Results 1 to 12 of 12

Thread: Red Squirrel Jump

  1. #1
    BPN Member William Dickson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Fife, Scotland
    Posts
    7,773
    Threads
    1,093
    Thank You Posts

    Default Red Squirrel Jump

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Canon R6
    f/4 400mm DO Mk2
    f/4
    1/4000
    ISO 3200

    This is from the set up.. I thought I would try something different from the birds. There are some Red Squirrels coming in, and with the help of some hazelnuts I managed to get them to jump from one branch to another, a distance of about 4 feet.. This is the first time I have tried this, and found it difficult to lock focus to start with. Eventually I got the hang of it and got some keepers. I thought 1/4000 would have been enough, but I see motion blur on the front feet. I'll go faster next time. AED and tracking on. Gimbal Head. Almost FF. ACR and PS.

    Will

  2. #2
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Somewhere in the world
    Posts
    20,551
    Threads
    1,285
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Will a great attempt, nice stretched out subject, conveys the jump nicely with the front feet spread out with another killer backdrop.

    Processing looks good, I just think a tad more sharpening and a bit more depth of colour in the fur, it just looks a bit light, but not by much.

    This is the first time I have tried this, and found it difficult to lock focus to start with.
    Lets see what others suggest, I've given you mine, but other may have different ideas re Cases, F/stop, focusing etc.

    Overall grand job, just need to hone things a bit more, if not book a day with Neil, he'll be your man as you know.

    TFS
    Steve
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

  3. #3
    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Cheshire UK
    Posts
    17,017
    Threads
    2,604
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Super shot Will for me I think the expression is a bit peely wally, a little more pop I think.

  4. #4
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Somewhere in the world
    Posts
    20,551
    Threads
    1,285
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Jon can you pop in your thoughts on how he might improve AF. I refrained because folk just say what I have said, so I kept my powder dry, as he already knows it. Thanks
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

  5. #5
    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    7,738
    Threads
    455
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Awesome shot Will

    And yes to a bit more 'pop', maybe a tad more sharpening too, looks great to me and pose is superb, great BG, well exposed, nice colours
    Gabriela Plesea

  6. #6
    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Cheshire UK
    Posts
    17,017
    Threads
    2,604
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Steve Kaluski View Post
    Jon can you pop in your thoughts on how he might improve AF. I refrained because folk just say what I have said, so I kept my powder dry, as he already knows it. Thanks
    I am slightly hesitant as I am no longer familiar with Canon AF settings/options, I can offer a couple of principal considerations.
    The first choice would be AF or MF. Staring with MF if you have set up a scenario where the subject is traversing from point A to point B I would try to orientate the camera to give the optimal angle, this may not be perpendicular to the travel of the subject but slightly to one side so that a slightly head on view could be obtained baring in mind light direction). I would place a stick or a cane in the anticipated direction of the subject and then focus on that and then ensure the camera was set to AF or back button focus. The stick/cane would then be removed and then it is a waiting game. Depending upon camera features/characteristics it is simply a case of pressing the shutter to include the ideal capture during the traverse of the subject. Olympus offers ProCapture AF/MF and I think Canon Nikon and Sony now have similar features. Shutter speed is key, a fast shutter speed will nail it if timing and angles are correct.
    The alternative way is to use AF and in this case I would use ProCapture with AF this gives 50/60 fps raw file capture with AF. In this scenario my personal choice would be to either keep the camera static and get the subject just after take off or pan hoping that you can keep the subject in the frame. This latter approach is slightly more hit and miss but with a high frame rate the chances are that you would nail the focus at some time.
    Focus sensitivity and object selection settings are a mixed feast, some advocate higher sensitivity so the camera is influenced not to move from the subject's eye to something else and some people regard higher sensitivity as a good means of following the eye. This is where sensitivity and selectivity has to be born in mind and which features are available on the camera.
    The key to success would be to try and try again noting what settings were used and analysing the results and then subsequently changing any settings that may be required to maximise success. The electronic shutter is a saviour in this instance as there is no wear and tear on the camera as is the case with mechanical shutter. This translates to take plenty of images, shoot before the anticipated action through to where the action takes place. Panning with the subject will obviously more difficult with faster subjects than slower and the larger the subject is in the frame the harder it will be to nail the focus because subject movement across the focal plane will be faster.
    Hope this offers a little insite.

  7. #7
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Somewhere in the world
    Posts
    20,551
    Threads
    1,285
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks Jon, the reason I suggested was that you too shot jumping reds with Canon, so worth a punt.

    At least Will has something to ponder on.
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

  8. #8
    BPN Member William Dickson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Fife, Scotland
    Posts
    7,773
    Threads
    1,093
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks for that, much appreciated. Steve and Jon. Great advice re the focusing. I will be going to the set up in the near future and will try out all the focus tips from the both of you. Hopefully, after trying them out, I will find out which is best for me. I will also be photographing them coming towards me. The attached image is one I captured last time at the set up. Just before take off. It's the only one I was happy with regarding focus. The squirrel jumped higher than I expected, and I missed them all. For these shots, if the light is available, I'll try f/8. The attached image is f/5.6, 1/4000, ISO 3200 at 400mm.

    Thanks again.

    Will

    Name:  Ready-to-jump.jpg
Views: 41
Size:  578.0 KB

  9. #9
    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Cheshire UK
    Posts
    17,017
    Threads
    2,604
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Will another pointer for scenarios like this is the focus limiter, there are ranges on the lens but I suspect you can also tailor make the range in camera, I have three I can preset on mine so I use a close one for things like butterflies, a short one for hide work and then a longer distance one that is sometimes more suited out in the field. I can use the camera to measure the distance I am interested in and then set the min/max focus accordingly. Nice shot above - love the tufts.

  10. #10
    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    7,738
    Threads
    455
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by William Dickson View Post
    Thanks for that, much appreciated. Steve and Jon. Great advice re the focusing. I will be going to the set up in the near future and will try out all the focus tips from the both of you. Hopefully, after trying them out, I will find out which is best for me. I will also be photographing them coming towards me. The attached image is one I captured last time at the set up. Just before take off. It's the only one I was happy with regarding focus. The squirrel jumped higher than I expected, and I missed them all. For these shots, if the light is available, I'll try f/8. The attached image is f/5.6, 1/4000, ISO 3200 at 400mm.

    Thanks again.

    Will

    Name:  Ready-to-jump.jpg
Views: 41
Size:  578.0 KB
    Love this image Will sharp where most needed and great pose, love the OOF BG! Super cute!
    Gabriela Plesea

  11. #11
    BPN Member William Dickson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Fife, Scotland
    Posts
    7,773
    Threads
    1,093
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks Jon and Gabriela. Much appreciated.

    Hi Jon. Re the focus limiter. like yourself, I have it set accordingly, . With the lens EF adapter I found that this changes the min focus length.

    Will

  12. #12
    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Indian Lake Estates, FL
    Posts
    32,506
    Threads
    1,433
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I love all the squirrel images. For the original post, I wish that the BKGR were more solidly green -- that might be addressed with a Linear Gradient during the raw conversion in Photoshop. Also in the OP I wish that the red guy was angled slightly more toward you (and us). Otherwise quite pleasing.

    with love, a
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

    BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.

    Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,

    E-mail me at samandmayasgrandpa@att.net.










  13. Thanks William Dickson thanked for this post

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics