DavidTriplett Posted April 19, 2020 Share Posted April 19, 2020 Basic Guidelines: In the strictest sense, nature photography should not include "hand of man elements". Please refrain from images with buildings or human made structures like roads, fences, walls. Pets are not permitted. Captive subjects in zoos, arboretums, or aquariums are permitted, but must be declared, and must focus on the subject, not the captivity. Images with obvious human made elements will likely be deleted from the thread, with an explanation to the photographer. Guidelines are based on PSA rules governing Nature photography which also cover the Nature Forum. Keep your image at/under 1000 pixels on the long axis for in-line viewing. Note that this includes photos hosted off-site at Flicker, Photobucket, your own site, etc. Each member please post no more than just one image to this weekly thread per week. I'm still working on improving my wildlife shots. This week I tried a new technique: Shooting on Manual (M) mode, with Auto-ISO, fixing the aperture at the best for the subject, and selecting an optimal shutter speed for fast action (within the available light). This was shot on a D810 + Nikkor 200-500mm/5.6 @ 500mm, ISO 160, f/5.6, 1/1250s. I found this Snowy Egret actively feeding in a small ditch. Even with the excellent VR (IS) of the Nikkor lens, this image, from a series shot from a tripod, is measurably better than anything I could obtain hand-held. This week, please share the techniques you've found most helpful in obtaining your best results. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandy Vongries Posted April 19, 2020 Share Posted April 19, 2020 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidTriplett Posted April 19, 2020 Author Share Posted April 19, 2020 [ATTACH=full]1338261[/ATTACH] No doubt they'll be well-hidden come mid-November...:D 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShunCheung Posted April 19, 2020 Share Posted April 19, 2020 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill J Boyd Posted April 19, 2020 Share Posted April 19, 2020 Titmouse....Used Nikon D850, 600mm on a monopod, f/8, ISO 800. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandy Vongries Posted April 19, 2020 Share Posted April 19, 2020 No doubt they'll be well-hidden come mid-November...:D Actually, huge flocks in the area and they don't seem to be the smart, wily creatures hunters talk about. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew_morton2 Posted April 19, 2020 Share Posted April 19, 2020 Northern Harrier. Canon 77d and 100-400. New to capturing birds, so I learned a lot in the hour I spent outside trying to get a good shot of him. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger G Posted April 19, 2020 Share Posted April 19, 2020 Another Northern Harrier. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDMvW Posted April 19, 2020 Share Posted April 19, 2020 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Doo Posted April 20, 2020 Share Posted April 20, 2020 Shooting on Manual (M) mode, with Auto-ISO Love this shot! I also find shooting on Manual with Auto-ISO, Matrix +2/3 EV (expose to the right but careful not to blow out highlights), as an easy method for wildlife except BIF, which works better with manual setting with a high shutter speed, pre-focusing on a neutral object). 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Doo Posted April 20, 2020 Share Posted April 20, 2020 Elephant in its magnificent landscape. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpalmer57 Posted April 20, 2020 Share Posted April 20, 2020 Song Sparrow? 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpressionz Posted April 20, 2020 Share Posted April 20, 2020 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgelfand Posted April 20, 2020 Share Posted April 20, 2020 (edited) Taken In Jack E, Hill Park, Elk Grove, CA 10 April 2020 3:08 PM Nikon D750 1/1250 sec, f/8 ISO 560 (Auto) Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD A009N @ 200mm Range: 11.89 meters Please view full-size. Edited April 20, 2020 by bgelfand 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luis triguez Posted April 20, 2020 Share Posted April 20, 2020 kestrel 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
douglas_herr2 Posted April 20, 2020 Share Posted April 20, 2020 http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/picidae/melanerpes/formicivorus/melfor12.jpg 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cameragary Posted April 20, 2020 Share Posted April 20, 2020 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgelfand Posted April 20, 2020 Share Posted April 20, 2020 (edited) I'm still working on improving my wildlife shots. This week I tried a new technique: Shooting on Manual (M) mode, with Auto-ISO, fixing the aperture at the best for the subject, and selecting an optimal shutter speed for fast action (within the available light). This was shot on a D810 + Nikkor 200-500mm/5.6 @ 500mm, ISO 160, f/5.6, 1/1250s. I found this Snowy Egret actively feeding in a small ditch. Even with the excellent VR (IS) of the Nikkor lens, this image, from a series shot from a tripod, is measurably better than anything I could obtain hand-held. This week, please share the techniques you've found most helpful in obtaining your best results. [ATTACH=full]1338259[/ATTACH] Great shot. It is very sharp. Like you, I have been shooting in manual, selecting shutter speed and aperture while letting the camera select ISO. As an old film guy, it took a while to understand that ISO is an exposure variable along with shutter speed and aperture and not fix for the duration of the "roll". When this lockdown ends, I shall try my tripod and see if it improves the sharpness of my images. Did you have VR turned off while using the tripod? One step I take in post is to apply a camera profile to my RAW images in Lightroom. I profiled each of my lenses in full sun, shade and overcast conditions in my backyard when I purchased the lenses. The profiles seem to be valid for images taken in other locations and at other times. The seem to give the colors more "snap". I hope you and others will continue to post the technical details of your images. Edited April 20, 2020 by bgelfand 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger G Posted April 20, 2020 Share Posted April 20, 2020 [ATTACH=full]1338305[/ATTACH] Song Sparrow? It's actually a female Red-winged Blackbird 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpalmer57 Posted April 20, 2020 Share Posted April 20, 2020 Roger G, Thanks. This makes sense because there were several male Blackbirds in the same marsh displaying. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bing_huey1 Posted April 20, 2020 Share Posted April 20, 2020 Help with ID? 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordonjb Posted April 20, 2020 Share Posted April 20, 2020 Juvenile ribbon eel. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidTriplett Posted April 20, 2020 Author Share Posted April 20, 2020 Juvenile ribbon eel. That's one I haven't seen before. Very cool! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgelfand Posted April 20, 2020 Share Posted April 20, 2020 Juvenile ribbon eel. What a great picture! Wonderful color, and even though taken under water, it is crystal clear. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgelfand Posted April 21, 2020 Share Posted April 21, 2020 Actually, huge flocks in the area and they don't seem to be the smart, wily creatures hunters talk about. From what my friends who hunt say, there are always huge flocks/herds until a half-hour before sunrise on opening day, then nothing until a half-hour after sunset on closing day. ;) Me, the only thing I hunt is the wily Bullseye (I am a "paper puncher"), and it is ALWAYS elusive :) 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts