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Thread: Brown Bear in the Grass

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Default Brown Bear in the Grass

    Taken near Brooks Lodge in Katmai National Park, Alaska.

    Canon 50D
    300 f2.8 IS with 2x converter
    1/400
    f5.6
    ISO 200
    Tripod on platform, cropped to 8x10

    C&C welcome and appreciated. Thanks,

    Rachel

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    Very nice. I like the detail and the composition. Not sure which side you cropped from, but I'd have tried to take a little more off the left side of the frame, pulling the bear closer to the edge.
    Well done.

    Eric Virkler
    Faces of Nature Photography
    www.ericjvirkler.com

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    Love the pose and grass here Rachel
    TFS

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Rachel, looks a good size bear from this.

    Firstly I would have increased the ISO to 400, the 2x is not the best tool in the box and unless you have great light and high SS you do tend to find images are not perfect in the 'sharpness' catergory sadly, plus you only have one AF point. It is very susceptible to any for of shake and needs to be 'rock steady' IMHO. I might be tempted to lose a fraction off the top, perhaps just above the white flowers, but again just a thought.

    A good experience I am sure.

    TFS
    Steve ;)
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

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    I know little about bears but this one is a magnificent animal. Are they normally as red as this? Steve makes very good points on the problems surrounding the techs with the 2x TC; you and me both need a fabulous 600mm lens and an assistant to carry it around! :p

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    Just love the environment here. Splendid image Rachel.

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Thanks everyone for the kind comments. Hilary - definitely need a sherpa to carry the gear. I found carrying the 6 lb 300 2.8 cumbersome at times, especially on the mile + hike to the falls. Some of the guys were carrying 600s and I don't know how they do it. My understanding (and observation) is that brown bears come in lots of colors from blonde to cinnamon to brown and that they often get darker with age.

    Thanks again,
    Rachel

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    Quote Originally Posted by Steve Kaluski View Post
    Hi Rachel, looks a good size bear from this. Firstly I would have increased the ISO to 400, the 2x is not the best tool in the box and unless you have great light and high SS you do tend to find images are not perfect in the 'sharpness' catergory sadly, plus you only have one AF point. It is very susceptible to any for of shake and needs to be 'rock steady' IMHO. I might be tempted to lose a fraction off the top, perhaps just above the white flowers, but again just a thought. A good experience I am sure. TFS Steve ;)
    Hey Steve, You are a bit off base here. First off, if folks are not making sharp images with a 2X and a 300 f/2.8 IS or VR then they are doing something wrong. Image quality with either the Canons or Nikons with the 2X should be just about perfect. Second: folks will have AF with a 300 f/2.8 and the 2x with any camera body. (300 2.8 plus 2x yields f/5.6). #3: As far as being susceptible to shake, I am confused. She was on a tripod with an IS Lens at 1/400 sec..... What were you trying to infer with the one AF point comment?

    That said the image could use a bit more sharpening.

    Respectfully.
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    As for the COMP, I would not take anything off of the left. A bit off the bottom and a smidge off the top as Steve suggested would likely work well. I do like the image :)
    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.

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    mage quality with either the Canons or Nikons with the 2X should be just about perfect.
    Hey Artie, I am basing my own experience and dialog with the Canon guys too. I know that quite a few here use the 2x with the 300 and have good results but this IMHO was not up there and I felt that again, based on my 'limited' experience, it echoed that the 2x is not the best tool. In addition, unless it is absolutely 'rock steady' I have found it can also increase any shake, tremble, movement, unless a cable release is used, but this has only been on the 500.

    She was on a tripod with an IS Lens at 1/400 sec....
    I was suggesting to use an ISO400 to increase SS.

    What were you trying to infer with the one AF point comment?
    When shooting with the 2x my understanding is that you only have one focus point (centre) and this cannot be moved? Meaning that framing the image becomes more difficult as you do not have the luxury of moving the AF points. However, not ever trying it until now, it appears that unlike the 500 you can move the AF around. Good to know Artie.;)

    Just proves we are all still learning.
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    Again, the 2X with the 300 f/2.8 should consistently produce sharp images when used properly. Offering generic advice based on limited experience might not be the best tack. The 300 2.8 with a 2X is a far different animal than the 500 with the 2X. That said I made images that were consistently acceptably sharp with both the 500 and the 600 and a 2X TC for years at shutter speeds as slow as 1/60 sec. This required using excellent sharpness techniques. And I have never once used a cable release.... I do know lots of folks who shy away from using the 2X with the 500 or the 600 but none who shy away from using it with the 300 2.8 (or with the new 70-200 f/2.8 either).

    I am OK with the suggestion to go to ISO 400--my most-used ISO, but making a sharp image at 1/400 sec. with the 300 and a 2X TC should not be too difficult even with a 1.6X camera....

    Again, respectfully posted.
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    Thanks Artie for the explanation, much appreciated. Will test it out.

    In posting this thread Rachel it has proved to be very benefical for all of us, thanks. ;)

    Steve
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

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    YAW. I agree on all counts :)
    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.

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Thanks everyone. Interesting conversation about the 2x. One thing about Brooks is that you are shooting from wooden platforms and the movement of others on the platform can affect you so I would have preferred a faster ss as well. Should have upped the ISO as Steve said. Here's a repost with a little off the top and some off the bottom as well as another round of sharpening.

    Thanks everyone for all the comments and the interesting discussion.

    Rachel

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    Repost is a big improvement; COMP is perfect. Did you see them catching salmon in the falls?
    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.

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Artie - Thanks. Yes, saw them catching salmon at the falls although the salmon run this year has been slow and low. Not a lot of jumping salmon except for one evening and that night a big boar scared off all the other bears. Only got a few shots of jumping salmon and bears but HA is a problem. I'll try to remember to post one tomorrow. Thanks again,

    Rachel

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    Bummer, thanks, I look forward to it, and you gotta love it!
    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.

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