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Thread: Fallow fawn: Dama dama

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    Icon1 Fallow fawn: Dama dama

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    One of the biggest difficulties I experience with my fallow is the chance to just frame one individual ,it seems to be incredibly rare that this opportunity presents it's self in the big scheme. This little fella shot in the last light of the day to catch the fields we shoot over is one of those moments. Again shot with the 2Xextiii which I have been using a bit more frequently than I want of late due to the onset of rut and constantly being on foot.Choice of DOF was not really for this shot i'm working with about 40 individuals here some much closer than this when I spotted the chance of this single fawn I grabbed the chance very quickly I feel with hindsight I could have pulled back dof and had a much higher SS,but probably those seconds would have cost me this shot, The highlights are quite bright here and I wonder if I have made the image slightly on the dark side in my efforts to control them,it's actually about a15 mins to sunset if my reckoning is correct

    As so oft taken using a ditch as an approach route and cover for the stalk lying down and handheld, a slight crop basically to iron out perceived level , processed in Dpp4 There is a hilarious incident about to happen as some spooked deer entering the wood actually made such a racket they scared of their own friends from following. It seems these guys live on a knife edge,that constant state of nervousness not only makes them incredibly hard to get close to but also i'm starting to notice now really sets them apart in physicque from the more habituated parkland deer we frequently see here,they are all so incredibly fit !!
    Canon 1Div 300/2.8 extiii

    1/800
    f7.1
    iso2000

    As always thanks for all the help and thoughts on my previous posts . The rut is not yet completely over as of last night, so we are heading back again shortly in the hope of some luck

    take care

    Stu

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Stu - I like the low pov, the comp and the warm fall colors. Unfortunately, I think you have again lost sharpness due to the use of the 2x converter. I don't know if the 1DIV has micro-adjustment but if it does then it may be worthwhile for you to micro-adjust the combination of body, lens and tc to see if that may get you better results. Overall, the image feels like you exposed for the grasses rather than the deer. The deer is underexposed and dark. There's also some magenta in the whites on the deer.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Quote Originally Posted by Rachel Hollander View Post
    Hi Stu - I like the low pov, the comp and the warm fall colors. Unfortunately, I think you have again lost sharpness due to the use of the 2x converter. I don't know if the 1DIV has micro-adjustment but if it does then it may be worthwhile for you to micro-adjust the combination of body, lens and tc to see if that may get you better results. Overall, the image feels like you exposed for the grasses rather than the deer. The deer is underexposed and dark. There's also some magenta in the whites on the deer.

    TFS,
    Rachel
    Hi Rachel thanks again for this, Yes I do have MFA on the mark IV I 'll look into this,it's a real concern Rachel !! I rarely use the 2X much now,but have felt the need to with my fallow,at this time,for reasons already outlined, so much work might not measure up now Rachel,it's a huge concern for me.

    Rachel i'm aware that the little fella looks a bit dark,as I mentioned I wanted to try and get the whites under control and had concerns over whether I'd made the image too dark when posting. but what you have mentioned about taking a reading from the grass and then making a slight adjustment for the subject is something I often do ,should I amend this practice?
    As ever mate, huge gratitude for the time and honesty,hard to hear with the effort put into the deer but incredibly important for me!!

    take care

    Stu

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Stu, nicely framed and some cool light, the perspective works well and your Fieldcraft is putting you where you need to be.

    Yes I agree with you, I would have dropped to F/5.6 and gone straight to ISO1600 or 2000 to gain more SS, you can address any noise issues within DPP very easily Stu as you know, especially if you have nailed the exposure (ETTR) . If you take a few frames prior Stu you can then address the histogram if required, this will help with the next few frames after. You don't say if this is FF or a slight crop, hope it's not a big crop (doesn't look it) as you will hammer the IQ especially, with the old MKII 2x.

    The raised/bent front leg is nice and being parallel with the subject made it easier for the camera. I do think it needs a slight CW rotation, a bit too 'saturated' and you could open the whole image up by almost 2/3 of a stop and yes, some more selective sharpening to the subject, however... overall well done.

    I don't know if the 1DIV has micro-adjustment but if it does then it may be worthwhile for you to micro-adjust the combination of body, lens and tc to see if that may get you better results.
    Rachel, to my knowledge you can't, Stu's best bet if it was 'out' is to get Canon to pair both Extenders and lens to the MKIV. Canon's calibration is better than the new option of Micro Adjustments IMHO as it's all computerised, but it stall may need an odd tweak, I see you 5D has been micro adj.

    TFS
    Steve

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    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
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    I think you have put yourself in a difficult position - or rather the fallow deer did. There is a a big tonal range in the image and I would suggest expose a little more.
    (I really don't want to open an old can of worms but I strongly suspect (from personal experience) it would prove more simple to adjust the image in ACR than DPP).
    Alternatively you could make a couple (or more)of raw conversions in DPP, layer them in Photoshop and using masks retain or remove the adjusted exposures.

