Post Your Best Nature Shots!

This was taken recently at lake Eola in Orlando downtown. The setting sun provided the golden light on the buildings. And a flash was fired to lit the swans which created an "effect" on them :)


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.24.65/3474019265_5F00_e5abf9d39f.jpg[/img]
<table id="Inbox" width="100%" cellspacing="0"]
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="font-size: 120%;" width="30%"]


Exposure:
</td>
<td style="font-size: 120%;"]0.033 sec (1/30)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="font-size: 120%;" width="30%"]


Aperture:
</td>
<td style="font-size: 120%;"]f/6.3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="font-size: 120%;" width="30%"]


Focal Length:
</td>
<td style="font-size: 120%;"]50 mm</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>


ISO Speed:
</td>
<td>400</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>





Another Swan picture. lighting from the setting sun


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.24.65/3474826686_5F00_07ddba1ba8.jpg[/img]
<table id="Inbox" width="100%" cellspacing="0"]
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="font-size: 120%;" width="30%"]Exposure:</td>
<td style="font-size: 120%;"]0.033 sec (1/30)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="font-size: 120%;" width="30%"]Aperture:</td>
<td style="font-size: 120%;"]f/5.6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="font-size: 120%;" width="30%"]Focal Length:</td>
<td style="font-size: 120%;"]130 mm</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ISO Speed:</td>
<td>100</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>





I thought this was funny. Kids and parents go away from each other. My fiancee thought this was cute.


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.24.65/3474828522_5F00_3e8a355061.jpg[/img]



<table id="Inbox" width="100%" cellspacing="0"]
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="font-size: 120%;" width="30%"]Exposure:</td>
<td style="font-size: 120%;"]0.003 sec (1/400)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="font-size: 120%;" width="30%"]Aperture:</td>
<td style="font-size: 120%;"]f/5.6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="font-size: 120%;" width="30%"]Focal Length:</td>
<td style="font-size: 120%;"]120 mm</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ISO Speed:</td>
<td>


100
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

What a great thread! Here are some pics I shot over the weekend. These were all shot with a 5D II and 100mm Macro, ISO 1600, f8, and between 1/200-1/400 second. I probable could have gotten away with using a lower ISO, but the 5D II has given me more flexibility...any critiques welcome!


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.23.24/IMG_5F00_0627c.jpg[/img]





[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.23.24/IMG_5F00_0698b.jpg[/img]





[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.23.24/IMG_5F00_0710d.jpg[/img]





[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.23.24/IMG_5F00_0757c.jpg[/img]

nice pictures Bill.. how do you get close to them and not scare them off?

Bill M.:


Nice shots of the butterflies. I can't give a technical critique, but it does look like the 5D II has superb high ISO performance, which helps a lot with macro shots. It also goes to show just how good the Canon 100mm Macro lens is. One reviewer thought it was the sharpest lens he'd used, any make, any mount, any length. (Those who have the 300 f/2.8L IS may disagree. [:)] I don't, though, if wishes were ponies ...) He also said that it focused faster than his eyes could. That is a bit of an exaggeration, especially as the reviewer isn't an old f*rt like me, but the point is well-taken.

Devsalvi: Ahh, I am at one with nature [;)] not really, I went to an indoor butterfly garden and part of me thinks that they are just used to having people walk among them, but they are difficult to shoot. I was chasing a particular one around for a long time but it would always fly off when I came near it.


George: I love the 5D II. I moved up from a 20D and it is world's apart in ISO performance. I would never even shoot over 800 ISO before and now I'm comfortable shooting at 3200 with minimal noise. I've always enjoyed the 100mm Macro, with the 20D I had a little more reach and now I have to get a little closer. I would love the 180mm Macro but I think I need a 16-35 II first. The 100 is very sharp, whether or not it's my sharpest I'm not entirely certain. I don't have one of the long primes that is on everyone's wish list but my 70-200 f4 IS is damn sharp.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bill M.

I went to an indoor butterfly garden and part of me thinks that they are just used to having people walk among them, but they are difficult to shoot.

---

Your experience matches mine: at an indoor butterfly garden, sometimes they just sit there. Sometimes they land on you. No problem at all getting close.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bill M.

with the 20D I had a little more reach

---

On the other hand, the 5DII has the same pixel density as the 20D, so you can crop to get the same reach as the 20D and still have just as high resolution (8mp).


