tbelleza

<p>I am flying into Minneapolis - St. Paul airport this Sunday for business in Minnesota and Iowa during the week. I have time to stop and take wildlife photos. I am particularly interested in the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge which adjoins the MSP airport. I am told that there are nesting bald eagles in the refuge. If there are, I will appreciate tips on locations where the probability of capture is great.<br>

I will also spend a day across the stateline in northern Iowa and would like some tips on Walnut State Wildlife Management Area and any other areas of interest along I-35 south from MSP to northern Iowa and in the Mankato, MN area.<br>

I am assembling a portfolio of raptors worldwide.<br>

Thanks for your tips.</p>

<p>I am going on a four day boat trip to Sundarbans National Park and Tiger Reserve in India next month in hopes of a few Bengal Tiger captures. Tips from anyone who has taken this trip is most appreciated. Thanks in advance.</p>

<p>I am spending next week in the Ft. Collins - Wellington, CO area on business and will appreciate any information on surrounding areas for wildlife photography, especially raptors. Thanks.</p>

<p>In my hands unskilled as they are, with my eyes, and on my 1DMkIII and 20D, my 300/2.8LIS tops my other supertele and my 135/2.0L tops my 2 other shorter focal length primes.</p>

<p>Driving north on US41 from Fresno to Yosemite next week and planning to cross Tioga pass and take 395 north and turn west on US 89 and then US 4 to return home to the Calif Central Coast. I haven't been to Yosemite in almost 2 decades. I would appreciate tips on locations to photograph fall colors. Thanks</p>

<p >I just wanted to post a message regarding the outstanding service I recently received from the Canon Irvine (CA) Service Center. I have a 70-200/2.8LIS and a 500/4LIS both of which are just out of warranty. The manual focusing ring on the former felt gritty from sand due to frequent use on the beach. I wanted a inspection/recalibration of the latter. I dropped off the lenses on a Thursday and was informed that even though the lenses were just out of warranty, there would be no charge for the service. Cannon replaced the mechanical chassis on the 70-200 and cleaned/recalibrated the 500. Both lenses shipped out on the following Tuesday by FEDEX overnight to Northern California and I received them on Wednesday. Now THAT is SERVICE. I just wish the other iconic Japanese four letter brand had a fraction of the service Cannon provides.</p>

<p>I have taken a EF70-200/2.8, 300/2.8, 500/4, and a 100-400/4.5-5.6 on photo safaris to Africa. In terms of overall utility, I would pick the 100-400. Setting up tripod in a Land Rover or Land Cruiser is a pain. I find it easier to use a monopod, especially if you are not using superteles. For those African sunsets, a 17-40/4 would be good. If you're open to renting why not rent the whole set-up.?Total cost $500-600 (50D, 100-400, 17-40) for three weeks? Have a great trip!</p>

<p>I have a Jobu Design Black Widow Gimbal Head <a href="http://www.jobu-design.com/index.html">http://www.jobu-design.com/index.html</a> on my Gitzo carbon tripod. It is perfect for my 1dIII + EF500/4LIS set up. I tried the Wimberly knock off from India and did not like it one bit.</p>

<p>Juan,<br>

I have owned a 100-400/4,5-5.6 since 2001. I use a 1DIII and a 20D. Bought a 300/2.8LIS several years ago but just sold it and bought a 500/4 after a South Africa/Botswana trip because the 300 just did not have enough reach. The 100-400 is a great all around wildlife lens but just does not AF fast enough for me for birds in flight. Have taken great shots with birds perched on something. Am going out with a professional wildlife photographer this weekend in SoCal who swears by the 400/5.6 even though he owns a 500/4 and an 800/5.6. Will give you my take on Sunday night.<br>

Ted</p>

<p>I will be driving from South Lake Tahoe, CA to Bishop, CA along US 395 in three weeks and would appreciate suggestions for areas with increased opportunities to photograph bald eagles. I will have a 1DIII, 500/4, 400/5.6, 100-400/4.5-5.6, 1.4x & 2.0x TCs, monopod, and tripod with gimbal head.</p>

I use a 1.6crop body. 28-70mm/2.8L is my walkaround lens which I have used to make great family portraits: 100-400/4.5-5.6LIS and 300/2.8LIS w/ or w/o TC (1.4 or 2.0x) for wildlife; 17-40/4L for landscapes; 70-200/2.8LIS and 300/2.8LIS for sports; 135/2.0L if I want great bokeh. These preferences may change when I acquire a 5D MKII.

Agree with the previous response re: using a cheap tripod on an expensive lens. I was lucky enough to find a used GITZO 1297 Mountaineer Basalt Tripod which I paired with a Jobu Design Black Widow Gimbal Head (B&H Photo). Saved some money and it works perfect with my superteles.

Here's a picture of the open Land Rover we used in South Africa and Botswana las September.<div></div>

I have been on several African photographic safaris (these were organized for photogaphers) - twice to South Africa, once to Botswana, and twice to Kenya and Tanzania. Requirements for camera support/stabilization in Southern Africa are different from those in East Africa. Safari vehicles in East Africa are Toyota Land Cruisers or vans with sides, windows and roof hatches. You can lay your bean bag on the window sill or the frame of the roof hatch. In Southern Africa safari vehicles are open Land Rovers with no sides. There I use a monopod for my 300/2.8LIS; a tripod with a Gimbal Head for my 500/4LIS; and hand-hold everyting else of smaller size and lesser weight.

 

For an excellent discussion of the different requirements for wildlife photography in East Africa vs Southern Africa check out this website:

 

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/Safari-Tips.shtml

 

I am constantly amazed at the variety of raptors in South Africa.

 

Happy shooting.

I have not been satisfied with the color prints I have been getting lately. A

local photo lab suggested that my color monitor may need calibration and

suggested the Eye One Display 2 from X-Rite. I would like to solicit feedback

from those of you who have used this product. Thanks.

I don't consider myself an expert but have been on four photo safaris in Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana and South Africa. I have brought all the lenses and TCs mentioned in this thread except the 500 and 600mm superteles (just too big and too bulky for me). Based on my previous experience, on my trip to Southern Botswana late last summer, I brought two 1.6 crop camera bodies. Attached to one was a 100-400LIS; to the other, a 300 f/2.8LIS to which I attached a 1.4 or a 2.0x TC as needed. I also mounted that second camera to a monopod. In South Africa and Botswana, open Rovers are used which curtails use of bean bags. I came back with the best collection of captures of the Big 5 and of various raptors (Martial, Bateleur, Snake, Tawny, and Fish eagles, little sparrow hawk, etc.). The most stunning was a capture (300mm x 1.4) of a Lilac Crested Roller the stunningly colorful national bird of Botswana. Although I also own a 70-200 f/2.8 LIS, I kept it in the case most of the time. I prefer close ups of wildlife. With my 300mm f/2.8 I was able to capture a great sequence of cheetah stalking steenbok.

Nature photography is a hobby. I have dreams of making it my third career if I had the wherewithall to visit the Serengeti and similar destinations at least once a year. As busy and as consumed as I am in my second career, I would have missed countless daily "little wonders" of the world that surrounds us if nature photography were not a hobby.

Hi Adam,

 

My mistake. From San Jose, the route I described to get to Moss Landing from San Jose is

I880/US17 So to Santa Cruz and US 1 So to Watsonville/Monterey.

Hi Adam.

 

I live in the Monterey Bay Area 12 miles up the coast of Monterey Bay from the Moss

Landing/Elkhorn Slough area. The area has one of the largest colonies of sea otters on the

West Coast. Driving north on US 1 just before Moss Landing, turn right on Jetty Rd. 50 yds

from the highway is one of the best spots to observe sea otters, great blue herons and

other seabirds. Continue to the end of Jetty Rd to a lookout over the mouth of the slough

and you may see dozens of otters. Approx. 1.5 miles north is Moss Landing. Turn right on

Moss Landing Road (The Whole Enchilada Restaurant on the far corner; Moss Landing

Marina on the near corner). Right at that corner to your right is one of the best spots to

view 2-4 sea otters in the early morning. A sea lion or two may join. If you have time, visit

the Elkhorn Slough Reserve (www.elkhornslough.org). It has a thriving population of

raptors. You may take a pontoon boat ride or rent a kayak to further explore the slough.

For giant Seqouias, go north on US 1 past Santa Cruz and Davenport, turn east on Swanton

Road and follow the signs to Big Basin Redwoods State Park. You won't be disappointed.

Wave as you pass by La Selva Beach. Enjoy!!!

I am drawing up my list for Jolly St. Nick and need your collective wisdom.

When I decided to get serious with this hobby three years ago, I purchased a

20D and started accumulating good glass (28-70/2.8L, 135/2L, 70-200/4L, 100-

400/4.5-5.6LIS, 300/2.8LIS, 1.4 & 2.0 TCs). I am now in the midst of a

quandary deciding between a 1Ds MarkIII or a 500/4L and a 16-35L MkII. I am

into wildlife photography, family candids and portraits. Would like to get

into landscapes. The 20D is like a pair old running shoes. they fit and don't

give me blisters nor shin splints! Thoughts?

My wife and I just returned from Botswana and South Africa. This was our third African safari. What made this trip different from the previous two was it was organized by a local (South African) wildlife photographer/safari organizer for photographers. Our guides and drivers went through great extents to position our open vehicle to maximize the probability of a good capture (proximity to animal and angle of available light). That said, my wife and I almost exclusively used an EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5/6) and an EF 300mm f/2.8 with 1.4 or 2.0 TC. We hardly used my 70-200 f/4 since we quickly discovered that we needed as much reach as we could get. I have a very early but very good version of the 100-400 and it hardly disappoints. I can't say anything more about the 300 f/2.8 that has not been said before. IQ! IQ! IQ!

A good used EF 28-70mm f/2.8 ($700-900) would be my choice. On your XTi it would be the

equivalent of a 45-112mm. It is great walkaround lens with one of the best IQ (IMHO) of any

lens Canon makes.

I can't comment on the two books you listed. However, after reading "Understanding Exposure" I found "Learning to See Creatively" by the same author extremely helpful. In the latter, he writes about the elements of good composition.

Am interested in suggestions of locations for photographing wildlife in the

high desert areas east of San Diego (aside from Wild Animal Park).

I am interested in anyone's experience with using the new Giottos MH1300

Series II Ball Heads. I recently purchased a 300/2.8L IS and a Wimberley

Gimbal Head but am finding the latter too cumbersome to lug around for

extended periods of time.