Heron at distance.

[Simon Wantling]

OK, it was a typical terrible day today in the UK with very poor light, dark cloud cover and windy, but I thought I'd practise in these difficult conditions. There weren't many photo opportunities but i did manage to photograph this Heron which was at some distance ( 30 m ). The photo is hence cropped. I would very much value your input on whether it could have been improved given the conditions etc. Camera settings were:

Canon 7D, 100-400mm @ 400mm, ISO 640, +1 EV, f7.1, 1/200 sec, partial metering.

I could have gone higher in ISO to get a faster shutter speed but I figured I would be troubled with even more noise.

[Jeff Cashdollar]

Simon,
Given the conditions you did well. I agree on your thinking regarding the ISO maybe 800 at a max IMO. Another opportunity was to open up the aperture and bump up the shutter. I think the 100-400 has a max of 5.6 and in low light, at that distance with that much crop I would have been wide open.

Nice peaceful picture might take a bit off the top and right, thanks for sharing. You are wise to practice in these conditions learning more about exposure and habitat, you are on the right track to improve.

[Simon Wantling]

Thanks Jeff. I didn't go to f5.6 because my lens is at its sharpest if you stop down, or thats what ive read. I may well crop a bit tighter as you advise. In terms of processing, there is nothing that stands out as wrong or should be done differently.

Thanks

[Jeff Cashdollar]

Simon,
Any L series lens can produce a decent image wide open and the additional light you gain by going to a wider aperture will offset any softness in range of the lens. True, lenses are sharper one or two stops above their max aperture. However, in low light you need to think wide and high ISO-especially when using a $1,500 lens.

Regarding the post processing to me the image need to be sharper which is tripod, HH technique, faster shutter or a combination of these issues. When photographing a bird as the main subject it needs to be critically sharp with a well lit eye and clean complementary background.

[EzhilSuresh]

Simon, can't disagree with you on the terrible UK weather. Good try given the conditions.

[nancy hazen]

Simon, I agree that considering the gray conditions this turned out fine. I also have the 100-400 and it would have been interesting to see the same shot at 5.6. It is always a trade off with the 100-400 when there isn't a lot of light.
Nancy