Results 1 to 22 of 22

Thread: Sanderling Strut

  1. #1
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Houston, Texas
    Posts
    306
    Threads
    31
    Thank You Posts

    Default Sanderling Strut

    This is one of my favorite Sanderling image to date. This guy had the wind blowing in all the wrong places.
    C &C welcome.
    Device: Nikon D90
    Lens: 300mm F/4D
    Focal Length: 420mm
    Focus Mode: AF-C
    AF-Area Mode: Dynamic
    Exposure
    Aperture: F/5.6
    Shutter Speed: 1/2000s
    Exposure Mode: Manual
    Exposure Comp.: +0.3EV
    Metering: Matrix
    ISO Sensitivity: ISO 200
    Thanks for looking.
    Bhushan


    Name:  PINS112710_214_2.jpg
Views: 152
Size:  194.1 KB

  2. #2
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Sugar Land, Texas USA
    Posts
    1,819
    Threads
    480
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Bhushan. I'm sure we've met at BBSP, and I'm glad to see you here at BPN. Nice composition and unique pose. Looks like Bryan Beach. I think you should have upped the ISO and decreased the aperture. Remembering the closer you are to a subject, the shorter the depth of field for any given F stop. It seems critcal focus was more toward the back of the bird, and a greater DOF would have allowed the entire bird to be in sharp focus. I'm always glad to see someone using manual exposure, it implys a good understanding of photographic principles. regards~Bill

  3. #3
    BPN Member Tony Whitehead's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    New Zealand
    Posts
    3,972
    Threads
    142
    Thank You Posts
    Blog Entries
    3

    Default

    Love the feather textures. Great points by Bill regarding ISO and aperture for increased DOF. Good low angle and light. Dynamic pose.
    Tony Whitehead
    Visit my blog at WildLight Photography for latest news and images.

  4. #4
    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Indian Lake Estates, FL
    Posts
    32,506
    Threads
    1,433
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I am perfectly fine with the d-o-f. The eye and bill are sharp, and the raised feathers are sharp.... Why more d-o-f???

    I love the pose and all those raised feathers. Was the wind strong from the rear or was the bird threatening another?

    I would have loved a perfectly clean beach.... EXP right on.
    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.










  5. #5
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Houston, Texas
    Posts
    306
    Threads
    31
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by WIlliam Maroldo View Post
    Hi Bhushan. I'm sure we've met at BBSP, and I'm glad to see you here at BPN. Nice composition and unique pose. Looks like Bryan Beach. I think you should have upped the ISO and decreased the aperture. Remembering the closer you are to a subject, the shorter the depth of field for any given F stop. It seems critcal focus was more toward the back of the bird, and a greater DOF would have allowed the entire bird to be in sharp focus. I'm always glad to see someone using manual exposure, it implys a good understanding of photographic principles. regards~Bill
    Hey Bill,thanks. I also think we have met at BBSP. Nice to see you here. This was taken at Padre Island National Seashore. These guys move just too fast to offer any reaction time when they just walk up to you. This was one such occasion. He was gone the next second. Thanks for the tips.

    Quote Originally Posted by Tony Whitehead View Post
    Love the feather textures. Great points by Bill regarding ISO and aperture for increased DOF. Good low angle and light. Dynamic pose.
    Tony, thanks a lot.

    Quote Originally Posted by Arthur Morris View Post
    I am perfectly fine with the d-o-f. The eye and bill are sharp, and the raised feathers are sharp.... Why more d-o-f???

    I love the pose and all those raised feathers. Was the wind strong from the rear or was the bird threatening another?

    I would have loved a perfectly clean beach.... EXP right on.
    Artie, thanks a lot for the comments. It was the strong wind which caused the feathers to puff up. I left the pebbles and the debris in there thinking it would give a more natural feel to the image. I will remove the debris and see how it looks.:)

  6. #6
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    San Francisco Bay Area
    Posts
    1,320
    Threads
    302
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Love the low angle and colors. The feather sharpness is of course great. But I agree re DOF. I you look at the sand it's clear that the focus is at or near the legs putting it well behind the head and eyes. But it's certainly emphasizing the detail in the raised feathers...

    The bright thing at the tip of the bill keeps bothering me... I don't mind the stuff on the beach as it illustrates the environment IMO.

    JR

  7. #7
    BPN Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Posts
    3,869
    Threads
    170
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    This sanderling is sporting quite the Marilyn Monroe pose :)
    Nice light, low angle and sharpness.
    To my eyes, it does seem like critical focus is at the back and the head is not as sharp as the back.
    I like that raised foot. A clean foot and bill would have been awesome.

  8. #8
    BPN Viewer Pieter de Waal's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Swaziland, Southern Africa
    Posts
    1,677
    Threads
    91
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Bhushan,

    Fantastic image, exposure and light are gorgeous and I like the composition. It is good to see the different opinions re DOF. I actualy like this as the main focus is on the feature of the wind blown feathers and there is sufficient sharpness of the head to carry the image. Well done with these fast little fellows.

  9. #9
    BPN Viewer Mark Young's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Sydney - Australia
    Posts
    797
    Threads
    68
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Nice composition. I like getting these images of the bird 'farting'!

