Adult loon with two chicks at about two weeks after hatch, June 27. About a week after this photo, the chicks had grown large enough that the adult refused any further security back rides. Now (August 20), the chicks are almost as long as the adults and their chocolate brown feathers have morphed into beautiful silver gray.
1DM3, 500mm, 1.4xTC, ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/8000, -0.3EV. Strong front lighting makes it tricky to keep from burning the white breast feathers.
Look at that shutter speed...a lower ISO would have been OK (although ISO 800 is nothing on this model camera!!) and lots of room to stop down the aperture to ensure adequate DOF to get the chicks in perfect focus too (their eyes seem a little softer than the adult's). Great low angle, and nice to see all the yes. Love the chick's visible foot, but perhaps toning down it's bill would be good. All in all very appealing image :-)
Well, it got an "Awwwww" out of me! how adorable. The shallow DOF makes for interesting water surface texture. I guess since I can't tell whether the chicks' eyes are in focus, maybe they're not....?? Maybe a little sharpening....
Thanks for the feedback. With the 1DM3 noise wasn't an issue at ISO 800. Could have shot at ISO400 and still have plenty of room to stop down. I was looking for a fairly shallow DOF, but this is maybe a little too shallow. ;o) Doug, this is cropped 50% from the original image.
It is very hard to hide those chests and keep the darker areas lit properly :)
I'd agree for more DOF for two reasons....
A) The chicks could be a tad sharper, although they aren't horrible (I think you could easily selectively sharpen them)
B) I far prefer to see more of the actual subject surroundings in focus.....too selective of a focus, relative to some of the surroundings simply doesn't look like what anyones eyes expect to see in reality.
two chicks aboard
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