It Ain't the Camera and it Ain't the Lens PART I

[Arthur Morris]

I spent the last two mornings at Fort DeSoto with just a 40D, a 1.4X II TC, and the 400 DO. First morning I brought the 3530 LS tripod with the Mongoose M3.5 and the second morning no tripod, just the ground pod. Did lots of handholding at well. Why? My right elbow has been bugging me quite a bit...

I made this single frame of an Osprey as it glided over me while quartering the wind. Canon 400mm f/4 IS DO lens with the 40D. ISO 500. Evaluative metering + 1 2/3 stops off they sky set manually: 1/1000 sec. at f/5.6. High speed synch on camera fill flash at -1 stop.

Even in the RAW, the eyes look huge and bugged out. Image quality of the 40D is simply superb. Cropped from the bottom and added canvas left. Had a few flashing highlights in the white sky.

Don't be shy; all comments welcome.

[Maxis Gamez]

Hi Artie,

I like the contrast, eye contact and very sharp. I see a slightly blue cast but that's about it for me.

[Cheryl Flory]

I have a couple questions about the flash--you used the on camera flash? It was able to reach that far?
And, I was told that there was no way to adjust the on-camera flash for shutter speeds other than 1/250th.

[Arthur Morris]

Hi Artie, I like the contrast, eye contact and very sharp. I see a slightly blue cast but that's about it for me.

Best to calibrate your monitor... The white sky is 251, 251, 251. And the brightest part of the belly is 185, 186, 184 with the blue at 184, ergo: no blue cast. :)

Used Robert O'Toole's amazing average blur trick to color balance this one so I knew that it was right on, and, I just calibrated my monitor on Tuesday. :) :)

[Daniel Cadieux]

I like this alot. I love the hint of beige/tan on the underwings. Just to confirm your white balance...I don't see a blue cast.

[Arthur Morris]

Ah, the biege: this is a recently fledged juvenile.

[Arthur Morris]

I have a couple questions about the flash--you used the on camera flash? It was it able to reach that far? And, I was told that there was no way to adjust the on-camera flash for shutter speeds other than 1/250th.

Hi C, Ah, I used my flash mounted on the camera (as opposed to using some type of flash bracket). I did not use the built in flash. As I was working fairly close to most of the birds with "only" the 400, and to keep things simple I did not use a Better Beamer.

The high end Canon flashes have a High Speed Synch setting that lets you set shutter speeds higher than the cameras synch speed. Their is a full discussion of HSS flash in Educational Resources, but first check your flash manual (if you have a flash other than the built in flash).

[Cheryl Flory]

Thanks, Artie.

[Jim Fenton]

A) I like high key images and this is no exception....was this one hand held?

B) I see no blue cast anywhere.

C) I don't like the fact that I see soo many nice images coming out of the 40D pal...I'm still in a "I'm not completely happy with my gear" sort of mode and I'm tired of thinking about it :)

[Arthur Morris]

Yes to handheld. The 40D is the first pro-sumer body that I have fallen in love with. Glad that you liked

[Nicki Gwynn Jones]

Hi Artie,
Beautiful on all counts!

[Aristotle Georgiou]

Great shot Arthur! Like the wing position, eye contact and details superb.

[Dany Tielens]

Nice image!..well done!..grtz!

[Brian Wong]

Hi Artie!

I love the wing details and the wing symmetry. Super eye contact with a perfect slight head tilt, making for a beautiful diagonal composition. I can count every feather on both extended wings!

So let's see ... If it Ain't the Camera, and it Ain't the Lens ... hummm:confused: ... then it must obviously be the perfect BIRDS you have down there posing for you in FL:):)!!!!!! Am I warm?:confused: (you know I am trying to tease :))

[Manos Papadomanolakis]

I really love the eye contact,details and wing position!!!

[Ian McHenry]

Perfect example of how to me the eyes make the picture.
Ian Mc

[Paul Pagano]

An excellent image, Artie. The eye contact is superb as is the details in the wingspan and color. It is nice to see you displaying a lot of top notch images using the 40D. I really am pleased with mine.