  10. #10
    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Indian Lake Estates, FL
    Posts
    32,506
    Threads
    1,433
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks Bhushan for the wind info. I ask because this species especially threatens others in its space by raising their hackles so to speak :)

    I agree that the sharpest focus is on the back and the legs but also agree with Pieter that there is enough d-o-f to cover the face and even the bill.

    I do not mind the few larger bits of ???; it's the big pile of stuff to our right that I would lose.

    And yes to bill clean-up for me.
    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.










  11. #11
    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Indian Lake Estates, FL
    Posts
    32,506
    Threads
    1,433
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    A question.... Can you please post the original?
    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.










  12. #12
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Houston, Texas
    Posts
    306
    Threads
    31
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Guys thanks a lot for all the comments and detailed critique.

    Quote Originally Posted by Arthur Morris View Post
    Thanks Bhushan for the wind info. I ask because this species especially threatens others in its space by raising their hackles so to speak :)

    I agree that the sharpest focus is on the back and the legs but also agree with Pieter that there is enough d-o-f to cover the face and even the bill.

    I do not mind the few larger bits of ???; it's the big pile of stuff to our right that I would lose.

    And yes to bill clean-up for me.
    Artie, I know exactly what you are talking about by raising the hackles. I did observe that behavior and it was really fun to watch.
    I will try and clean up the image as all have suggested.
    I am also attaching the original and a print screen showing the exact focus point using View NX.

    Name:  PINS112710_214_0ri.jpg
Views: 36
Size:  160.1 KB

  13. #13
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Houston, Texas
    Posts
    306
    Threads
    31
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Here is a screen shot showing the exact focus point using View NX.

    Name:  PINS-214-FP.jpg
Views: 36
Size:  124.0 KB

  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

    Thanks on all counts. Strange that the sharpest focus does seem well behind the eye. With AF what we get is not always what we expect. I am assuming that you have never had any back-focus issues.
    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
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Houston, Texas
    Posts
    306
    Threads
    31
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Arthur Morris View Post
    Thanks on all counts. Strange that the sharpest focus does seem well behind the eye. With AF what we get is not always what we expect. I am assuming that you have never had any back-focus issues.
    Artie, to be frank with you I have never checked this lens for back-focus issues,but I have been getting consistently sharp images with this lens. I will check that out. I think the slight movement on the birds head must have shifted the focus. But I am not sure too.

  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

    Good that you are not having problems. Sometimes C (or AI Servo with Canon) searches a bit (usually when it is confronted by a lack of contrast).
    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
    Jan 2008
    Location
    San Francisco Bay Area
    Posts
    1,320
    Threads
    302
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Bhushan Dalvi View Post
    Here is a screen shot showing the exact focus point using View NX.

    Name:  PINS-214-FP.jpg
Views: 36
Size:  124.0 KB
    I'd say that's a perfect example of the AF system focusing on something different that what we may see in the viewfinder and unfortunately our images... JR

  18. #18
    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 Joerg Rockenberger View Post
    I'd say that's a perfect example of the AF system focusing on something different that what we may see in the viewfinder and unfortunately our images... JR
    Agree. And by a Nikon camera no less! (Sorry; I could not resist :))
    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.










  19. #19
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Houston, Texas
    Posts
    306
    Threads
    31
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Arthur Morris View Post
    Sometimes C (or AI Servo with Canon) searches a bit (usually when it is confronted by a lack of contrast).
    Artie, I think this is what must have happened. I am still not sure if it would have helped if I was in the 3-D tracking mode instead of the Dynamic mode.

    Quote Originally Posted by Joerg Rockenberger View Post
    I'd say that's a perfect example of the AF system focusing on something different that what we may see in the viewfinder and unfortunately our images... JR
    Joerg, I agree with you.

    Quote Originally Posted by Arthur Morris View Post
    Agree. And by a Nikon camera no less! (Sorry; I could not resist :))
    Haha.. Artie, this was a lowly D90 or just this inexperienced photographer which caused the error.:)

  20. #20
    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Indian Lake Estates, FL
    Posts
    32,506
    Threads
    1,433
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hey Bhushan, No slack for you. I am told every day that all Nikon cameras are so good that even operator error is not possible!
    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.










  21. #21
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Houston, Texas
    Posts
    306
    Threads
    31
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Arthur Morris View Post
    Hey Bhushan, No slack for you. I am told every day that all Nikon cameras are so good that even operator error is not possible!
    Artie, I believe a good photog can make great pics with most of the camera body offered these days if he has the right technique, patience and lastly lenses. This is the reason why I do not participate in gear forums. My goal is making great pics. So I love participating here.:) Plus all the honest critique helps me improve.

  22. #22
    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Indian Lake Estates, FL
    Posts
    32,506
    Threads
    1,433
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Bhushan, I agree 100%. When folks come up to me with their off brand 300 lenses and cheap camera bodies drooling over my 800/MIV combo I try to make them a deal: we each use the other person's gear for the whole morning, download the images, pick our best five, and bring the laptops to McDonalds. Then we grab three folks off the line and have them decide which set of images is best. Whoever wins get to keep the other guy's gear.... So far no takers :)
    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.










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