Saby, One of your best tiger in habitat image to date. Staying this this loose crop, I would take a bit more off on the left to get rid of that near OOF tree. You have a few different effective crops in this image you could explore but I like this one with the soft look the leaves create in the image. Nicely done.
Sabyasachi, I love this! The tigers face and eyes are engaging. Agree with OOF branch on left-but I like this crop and the inclusion of the environment!
Beautiful Tiger and enviromental portrait. I agree with Robert on cropping off the left side. I see an awesome square image, by taking it all off the left side. Just a thought!
Best,
Howard.
Agree with Robert on this being one of your best and removal of the OOF tree. I like the soft light, it goes well with the relaxed look of the tiger. Interesting stripe pattern on this one, it really jumped out to me.
It is a great photo, and I agree with the cropping suggestions.
Technical questions:
1. I am reading your description - EF 1.4xII as indicating you stacked two 1.4 teles. I note that you do this a lot with the 70 - 200 f/2.8 from a review of the images in your wonderful website. Is there a benefit other than 2 x 1.4 = 2.8 as a choice to use 2 x 1.4 instead of a different combination, for example a 1.4 and a 2X?
2. Does the use of 2 x 1.4 significantly affect IQ - the images on your website appear quite sharp as compared to using either only one teleconverter, or using two different teleconverter combinations? Basically, since the images on the website already appear quite sharp with the 1.4xII, would they appear significantly sharper if you used a longer prime lens with out the teles?
3. While everything about the tiger is in clear focus, would it be wrong to describe the focus as a bit "soft"? I am not referring to any specific portion of the tiger's anatomy, clearly we see the eyes, stripes, and whiskers; just an overall feeling. This image does not appear to be quite as sharp or popping out as some of the images on your website.
I hope my questions do not detract from a wonderful image, and are not taken as being critical of the image. I am asking to learn!
Saby, I have enjoyed your website, and hope to meet you someday. My son-in-law's family (marriage was August '08 - they live in Oakland, CA) comes from the Chennai region.
Jay,
The EF1.4xII is the Mark II version of the 1.4x converter. So when I write EF 1.4xII I mean to say that I have used the version 2 of the 1.4x converter for a focal length of 560mm. I never use stacked Converters. I had tried using a 1.4x and 2x converter and have found the results wanting. So never used them.
I use the 2x Converter (version 2) with the 400mm f2.8 L IS lens and have got great results and regularly use it. Will post some images with the 2x converter attached later.
The 400mm f2.8 lens helps in photographing in low light (early in the morning and late in the evening). I have used the 400mm at the f2.8 aperture and have got great results.
In this case, I could have gone much closer to the tiger. However, I wanted this composition. So moved my vehicle farther away. I could have used the 2x converter as well, but I wanted more space around it. I tried ISO 200 but the image appeared marginally soft on the eyes. So used ISO 400 and found this to be sharp on the eyes. The light was soft. I didn't increase the contrast. The 1D Mark II files are a bit soft compared to other cameras. However, I never sharpen except for the default sharpening in lightroom (Amount 25, Radius 1, Details 25, Masking 0).
In this image, increasing the contrast gives a feeling of increased sharpness. However, I preferred this version as the overall feeling of softness was getting reduced with increase in contrast. Ofcourse, I do have images in this series that are a bit soft and hence discarded. I was knowingly photographing at this shutter speed (1/80th) and was trying to discipline myself. Had set up my Gitzo and Wimberly on the vehicle (I have a modified vehicle with seats removed to make space for me and get lower angle)
Please shoot any questions that comes to your mind. I don't get annoyed, as I learn when people question me. I am happy that you liked my site. It is a small effort towards conservation in India. It would be a pleasure to meet you. The world is small. So I am sure we will be meeting someday.
This has a marvelous mood, and captures the Tiger's environment perfectly. I do agree with almost everybody else that a small crop from the left would improve the image. I have to admit to not being able to find it on your website, can you give me a clue?
Tiger in Environment
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