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    Hi Stu -- I like the low POV and agree with what others have to say . Some nice advice and you are really doing nicely day by day . Hope to see you posting more and more .

    TFS !

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    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
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    Hi Stuart, most is said above.

    Since I have a MKIV, it can be calibrated with the 2x ext. III. After this is done from Canon as Steve suggest and me too, you never will look back. It will be tac sharp with this combination. I also "used" the 300mm f/2.8 with the 2x ext. on the MKIV and was very happy with it. Bring t to Canon, the calibration does not cost to much. You will love it.

    Have a great day

    Ciao Anette

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    Stu

    Have you tried putting the lens combo on a good tripod/head to test the sharpness of the 300 f2.8 L, (plus the 2 x TC) which is a good lens

    There are simple tests that you can do in your back garden to investigate the focusing of the lens as various distances ........ with a home made device or a cheap chart

    Best

    Bill

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    Guys I'm pressed I want to post one more tonight and dwell on the thoughts here, when my eyes are open,there are many!! THANK YOU ALL
    But just brief Steve Annette i' ll speak to cannon...Elsetree Steve? Bill yes i've tried,not terribly enamoured with my tripod though, John very very base tool kit, lens camera lol nuff said.

    The image Steve i' starting to know I have a liking to slightly go under on exposure,tis not so much at capture but at processing,your reminders are timely,but tis all happening very fast,this rascal messed up umtean shots by running into frame bless,primadonna !! I'm on the edge of 30 or so about to go bang because a conker fell or such like. So litterally anything could have been happening at varying angles to the sun and dark beasts to very white,gorgeous wow. Hmmm highlights/exposure.... Maybe abit too caustious Steve ,but that would be what I'm worrying on,you can't always see them in the histogramme maybe because they are small??. i always am concerned about blowing these highlights Steve, they are very bright on some of these.



    Oh Steve yup it's there slight crop for percieved level,she's running uphill buddy that was really the only reason I made a crop at all,tried to frame the shot,but I haven't got that right either simply fix
    cheers everyone.
    so kind

    Stu

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Stu, I very much appreciate there is a lot to take in, remember, we have all been there, but we are now at different stages along the road. I've been very fortunate to have spent some key time with two great guys and rest assured, I've had my butt kick too, on silly things, good reminders .

    It's hard to say what's what in any feedback, stuff like this is on a one 2 one out in the field. Just try to keep the sun behind you, do your best in terms of the histogram and framing I think you have a good eye for and that is often the hardest part, tech stuff is easy, just plenty of practice. If you blow a little highlights don't worry, just avoid having to lighten the image and minimal cropping, crop hard, then bin, the IQ won't be there.

    You might be worrying unduly because of your monitor/PC, but if you know someone who can calibrate it for you then that would really help.

    Stu, if there is a camera club near by, someone might be off loading a tripod???


    i' ll speak to cannon...Elsetree Steve?
    Stu, I'm heading north this week, but let me know what you want doing at Canon, before you call them, drop me a line. I can't do anything on price, but if I know whats what I will try and have a word for you as they service all my kit and only 25 min drive.

    You may also want Canon to service the MKIV if you are having it calibrated, but suggest you also send in the extenders too. Although they have no moving parts, they just magnify, so any flaw is magnified, especially with that 2x, you really have to be so careful, especially when HH the kit. You need to also think about posture and breathing, sounds daft, but I kid you not.

    Cheers
    Steve

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    Ahh Steve I don't mind the odd slap, I'm much harder on me than you guys Oh ,re fieldcraft well my lass brought me down to earth recently wih this comment ,"Oh I know why you are doing so well of late on your stalking,you absolutely stink of deer",it made me laugh hence me sharing the irony is she's probably right, frankly both sets of camos reek of deer,it's nice having that second set of eyes behind me though especially at the moment.

    I'll speak to you about canon shortly Steve elsewhere,but not only might they improve things it will benefit my confidence as well as I'll know the combo will be spot on,I don't doubt the gear at all Steve I will always be the fault,but there is a variable with MFA that maybe can be improved and knowing it's right is a good thing to get sorted out. Yes I want to send the whole kit in if I possibly can.


    Steve, although I am almost always hand held and a tripod might make what I do incredibly taxing if possible at all,I try to use any means possible of locking things down.,I don't actually shoot upsupported HH very often,sure on occassion,but almost always i'm using elbows, lying or kneeling sitting off my knee. trees rocks anything that is solid i'll use to try and aid me No controlled breathing doesn't sound silly at all ,it is exactly what I try to do at shutter release my lass actually commented on this recently. That doesn't mean my technique is perfect at all mate, heat of the moment shots I may well be pulling,but anything with time involved should be very considered,it's something I have been working on I am very aware of this Steve VERY aware !!

    Thanks again, bare with me Steve long hours at the mo,grafting hard for these tools I need ,I'll be in touch shortly

    Take care

    Stu

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    OK Stu, lets talk off line as you say.

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