shape that the image needed.

This image will be submitted as part of my Amateur Diploma, Module IX. If you have any comments on this image, then please leave them here on the blog for others to read.

 

 

 To conclude this working set another image of these amazing creatures. Yet again, shot with the Sigma 300mm – 800mm f/5.6, the composition was the main attraction with this frame.

 

 

Composition, foreground interest and contrast made me shoot this image above. At the moment I am working on all of these images for consideration as to whether they will be submitted as part of my final presentation for this specific module of the course. Any feedback is welcome and will be included on the site.

 

Filed under: Collections, Wildlife

Wildlife Catalogue is under construction

Amateur Diploma collection starts to build for the Wildlife Section

 

 

The above image is part of the diploma catalogue that I am currently working on for final submission to my Tutor. The image, taken with the Sigma 300mm -800mm f5.6 lens is part of a series of this animal. I have chosen this one as a favourite due to it’s composition and simplicity to view. The image throws the viewer to the obvious point of interest, providing both foreground and background and tends to leave the viewer in the image for that little bit longer. Adjustments were made to the original RAW file in LR2 and then it was edited in PS CS4, with adjustments to the curves, levels and contrast. To prevent too much of a distraction a filter was added to the top left hand side of the image blendng in just enough to avoid distraction to the main subject of the frame, the rotation and transition of this was important to be able to get the final image print I wanted.

The other images that form part of my final submissions will be posted here along with the workflow I have used.

Filed under: Collections, Wildlife

Wildlife gets a new subject…(and a new lens)

Introducing the Mother of all lenses,

 

 

An image captured recently following some work I am completing on a Wildlife Module for my AP Diploma. Although this image will not be part of the final submission, it is part of the notes sections, where I am giving some thoughts and ideas as to the subject matter and what I wish to achieve.

The image above has been placed through my typical workflow with no cropping. I was concious and tried to practice getting the composition correct in the lens. this itself is challenging with a fast moving subject that just won’t stand still long enough.

Shot with the Nikon D3 and a new Sigma 300mm – 800mm f/5.6 lens, (that’s right); this lens just needed to be tested out. An immense lens offering possibilites that I could only wonder about beforehand. Shooting wildlife has been a challenge itself and given me yet more things to consider when I do this type of shoot. My nearest lens to this monster is the Nikon 80mm – 400mm f/4.5 VR, whilst in itslef is an amazing unit, sometimes it’s just not long enough to get where I want.

I spent a day photographing other wildlife with this lens and I will post some of the images I captured with the lens on the Blog. Using a Manfrotto 055MF4 tripod, I set the D3 to Aperture Priority, ISO 320 at f/5.6, shutter speed 1/750 sec and a focal length of 700mm.

I am still working through the keepers and trash that I collected, but more on this later. As I have said before, alot of photos taken on the shoot don’t make it through the selection process and as I shot the day in RAW with a bracketing compensation of -1.0EV each side of the burst, the digital film soon became full.

Other images in this shoot will be posted shortly and you will see by the focal length of the lens, it gave me photo opportunites I just couldn’t get before. It has, I am pleased to say, also given me a greater interest in wildlife photography, knowing and appreciating the type of images I can capture.

 

Filed under: Collections, Wildlife

Wildlife Collection gets some new images…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just added to the Wildlife catalogue are these great images showing a couple of giraffes, both of which are Brothers. Also featured is the image of the Emu, captured whilst on a photowalk at a Park in Europe. Shot with the D3 using the Nikon 70mm – 200mm f2.8 lens, aperture was set to 5.6, ISO 200 and sutter 1/80 sec. Due to the fence that was in the front of the bird it was difficult getting the shot without the distraction of a green meshed fence. So, standing on the wall next to the pit area and lifting the camera up in the air as high as I could, I shot about nine frames in quick concession. This was the finished article. I am pleased with the shot, as it was a bit hit and miss, but would the effort.

The giraffes were captured in various positions trying to get the best out of their composition and characteristics. More images of these will be posted shortly.

Filed under: Collections, Wildlife

Wildlife Catalogue gets a jump start…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The latest update to the collection goes to the Wildlife Catalogue, a truely great image that I am very pleased with. This image was taken using a Nikon 70mm – 200mm / f2.8 lens mounted on a Nikon D3 and handheld, ISO 200, EV +1 (1/3 stop) , f2.8 at 1/350 sec. I shot this image prone using the camera bag as support for the steady platform. It took twenty minutes to get the shot, but well worth the weight in temperatures of 32 degress celcius.

This is the first time I have ventured into wildlife photography and is relevant to one of the modules I am completing for my amateur diploma course. As the other images are processed I will post them directly to this section for views and comments.

Filed under: Collections, Wildlife