You can have your megapixels and eat them, too. Or something.

Bill M.:


I agree about the 70-200mm f/4L IS. In fact, when I got a 70-200m f/2.8L IS, I kept my 70-200mm f/4L IS, as well. For many uses, especially outdoors, it's superior to the faster lens, both in optical quality and the IS. It's also a lot lighter and easier to carry. I've read quite a few articles by bird photographers who carry it along with their 500mm L lens for landscapes, butterflies (especially with an extension tube or a close-up lens/filter), birds in flight, etc.


Nowadays, I mostly use a 100-400mm L IS for nature/wildlife, plus a 17-55mm f/2.8 IS or 17-85mm IS and 100mm Macro. Add a Sigma 10-20mm &amp; Canon 1.4x extender and I'm set for 'most anything. That all (plus the 30D w/grip &amp; various doo-dads) fits in a Think Tank Speed Racer. (I could use the smaller Speed Freak if I didn't use the grip on the 30D, but I've found that the grip is more comfortable and makes the camera + lens easier to handle. I have large hands--one of the reasons I got the 30D rather than a Digital Rebel.) If I'm going "minimalist," I take the 100-400mm, 17-85mm (the 17-55mm is a better lens, but that would leave a big gap in length, plus it's heavier), 1.4x extender and 77mm Canon 500D close-up lens (plus 67-77mm step-up ring) in a smaller bag, Think Tank belt system, or vest.

A few from me:


http://www.prphotographyonline.com/i...p5558522-3.jpg





http://www.prphotographyonline.com/i...83941391-4.jpg





http://www.prphotographyonline.com/i...07570071-3.jpg





http://www.prphotographyonline.com/i...86769424-3.jpg





See more at: www.prphotographyonline.com

Jon, you are absolutely correct that I do, effectively, have the same reach as I did with my 20D. I'm just getting used to the wider field of view I have now, but I can crop to my heart's content, knowing I canstill get a decent print in the end...


George, your minimalist kit is somewhat similar to mine, I basically carry the 5DII with a 24-105 and the 100-400 to have a pretty good range. I should consider carrying the 500D as well....

I want to add these to the "Post Your Best Nature Shots."


It's a thread by itself here. http://community.the-digital-picture.com/forums/t/1059.aspx


American Avocet Courtship and Mating. Taken with 40D and 400 f/5.6L @ San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, highlight tone priority was used.


1. The foreplay...


f/6.3, 1/2000 sec., ISO 250, Exp. Comp. -2/3


http://www.pscvn.org/members/308/4-2...2-43-23_AM.jpg


2. The love making...


f/7.1, 1/2000 sec., ISO 250, Exp. Comp. -2/3


http://www.pscvn.org/members/308/4-2...2-42-42_AM.jpg


3. The cuddle after....


f/7.1, 1/2000 sec., ISO 250, Exp. Comp. -2/3


http://www.pscvn.org/members/308/4-2...2-41-54_AM.jpg


4. I'm done and I'm outta here....[img]/emoticons/emotion-2.gif[/img]


f/7.1, 1/1250 sec., ISO 250, Exp. Comp. -2/3


http://www.pscvn.org/members/308/4-2...2-43-58_AM.jpg


Thanks for viewing and I would really apprieciate your comments.


Nhut (Nate)

"Thanks for viewing and I would really apprieciate your comments."


Wow! Is that a sufficient comment?

Thank you George,


I went out to shoot some ospreys, most of the birds have gone to breed except this youngter. For this image I like how he holds the fish, looks like he's holding a hoagie.


Thanks for viewing and I really appreciate your comments and critiques.


40D, 400 f/5.6L, f/7.1, 1/1250sec., ISO 320, Exp. Comp. +1, highlight tone priority. The white bg is the overcast sky.


larger version: http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=9080703&amp;size=lg


http://www.pscvn.org/members/308/4-3...2-04-48_AM.jpg

Hey Nhut, great shot as always... can you send me the original of this (above) picture? But please don't resize it. If the original is RAW, just convert it to jpeg - but please don't resize.


BTW, I was at a park yesterday and tried to shoot *flying* birds for the first time with my new 50D. 99% of what I got doesn't worth it, but I've got 1 or 2 reasonable (relatively speaking) pictures. All I've got right now is the 17-85, so I zoomed all the way in and tried to do the best that I could. Unfortunately, I did 2 serious mistake:


1. I put the AF on AI Focus instead of AI Servo (I was sure I was shooting with AI Servo)


2. After getting dark birds, I thought "well the problem is the sky so I might just switch to spot metering" - but today I read a little bit about bird photography and realized the mistake I did... there is no way that the spot metering will work with such small birds flying at damn high speed very high in the sky LOL [:P]





So Nhut (or anyone else who photograph birds), do you have any suggestions of what are the ideal camera settings for shooting flying birds high at the sky? (except to getting a longer lens lol)


As I see it now, I **guess** that I should use (I assume shooting outside with daylight):


1. Av mode


2. Evaluative metering


3. AI Servo


4. Adjust the exposure compensation to at least +1





But what about the aperture?


What is the minimal shutter speed needed to freeze the bird?


Should I turn on highlight tone priority?


Should I use continuous shooting or single?

Hi Oren,


I think the camera automatically switches from the AI Focus mode to AI servo mode when it senses moving objects based on the focus point.


Some tips:


High ISO, Tv mode -shutter speed: 1/500 atleast (varies on the available light), high speed continuous shooting.


Finally a USM L telephoto lens for a very good reason. They focus very quickly and accurately.


some samples.[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.24.65/Orlando_5F00_wetlands010.JPG[/img]





Model:Canon EOS 40D
ISO:400
Exposure:1/2000 sec
Aperture:6.3
Focal Length:400mm


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.24.65/Orlando_5F00_wetlands024.JPG[/img]


Model:Canon EOS 40D
ISO:250
Exposure:1/2000 sec
Aperture:5.6
Focal Length:400mm

Here are a couple I snapped a couple days ago while taking the kids for theirride (I was parked when I took them). I had to take them out the window so they are not that crisp. Did a little bit of sharpening on the last two. All were taken with an XSi, 70-200mm f4 @ f5.6with a kenko 1.4 extender, iso 100. First one was approx 100mm and the other two were at 280mm. The last two were heavily cropped. Could someone tell me what the white bird is...I think it is some type of Heron. ???


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.23.64/2009_5F00_04_5F00_27_5F00_IMG_5F00_0574.jpg[/img]


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.23.64/2009_5F00_04_5F00_27_5F00_IMG_5F00_0713.jpg[/img]


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.23.64/2009_5F00_04_5F00_27_5F00_IMG_5F00_0714.jpg[/img]

Here are some various bird shots, taken over the last few days. [img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.22.66/IMG_5F00_6057cr.jpg[/img]


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.22.66/IMG_5F00_6168cr.jpg[/img]


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.22.66/IMG_5F00_6275cr.jpg[/img]


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.22.66/IMG_5F00_6399cr.jpg[/img]


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.22.66/IMG_5F00_6570cr.jpg[/img]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jayson

Could someone tell me what the white bird is...I think it is some type of Heron. ???



<div style="clear: both;"]</div>

---

A Snowy Egrett! :D

Devsalvi, it's actually a great white egret [:)]

Thanks :)

Hi Oren, here is my e-mail nhuto@hotmail.com, you can shoot me an e-mail or just reply to this thread and include your e-mail, thanks


I'll go in details of whatIdid to that image.


my regular settings of the40D and 400 f/5.6


1. AV mode.


2. f/5.6-8 (f/5.6 about 90%)


3. I adjust the ISO to get the adequate amount of shutter speed, at least 1/1000 sec.


4. AWB or Daylight


5. AI Servo AF (even for still subject, I don't have time to switch)


6. Continuous Shooting-6.5 fps


7. Evaluative Metering


8. Exposure Compesation: I don't have a specific setting for this, you have to rely on the histogram and the highlight alert function. If bird flying on bright sky, I usually dial +1/3 to +1 1/3


9. Highlight Tone Priority is used when bird has a lot of white details


10. sRGB color space


11. RAW - Sharpness: 4, Contrast: 1, Saturation: 1, Color Tone: 0


12. If your lens has Image Stabilizer, turn it off for action because with IS it actually slows the AF a bit to lock onto the subject


13. Try to get as close as possible without harming the subject and interfering its naturalbehavior


14. Patience


15. Practice, Practice and Practice ([:)] sorry the last3 are not camera settings, but they're very important)

Nhut (Nate),


Your last two posts are great. Your bird pictures have great composition, color and sharpness (and I know that a sharp lens is only the beginning of getting pictures with that look... I also own sharp lenses, but...)


