Don't make me laugh!
by David Rowe
Pointe à la Bise, Geneva, Switzerland
D4S 300mm f2.8 G ED VR2 with 2TC series 3 attached
ISO 800 1/640 at f /14.0 Matrix EV 0.00 WB Auto Hand held
RAW file original
Photoshop CS6
Today was my first session with the D4S - I have serious doubts about my glassware!
I had made many terrible practice shots of an egret, both static and dynamic. Finally I turned my attention to many shots of a very cooperative grey heron. A second heron seemed anxious to get in on the act. The major problem in this ‘one behind the other’ composition’ was limited DoF. I never remember using f 14.0 and I guess I could have gone further.
Your crits. and nits are most welcome
Comments
6 commentsThis is an excellent Title for a unique Heron image. Your DOF is amazingly good considering the 24 + or - inches of distance between the heads of the Herons. It appears your AF was locked in on the far Heron leaving the front Heron just a touch soft which is just an observation not a complaint, this works well for this image. The expression on the rear Heron is priceless as he looks at the antics of the front Heron and is the main subject IMO. I am not a fan of the concrete perch but the action of the Subjects more than makes up for it. I would consider using the Burn Tool to darken the concrete quite a bit and also giving the image a little CW rotation to level the top of the concrete.
Well done on a Cool Capture . . .
Thanks for your comment - yes the pic could do with CW rotation, 1-2°, I should have been more careful.
As a note of interest, the rightmost portion (10-15%) was reconstructed to extend the wall and suppress iron netting. Some work was done on the upper mandible of the front heron to partially compensate it's soft focus.
David
Firstly a big congrats on your new rig! You've stepped up big time! And secondly, I think this image is terrific. Yes you had to deal with DOF issues, but I think you brought it off well enough to offer a compelling image. If I may chime in a bit here on your glass, it's not the glass David, it's the TC-20E IMO. I use this glass often and with very good results, but I've learned not to couple it with the TC-20. I think if you experiment with the TC-14E II or III you'll realize much better results. And if you can get closer to your subjects to go without a TC you'll be very impressed with that lens.