Driving Route 66 will be a lot of fun! I’ll get Acadia back up. We have Alaska coming soon too. There are so many wonderful places to visit and photograph!
1 Like
Hi Larry,
When hand holding a big lens, speed and stability will give you better results.
When I hand hold a lens, I tuck my elbow into my side with the same hand I hold the camera with. The hand that helps to stabilize the lens, is positioned out towards the end of the lens hood. If you are standing, legs apart with one slightly forward. If you are seated, feet on the ground. Your pose / stance can really help to stabilize a larger lens.
Speed is crucial. Try Auto ISO or a higher ISO. Wildlife moves so quickly, and every little movement can cause your image to be out of focus. I recommend at least 1/800 of a second for any hand held shot, and faster if you can.
I use a 600mm f4.0 lens, and sometimes if I use f4, it appears a little soft. Using f5.6 on my lens gives me better results.
Try another f-stop, the large lens photo stance, and increase ISO.
I hope these tips will help you out in the field!
1 Like
Thanks. I appreciate your detailed ideas.
1 Like
Hi Jennifer have a question about Teleconverters. I am heading off to Antarctica in January and will be taking two bodies and two lenses. A 24-120mm and a 100-400mm on 46 megapixel body. I am undecided as to whether to invest in a 1.4 TC for the 100-400 set up. While the extra reach would be nice is the trade off of reduce image quality, loss of lens speed & reduce image quality worth it.
OR would I get similar results by switching to DX mode when looking for the extra reach or just crop in post. Will be mostly be shooting from a zodiac
Hi Ian,
Great topic here. While I used a 1.4 TC in the past, I now opt for the DX mode. I like the results much better! Plenty of pixels to get a great print, and no degrading of image quality or sacrifice of speed / DOF. Hope you have an amazing trip to Antarctica, and that you come back with awesome photos and memories!
When you select a location to photograph that you have never been to before, how much (what kind of) research do you do beforehand. Or do you prefer to arrive at a location in “explorer mode” without much beforehand knowledge?
Hi Mike,
I do a lot of research before I go anywhere! I research locations, hotels, Trip Advisor, what may be unique to the location, wildlife in the area, trees, plants, restaurants, etc. I want to be as prepared as possible for any photo trip (any trip really:). I of course still have a lot to explore on site, but I feel well prepared, safe, know what to expect, and have the right gear.
Hi, Jennifer! I have so much to ask/ talk to you about, but for today I have one question. How do you decide a B&W photo is “done”? And for that matter, even a color landscape. But I’m mostly thinking about B&W.
Thank you!
Hi Windy,
Great to hear from you!
When is the BW done… that can be a tough question! It really comes down to a feeling more than it does a point in time or processing.
When I am processing BW images, I already have something in mind from my field session. Something I already envisioned. However, it can take a while to get the art to reflect what I intended. Most of my BW images take a couple of weeks to process. More precisely, I take a couple of weeks to allow myself to be sure I have reached my goal.
I begin with processing the image, and often make a few virtual copies so that I can process again and again. When I am on course with my vision, I often have multiple copies that are very similar. However, I sometimes find myself way off course with something I like better.
I think it is important to take time with art, and BW photography is fine art, because most of us see in color. BW photography is not based in realism, so we are able to take liberties, get creative, and take our time to complete the creative process.
When you are done, you will know. It’s not a race to the finish line, but a path of creativity and purpose that gets us to our final piece.
Thanks! I thought the answer would be something like that…but I was hoping for something more concrete. But this is Art! Have a good evening and see you soon?!
I wish there was a concrete answer. Hope to see you soon. Hugs!
Thanks Jennifer I like your answer as it helps keep things simple which is what I want in both kit and images
1 Like
This topic was automatically closed after 26 hours. New replies are no longer allowed.