Results 1 to 23 of 23

Thread: Surfing the breaker

  1. #1
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Posts
    1,042
    Threads
    100
    Thank You Posts

    Default Surfing the breaker

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Canon 40D, Canon 300mmf4 IS lens, shutter speed 1/2000s, f7.1, iso 400, handheld from an inflatable boat, 12h05, 4 June 2009. Location Wild Coast, Eastern Cape, South Africa. This bottlenosed dolphin was jumping clear of a breaking wave. Any c and c appreciated. I don't have as much experience with shooting in the marine environment as I do with terrestrial African wildlife but I love doing it. Am heading back to the same area for June 2010, so want some ideas for this years shooting. Thanks
    Grant


    www.grantatkinson.com

  2. #2
    BPN Viewer Tom Graham's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Southern California, Orange County
    Posts
    1,116
    Threads
    33
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Well, you're ahead of me, I've never tried the "marine environment". I can think of nothing more difficult that shooting under water. Anyway, I like this but don't like the tree line. I'd rather see all water or water and sky, no trees please :) . (Because trees remind me of bird pictures??? Oh, oh, for sure wrong place to say that !!! :) )
    Tom

  3. #3
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Somewhere in the world
    Posts
    20,551
    Threads
    1,285
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I think you have done remarkably well here Grant. My only comment would be just to track it as you pan, then rattle off the shots as soon as it appears close to/breaking the surface and beyond. Keep the lens on servo too, to aid tracking. Not sure if you have sharpened the whole image or not, would only have done the Dolphin? A circular polariser would also help if you have not already used one. BTW, the trees don't bother me.

    TFS
    Steve ;)
    Last edited by Steve Kaluski; 05-11-2010 at 07:20 AM.
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

  4. #4
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Posts
    1,042
    Threads
    100
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Tom, thanks for that..your comment is noted. I will see what else comes up in terms of comments before I crop. My thought was to include the dynamic shape of the breaking wave behind, but could be I was trying to get too much in, thanks again for your thoughts. I don't do any shooting underwater yet, just from the boat.
    cheers
    Grant

  5. #5
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Posts
    1,042
    Threads
    100
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Steve, thanks for your comments. I always use Ai Servo, and the hard part here is the dolphins are only visible to me from the boat as the wave starts to build. As is steepens, they slide down inside it, I lose sight of them, then at the second it begins to break, they jump out the back side of it. What I looked for was groups of dolphins, then when the first one leaped clear, I tried to anticipate where and when the next one would come. The waves are breaking away from my position in the boat, and the dolphins at this place only jump clear of the water out the backside of the breaking wave. Sounds complicated I know but it is fun trying. I messed up a shot with 6 simoultaneously in the air from this same wave! About the polariser, I can't really afford the loss of AF speed....
    Thanks for your comments, much appreciated..
    cheers
    grant

  6. #6
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Posts
    3,596
    Threads
    260
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Love the sea colour here and the water splashes capture the movement very well. Also like the angle of the dolphin, which I suppose is pure luck under the circumstances, but we take all the luck we can get in wildlife photography! ;)
    I wouldn't crop out the tree line, even though the image would look great with just the sea and sky, cropping will lose a lot of the sea spray which really adds to the whole image. I think we can sometimes get too hung up on what we expect to see, should see etc. so the trees don't worry me, in fact it shows what a good view of marine life you can get so close to shore.

  7. #7
    Alfred Forns
    Guest

    Default

    Outstanding Grant !!!

    On the tech side got a couple of comments !! Around water I don't like going with a very high shutter speed, the water can take a frozen look, would experiment with lower to see what looks best !! Also lowering the shutter speed will give you a chance for stopping down and more dof !!

    Af wise would love seeing you use a 7D since the metering is a big deal, the large center cluster would be great in this instance and can also crank up the ISO to be able to shoot at f 16 !!!

    ... would love seeing a picture of you making the picture :) Looks like a wild ride !!!

  8. #8
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Posts
    1,042
    Threads
    100
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Alfred, thanks for your advice. I will have 3 weeks in June at the same place, hoping for good weather. Am now armed with a pair of 7Ds. I will probably use AF Zone for this type of application, for the speed it allows me to move focus points from one end to the other. And I shall heed your advice and shoot slightly slower, with more DOF to allow some margin for error on my part with focus! What I didn't add in is that I have to pilot the inflatable with my leg over the tiller bar whilst shooting, and watching that the next big wave doesn't break on the outside of us!
    Cheers
    Grant

  9. #9
    BPN Viewer Charles Glatzer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    NC
    Posts
    1,690
    Threads
    363
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Way cool image, well seen and taken.

    Just an FYI for those shooting around water on sunny days...the exposure here is basic sunny f/16 equivalent for ISO 400, 1/1600 @ f/8 (same as you found 1/2000 @ f/7.1) No meter necessary ;)

    Best,

    Chas

  10. #10
    Mike Fuhr
    Guest

    Default

    What trees!! :) My eyes haven't left the dolphin -- what a great capture. Fine shot IMHO.

  11. #11
    nothsafoto
    Guest

    Default

    Superb shot Grant. All the more for your position with the inflatable. I can't wait to see your 7D shots when you go back there. AF Zone will be good and you will be able to crank up the aperture to f16 for DOF.

