This normally placid young buffalo had a few seconds of playing in the snow.
I am having a difficult time getting these photos right, and although this one is one of my better ones so far, it is far from a good photo.
I would like to go back and get better pictures, how would I do that? (In addition to a change of angle lol)
ISO 100
28mm
exposure correction -.67
metering mode: Partial
1/3200
f5.0
(lots of lightening of the buffalo in PS and cloning the snow)
I'm mostly tuning in to see others' answers on this one, but my thoughts are that you should expose for the buffalo and check your histogram to make sure you're getting it right. Maybe manual exposure even? That would probably end up with blown out snow unless you are there during really soft light conditions.
You could always take a few good exposures of the snow and combine them with images of the subject if you don't mind that sort of thing.
Would go along the line Jim suggested Meter on the snow and open up one and one half stop Check histogram Manual exp works great under these conditions
First thing get the correct exposure With you settings the image should have been under exposed You are compensating - 2/3 from meter reading In bright snow the meter reading might be correct as is With any sort of cloud cover you will be opening at leas one (possibly more) In any way do check the histogram and make sure there is data all the way to the right into the fifth box After getting the histogram you can concentrate on the action
Would have tried a lower angle and getting the animal looking more toward the camera Just like in birds !!! You did capture a good position !!!
I checked my histogram while shooting, and this exposure correction kept the snow from overexposing. I was just hoping I could lighten the buffalo enough in PS.
When I had a correction of .67, f8, 1/1250, ISO 400, the buffalo was just a little bit dark but there was still detail in the snow.
When I had no correction, f5.6, 1/100 ISO 100, the buffalo was a bit too bright and the snow was overexposed.
With the correction of -.67, ISO 100, f5.0, 1/200 the buffalo showed up the best, but of course no detail in the snow.
Jim,
You said "You could always take a few good exposures of the snow and combine them with images of the subject if you don't mind that sort of thing.[/quote]"
Tough to get that right in one shot without using some fill flash. I think the range between light and dark was too wide. I played around with some quick adjustments in PS and came up with this.
Steve
Living here in Maine and having tons of snow with bright sunny conditions, it is important to understand that the 2 extremes will mean a compromise of sorts when you want a buffalo with snow in the same frame. I have the pleasure of photographing them about 2 hours from home up north Maine in very deep snow country. You are going to have to spend days just sitting there watching and waiting for them to do something you want them too. And most importantly for the right light to come along. You will want filtered light, light cloudy skies and for the subject to be turned toward you and preferably close as possible, depending on what lens you use. Leave off the converters and use a prime lens and a 100-400, 28-135, put it on a tripod and wait, patience is key here. Tame buffalo will just sit around for the most part. If they have food brought to them and water nearby, they will stay in that spot for the most part.
I use a Canon MK2n with a 300 2.8, or my 100-400, 28-135, all with IS and L glass. What are you using, make, model #, lens? That kind of information will help us give you better pointers. A side note, stay at 400 ISO and shoot AV mode, dial in your exposure, go F 8.0 for starters. You might have to go +1 or even 2 stops of overexposure in bright sun to show up details in the darker buffalo. Of course that will not give you much for details in the snow. That is why you need soft light for the 2 extremes.
Hope this helps. Don't ever give up and keep posting. This is one of the best sites out there.
making snow angels
