NikonGear'23
Images => Critique => Topic started by: John G on June 11, 2016, 15:11:05
-
Hi
These are my most recent images, a very restless subject offering a few seconds a pose if luck is with you, captured a hour or so before last usable evening light.
The advantage of the Lackford Lakes location is that Directly behind the foliage on the west side, there is a 50 hectare lake, and the evening sun offers excellent reflected light
into the dense hedgerows and trees.
Taken with a D800E + 500mm AI F4P + TC 16A modified. I have had this lens for a few weeks and this was my third occasion out with it.
This is almost at closest focal length, there was only a few millimetres of left hand rotation left on the focus ring.
I swapped to the 500mm naked to try and get a IQ comparison, but failed to get a usable image. This will be a ongoing challenge.
I believe the TC acts like a extension ring, as the naked 500mm would not focus at the same shortest focal distance as the lens +TC. I was forced to move backwards.
The focal path to the birds was obstructed by foliage and these were taken from a very precise point, any need to reposition affected the clear view, due to foliage obstructions,
in this case the TC helped capture the images, but had many challenges to find and stay steady on the subject with only a few seconds a pose.
Beyond the images, I am very impressed with the lens + TC modified combo. I have started tracking birds in flight in continuous high shoot mode, as the light has improved
greatly in the Eastern region of the UK.
-
Very nice pictures of beautiful bird. I especially liked the last one because of the posture and the way the light fall on it. The seem to perform very well with the TC. Its not an easy bird to get with a MF lens because they are constantly on the move for the next meal :)
-
Hi Borge
Thank you for your input, I am pleased to know that you have had the pleasure of being around the busy little acrobats.
They slow down by about 30% activity rate just before roost as well as group tighter, a branch that has been perched on by one will will be used by another,
So a pre focus and patience will give a opportunity where a slight slew of the lens will get on a subject when it arrives.
The lakes reflected light helps keep a low ISO. High Shutter Speed. The slow down in activity and available light help prepare for a enjoyable capture.
-
There is quite a lot of them in the swampy forests along streams here, but it seems like you have found the right place, the right technique, and the right light to capture them. Most often they are photographed from the shade down in the forest against bright sky. That is not the way to capture the beauty of these agile "lollipops" ;)
-
The second one especially is beautiful!
-
The second one is sooo cute!!!!
-
Second one is my favourite also
-
Hello and Thank you for your comments.
Capturing these extremely high energy agile birds is a feat in itself, capturing a most photogenic
moment of there day, must have a act of devine intervention involved.
-
Very nice, I have to say. I missed your pictures as I was in France with no internet connection.
Nice to see one more virtue of this TC.
Cheers, Francis.