  12. #12
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    14,858
    Threads
    1,235
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I just love this Grant!! Where on the Wild Coast exactly?? Thinking of going there in August. I agree with Steve a polariser would have lifted this to another level :)

    can imagine how tricky this must be piloting the boat too?
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


  13. #13
    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Indian Lake Estates, FL
    Posts
    32,506
    Threads
    1,433
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Tom Graham View Post
    Well, you're ahead of me, I've never tried the "marine environment". I can think of nothing more difficult that shooting under water. Anyway, I like this but don't like the tree line. I'd rather see all water or water and sky, no trees please :) . (Because trees remind me of bird pictures??? Oh, oh, for sure wrong place to say that !!! :) ) Tom
    Nothing positive to say about this one??? Critiques should include what you like and what you don't like.
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

    BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.

    Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,

    E-mail me at samandmayasgrandpa@att.net.










  14. #14
    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Indian Lake Estates, FL
    Posts
    32,506
    Threads
    1,433
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Though the dolphin is not critically sharp, this is quite an outstanding capture. I like the position of the subject in the front of the frame and I am with Mike: what trees? Cropping them out and losing the spray would be nuts from where I come from....
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

    BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.

    Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,

    E-mail me at samandmayasgrandpa@att.net.










  15. #15
    BPN Viewer Tom Graham's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Southern California, Orange County
    Posts
    1,116
    Threads
    33
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    "Nothing positive to say about this one??? Critiques should include what you like and what you don't like."
    Thought I was saying that by simply saying such photography is too tough for me to attempt. And I agree purely negative comments accomplish little. So, if not particularly fond of an image, best just say nothing? I agree, however, this image has 127 views, so I hope that does not mean 110 have no comments and thus do not care for it?
    Tom

  16. #16
    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Indian Lake Estates, FL
    Posts
    32,506
    Threads
    1,433
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Tom,

    re:


    Thought I was saying that by simply saying such photography is too tough for me to attempt.

    I have no idea how anyone could make that implication....

    And I agree purely negative comments accomplish little. So, if not particularly fond of an image, best just say nothing?

    Sorry. I had assumed that it would not be too difficult for anyone to find something positive to say about this image. I have critiqued some really bad images here on BPN and have always managed to find something positive to say about every single one of them and was suggesting that you try to do the same thing to avoid discouraging folks.

    I agree, however,

    Agree on what???

    this image has 127 views, so I hope that does not mean 110 have no comments and thus do not care for it?

    Again, I have know idea on how you developed that line of reasoning. Many folks are just surfing.
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

    BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.

    Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,

    E-mail me at samandmayasgrandpa@att.net.










  17. #17
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Posts
    3,596
    Threads
    260
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Arthur and Tom, as a relatively new member of this forum I initially found critiquing other people's hard work and artistic vision very difficult. However, I took the view that if I tried to find a good thing always in an image, then anything I could say to improve it in my view would be taken in a positive way instead of being a criticism.

    There have been some images that I have found too difficult to find anything really positive to say and this usually will reflect my mood at the time … I have, therefore, left them either until later or left them from more experienced members and moderators. Sometimes I have found an image so beautiful that all I want to say is 'congratulations' so that's what I do. As I've spent more time critiquing and accepting critiques I have found it much easier to say both positive and constructive things about nearly everyone's submissions.

    Tom, on your point regarding views versus comments … many the time I have looked at a photo and not had time to comment and have gone back to it several times before adding a comment. There may be many who are as indecisive as I am.

    I have found that this forum isn't a good place for comments which are too cryptic as the nuances are hard to pick up and that can cause problems.

    Images such as this leave me gasping with admiration, both for the feat of steering the boat to keeping some semblance of level horizon to getting the dolphin out of the water … whether that should be taken into account when looking at the imagery presented is up to others to determine. But the image as presented is, imo, excellent.
    Last edited by Hilary Hann; 05-12-2010 at 07:34 PM. Reason: spelling

  18. #18
    Alfred Forns
    Guest

    Default

    Hi Hilary

    Thanks for taking the time to comment, agree with your point of view, I am also left gasping with admiration on this one !! ... and many others in our wildlife gallery.

  19. #19
    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Indian Lake Estates, FL
    Posts
    32,506
    Threads
    1,433
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Good points Hilary. I meant to ask Andrew, what happened when that wave hit your inflatable boat???

    Alfred, have a good time at the Farm.
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

    BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.

    Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,

    E-mail me at samandmayasgrandpa@att.net.










  20. #20
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    New Delhii, India
    Posts
    3,690
    Threads
    269
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Grant,
    Nice image. I like the leap. It is not always possible to remain steady in an inflatable and still manage to capture a leaping shot without cutting off a part of its body. I am not bothered by the hint of tree line in the background, as my eyes are locked on to the dolphin. I think upgrading to a 7D for its high ISO ability may give you some more flexibility. Look forward to more.

    Cheers,
    Sabyasachi

  21. #21
    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Somewhere else in the World
    Posts
    4,797
    Threads
    708
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Steve Kaluski View Post
    I think you have done remarkably well here Grant. My only comment would be just to track it as you pan, then rattle off the shots as soon as it appears close to/breaking the surface and beyond. Keep the lens on servo too, to aid tracking. Not sure if you have sharpened the whole image or not, would only have done the Dolphin? A circular polariser would also help if you have not already used one. BTW, the trees don't bother me.

    TFS
    Steve ;)
    Steve has covered this image very well, agree that a polarizer would have taken this over the top.
    A fine image nonetheless Grant.
    TFS


  22. #22
    Richard Peters
    Guest

    Default

    Nicely done, although I'd have been too busy throwing up over the side of the boat to take the shot :(

  23. #23
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Posts
    1,042
    Threads
    100
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks again for everyone who took the time to comment, I am learning a lot from this forum and all it has to offer. For sure I will be looking to get more chances to take pics like this in June. Morkel, the place is Wavecrest, or Nxaxo River mouth, same place different name. Send me an email if you need directions
    cheers for now
    grant

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics