Collared Lizard

[Meesh Fink]

I'm planning to reshoot as soon as my flash arrives, maybe I can get a catchlight or catch him posed better?

7D, 400mm f/5.6 + 1.4x, f/13, ISO 160, 1/125, beanbag pod, morning light

Did some brush work to soften the shadows and tone down the hotspots. Looking at it now, I missed a hotspot on his hind leg & possibly the end of his tail.

C&C welcome! What to do about the tail - shoot a wider image or let it be cut off?

[Meesh Fink]

Hah, answering my own question about the tail - I shoud have switched to portrait format and possibly ditched the 1.4x, that might have got the tail in there and made for a better composition.

[Lance Peters]

Hi Meesh - Fav saying around here - If Its worth Including - its worth including all of it - in reference to the tail of course.
So would have gone wider to include it - or tighter to put more emphasis on the face. Lots of cropping possibilities once you decide not to include the entire Lizard.

Slow shutter speed for the focal length - ISO 160 - should have bumped that sucker up to 800 at least - would have helped out with the SS - OR opened up and focussed on the head and let the rest fall were it may.

Keep em coming.

[Meesh Fink]

Hi Meesh - Fav saying around here - If Its worth Including - its worth including all of it - in reference to the tail of course.
So would have gone wider to include it - or tighter to put more emphasis on the face. Lots of cropping possibilities once you decide not to include the entire Lizard.

Slow shutter speed for the focal length - ISO 160 - should have bumped that sucker up to 800 at least - would have helped out with the SS - OR opened up and focussed on the head and let the rest fall were it may.

Keep em coming.

Thanks Lance - question about bumping ISO - did you mention that because it looks unsharp? I realize it's low ISO as far as the general rule for FL goes. However, he was rock still and I was using a two ton tripod (made by Dodge). :D

[Lance Peters]

Hi Meesh - looks sharp enough as presented - however if you decide to crop this - could show up any softness.
Id try to get as much shutter speed as possible whilst keeping the ISO at the level I want.
Like everything in photography - its a trade off - higher ISO more noise - Lower ISO slower shutter speed and possibly soft.
Mentioned just so others can see also - can be quite a learning curve getting sharp images with a telephoto lens - add a converter to it and technique becomes important.:cool:

[Meesh Fink]

Hi Meesh - looks sharp enough as presented - however if you decide to crop this - could show up any softness.
Id try to get as much shutter speed as possible whilst keeping the ISO at the level I want.
Like everything in photography - its a trade off - higher ISO more noise - Lower ISO slower shutter speed and possibly soft.
Mentioned just so others can see also - can be quite a learning curve getting sharp images with a telephoto lens - add a converter to it and technique becomes important.:cool:

Thanks Lance for clarification on the reasoning.

Here's a heavy crop. Maybe 15% of the original? Looks a titch unsharp at that crop. I'll try some ISO bracketing on the next batch - I'm curious how much detail will be gained.

I wonder if shooting with a CPL would reduce the glare on his scales???? :cool:

[Dave Mills]

Hi Meesh or is it Michelle? The light appears to be fine but as stated would have liked to have seen the whole tail.
Backround is muted and generally placed well in the frame.
The portrait appears to be sharp and I don't see much loss of detail. I would have given a bit more room on the bottom to the front foot. I also might tone down the feet while not appearing hot in the original it is now accentuated in the portrait...

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Meesh Lots of good stuff going on here, both image and discussion !!

Image quality looks fine and shows what can be done with that lens and converter !! Again would use as a last resort, here it came to bite you since you needed more room for the tail.. is important !!!

btw the CPL could help but produce some problems of its own.... don't think you want to pay the 2 1/2 light loss !!!

[Meesh Fink]

Hi Meesh or is it Michelle? The light appears to be fine but as stated would have liked to have seen the whole tail.
Backround is muted and generally placed well in the frame.
The portrait appears to be sharp and I don't see much loss of detail. I would have given a bit more room on the bottom to the front foot. I also might tone down the feet while not appearing hot in the original it is now accentuated in the portrait...

Thanks Dave. :) Yes, I think that foot is hot, too. I am actually not liking the portrait for him. I like the environment he's in too much. :) Hoping to catch him perched on the blooming cactus in the next few days.

[Meesh Fink]

Hi Meesh Lots of good stuff going on here, both image and discussion !!

Image quality looks fine and shows what can be done with that lens and converter !! Again would use as a last resort, here it came to bite you since you needed more room for the tail.. is important !!!

btw the CPL could help but produce some problems of its own.... don't think you want to pay the 2 1/2 light loss !!!

I will take along the CPL and try it both ways. These guys are very still, soaking in the morning sunshine. Should have plenty of time to experiment with everything. :) The CPL might be OK if the TC is off? Gotta satisfy my own curiousity on this now, anyway. :)