The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I just got the Sony 200-600mm lens and went down to my favorite creek to learn how to use it. I came away with a few decent frames. It was difficult to check focus in manual mode for the moving water. But oh so very cool to be able to zoom in that much!
Specific Feedback
This is pretty much the whole frame top to bottom, with some cropping on the sides. The focus looks decent to me, but any suggestions for improvement are welcome. Any other comments welcome.
Technical Details
Had it set to auto ISO so I wouldn’t have to continuously fiddle with that. The basic denoise function in ACR did a decent job of cleaning it up (I don’t have enough computing power to use the “enhanced” noise reduction function). No polarizer or filters, on a tripod.
Did a bit of dodging/burning to bring out the ripples more and enhance the light that was there.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Lovely green and blue colors Bonnie! Mesmerizing patterns too. That focal range sounds like a lot of fun and quite versatile. I use a Sony 100-400 a great deal for water abstracts, detailed shots, and some wildlife.
The focus looks fine to me in the image. Nothing really stands out as being out of focus. Looks like you captured this at f16 and wow ISO12800. Looks really clean for a high ISO. I’ve learned that you can go higher than f16 for water abstracts and get good results.
I like this, Bonnie. Lovely colors and patterns. There is kind of blur streak that wanders across most of the bottom of the image. Have you tried a tighter crop that would eliminate that feature?
Bonnie, you’ve got a lovely collection of colors and patterns here and there’s minimal sharpness drop off toward the edges. While I doubt that I’m telling you something you don’t already know, a modest slowing of the shutter lets the movement blur of the water hide the sharpness fall off. You might have gotten a very similar result with as slow as 1/125 s shutter. I do like how everything seems to radiate out from the central figure.
Wow! I find this absolutely stunning!! The shapes are wonderful – mesmerizing indeed! The water is clearly dancing – I can see the movement and hear the gentle murmur of the stream. I see the shape @Dennis_Plank refers to and it is a bit distracting. A crop would also give a strong image, or some careful cloning in a few spots could break up the perception of the pattern.
There is an elusive sweet spot in shots like this between DOF and sharpness, and it looks like you found it here. Thankfully the usual concerns about softness due to diffraction at small apertures are not as much of a concern in images like this where there are not fine-featured details. And those concerns seem less with our modern sensors and lenses than they used to be.
You’re right. I have images in that batch with a range of ss, and you really can’t tell the difference between 1/125s and 1/500s in them. I think it depends on the “speed” of the ripples. These were very gentle, so it doesn’t take a really fast ss to get them decently sharp.
Yah - I don’t usually worry too much about diffraction. Every once in a while, I’ll have an image were it makes a difference.
I sort of liked the light streak that comes in from the LLC, so I didn’t crop off the bottom, as it was part of how I saw the composition. I see what you’re talking about though. Not sure if I’ll print this or do anything else, so I’m not so worried about it.
Bonnie - You will LOVE that lens! Of 30 years of photography, its the best and most versatile lens I`ve ever had.
I love this image. To my eye, the balance of colours is perfect and creates a truly mesmerizing abstract.
Excellent work - and much more to come with this lens!
Thanks, @SandyR-B. Although I’ve only been out with it a few times now, I’m really enjoying this lens. It’s very easy to use - much more than the Sigma 100-400 I was using. Just have to get used the size of it!
Bonnie, I was drawn to this image immediately as it is one I would make. I really like the ripple crests that connect the central crater to the corners. It has a stabilizing effect on the image for me and helps resolve the composition within the frame.
I also appreciate the color palette and value range, with nothing too bright or dark. Very pleasing.
Since you asked about focus, here’s my take. Like you, I allow ISO to float. Then I prioritize shutter speed. When I look at my best images of ripples, I find the shutter speed for all of them between 1/1600 and 1/4000 sec. Aperture usually lands between f5.6 and f11, unless I use manual mode and set it higher. I’m fine with a shallow depth of field because the pattern is understood into the less focused areas.
So what does all this have to do with focus? Lens focus is important but not the whole picture. Obtain focus on the water, of course - and I usually use spot focusing on the rough middle of the frame - but the exposure settings are equally or more important, unless your focus is clearly off. As long as it is roughly in the middle, it’s usually good. I know I’m not a perfectionist so I embrace the peculiarities and come away pleased and fascinated!
Also, I take A LOT of frames to get one I like, and I don’t think perfectionism can change that. Enjoy the process!
I just started allowing the ISO to float since the noise reduction functions are so good now. That’s a fast ss! As I said to Mark S., I can’t tell the difference between 1/500s and 1/125s, but I think my standards for sharpness aren’t as high as some folks - ha ha.
Bonnie I love the way the texture of the ripples stands out. Depth is what I see here, it’s difficult to catch on water sometimes. You nailed it. I’m looking at the multi color line in each ripple and the way they define each low spot. The color also such a soothing effect on this photo I could stare at it for hours. I use auto settings a lot, and get great results . Great shot.
