Canon 40D
1/640s
f/20
Canon 100 - 400 MM
ISO 500 (overcast)
360 MM
-1EV (Av)
HH
This resting Gull on a gravel bank was an easy target for my second post. I did the following per your suggestions:
* low to the ground
* practice shot and set histogram - very little moved into the final section
* ensured sun was behind me (for the most part) I removed some shadow
* Sharpened eye and added a pinch of color
* Image was cropped
Thanks for your help. I am trying to improve and realize this shot is very amateur and needs improvement. I seek your comments and suggestions.
One more thing, when using Al Servo and high-speed modes today, several times I noticed in Light Room II, the center point of focus was on the subject's eye, however the eye was still fuzzy. Besides being HH, are there issues using Al Servo with a subject at rest. What else could produce an OOF result when the center mark was dead on, besides the guy on the other end.
jeff, first thing i notice is f/20. you should open up wide open on shots like this to blur the bg as much as possible. would give you much faster ss a sharper eyes on those shots you are referring to.
Jeff - Lots to like here - composition is interesting, exposure looks good, like the low angle. So the softness is a bummer. Obviously there could be several reasons why this is happening. Because everything in the image is soft, I'm thinking perhaps the hh wasn't solid enough. Maybe try again with a tripod and compare the results? Not everyone likes the Canon 100-400 but I've found that it can get tack sharp images. With the same rig (same camera & same lens) I seem to get sharper images with AF rather than A1 Servo (no idea why). What was Image Stabilization setting, 1 or 2?
Isn't this a fun hobby (smile)
Gail
The IS was set to 1,(what say you)? I agree with you one the f/20. In my last post expanding the DOF was suggested and I fell asleep at the switch, f/20 to too restrictive. Nice catch, thank you both.
Jeff, this is posted in the educational forum-it is written by Art Morris and I believe he is on to something-I shoot w/ Canon 40D and 100-400mm also and I am sure he is correct about AI Servo-read on.. Thanks. There is a huge and important lesson here that most folks overlook. When you are attempting to make a sharply focused image when hand-holding it is imperative to use AI Servo AF with Canon or C with Nikon. Though you think you are standing still, your body is actually swaying all the time. So from the time that you focused (probably and correctly on the bird's eye), you moved a bit changing the distance between the imaging sensor and the subject's eye. This the tail is sharp and the eye is un-focused.
Even better would be to use a tripod especially at such a slow shutter speed. Then you can confidently use One-Shot AF (or S for Nikon), recompose, and create a sharply focused image. The problem with using AI Servo or C in situations like this is that the AF systems have a big problem focusing accurately in low-light/low contrast...
Best to use a tripod and One-Shot (or C) in low light. I will be copying this thread to the Educational Resources Forum so that all can learn from it.
I first realized the problem on my Wild Britain cruise this past June when I was handholding the 400 DO with the 40D and using One-Shot AF. I was mystified as to why I had so many poorly focused images... Another important lesson the I learned in the aftermath is that if you need to use One-Shot (or C) that it is imperative to brace your elbow on your knee or something else like a railing if possible, but even then, there is usually enough movement to throw off he focus... And the lonver the effective focal length, the greater the problem.
I will add an image or two with additional comments to the copied thread.
As for learning to optimize your images, I wrote the Digital Basics File for folks like you. You are advised to check it out on the home page.
__________________
later and love, artie......... Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Great information sharing. Today, it was overcast, that could have been a contributing factor to the Al Servo OOF issue. I am going same place tomorrow and like or same weather is forecasted. Hence, I will use one-shot with the Gitzo/Mongoose combination. I will also switch to the 400 mm prime after benchmarking the 100 - 400 with today's data.
On balance, when HH'ing use Al Servo in bright light. In a low light environment and HH'ing, if one-shot is selected brace myself. Probably best practice to brace myself when HH no matter what the AF mode as well.
What is' Digital Basis File", I will research, do you use this documentation and does it address things of this nature?
The first thing that jumps out is the f 20 Don't think there is any reason for stopping down so much, maybe one stop max. Remember you will also be bringing the bg into focus which is not a good thing.
Getting low is relative, this in not made at ground level. Get on your belly and make the image, perspective will be incredible.
IS wise you leave it on two and that is it. With the old IS you had to switch from one to two depending on tripod or not. Sometimes from flight you can switch off for better AF performance.
The overall image doesn't look sharp Did you say this is only 5% of the image? You want to end up with about 75 % or more Large crops are not a good idea since you are only fooling yourself, if you ever want to do a good size print it useless !!!
Focusing wise remember to use the focus lock to bear down on the eye then recompose. I like it better than going to one shot. If the birds moves and you have action it would be lost for certain.
Support wise do try anything to make images sharper. On the ground your elbows will do, for standing hold the lends toward the end of the barrel, lots of little things !!! Every time you go out make a few at a lower than normal shutter speed for a test, something easy to check !!!
I think everything is covered..So I'll just add my 2 cents on what Artie said on AL Servo. He's right! (course he would be:)) I am in Al Servo all the time, I know I sway, and it also works pretty well with flowers and mild wind..the wind is always blowing some here.
Easy Target - Resting Gull
Jeff, this is posted in the educational forum-it is written by Art Morris and I believe he is on to something-I shoot w/ Canon 40D and 100-400mm also and I am sure he is correct about AI Servo-read on.. 