You sure get out a lot. Maybe if I got results like you, I would, too [:)]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sinh Nhut Nguyen

Nhut (Nate)

---

Do you prefer to be called Nate, or Nhut?

Nhut, thanks for the help, I'll try that next time - I was actually using similar settings. Here's what I was using (with respect to your list above):





1. I used Av


2. I used f/5.6 99% of the time


3. I actually was adjusting the ISO to get shutter speed of 1/1000 at least and sometimes even higher


4. I used AWB all the time - I simply totally forgot about the WB setting LOL


5. After realizing I made a mistake, AI Servo was used all the time


6. Sometimes I used continuous sometimes not, I wasn't sure which one would be better - now I know[:)]


7. As I said, I was using spot metering - BIG mistake, I will be using evaluative next time


8. I used 0 - 1 exposure compensation


9. Didn't used highlight tone priority


10. sRGB of course


11. I was shooting JPEGs, not RAW - I'll try RAW next time


12. The lens I was using has IS, but I use it as few as possible to save energy - even at relatively slow shutter speeds, so of course I didn't use it while shooting flying birds at high shutter speeds


13. I got very very close (I could touch them if I wished) to some birds later on, but of course I couldn't get close to the flying birds at the sky





As for the image example I asked you about: I'll send you my email in a sec... thanks again

Thanks for the reply on the name. I have never seen one of those in person before. Thanks.


Jayson

My name is Nhut, I'm sure not too many people hereknow how to correctly pronounce it and no it's not "nut"[:D], so just call me Nate.


Here is what I did to theOsprey Imagebefore posting,

1. Crop - 3888x2592 to 3347x2281
2. Increase Exposure to +.50 in DPP (to brighten up the shadow, and eye)
3. AWB to Cloudy (It was a cloudy day)
4. Standard Picture Style to Potrait (this also brigthens up the shadows and the eye a bit)
5. Highlight from 0 to -4 (I did this because I want to bring back some of the details on the osprey forheadthat were lost when I increased the exposure +.5 in step 2)
6. Convert to JPEG and open in Photoshop CS2
7. I use the Magic Wand to select the yellow part of the eye and increase the Brightness to 30, Contrast to 15, and Saturation to 15 (If you selectively choose any area in the image it's best that you do it before resizing because the image is larger and you can do so with more accuracy.)
8. If I post at T.D.P. I resize to 750x500, on Photo.net it's 1200x800
9. Increase Brightness to 20 and Contrast to 10 to the entire picture.
10. Sharpening using Unsharp Mask function.

For 750x500 I use Amount 100%, Radius 0.2 pixels, I apply sharpening 4 times
For 1200x800 I also use Amount 100%, Radius 0.2 pixels, I apply sharpening 6 times
11. For Photo.net I also add the border
12. Save and post on web http://gfx2.hotmail.com/mail/w3/ltr/...le_regular.gif

I'm not a Photoshop Guru, I learn as I go and I learn by reading, viewing, asking questions in forums and trail/error.Each image has different work done to it, I don't have a set editingprocedure. I adjust/enhance to my taste and correct when someone comments.My #1 priority is to get it right the first time and use editing softwares to enhance the image.

Youprobably noticedthat I mentioned about the eye a lot. It is very important to get the eyein focus, brightand visible.If the image is missing the eye, something else has to be significant to take over for the missing eye.


I hope this answers some of your questions, and again I really appreciate your interest in my photography.

If you have time check out http://www.birdsasart.com/, lots of resources especially the bulletin archive.

Take care and God Bless

Nhut (Nate)

Ok, here is mine from yesterday:


It was heavily cropped from 4752x3168 to 1456x1280, then resized to 800x703 to fit this forum. Except the cropping and resizing, 0 (yes ZERO) PP was done.


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.22.41/IMG_5F00_0782.jpg[/img]

I usually take shots in RAW but flicked my 400D into 'Sports' mode and snapped this kestrel as it zoomed past. Got really lucky with the eye contact! 400D + 300 f/4L. Tv 1/2500 sec, Av f5, ISO 200.[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.23.16/Kestrel_5F00_2.jpg[/img]

Really nice shot cian, I like the wing pose, fanning tail feathers and the head angle. have you tried cropping tighter?

Thanks Nate, but I'm not in your league when it comes to bird pics! Afraid its already cropped and IQ suffers if I crop any further. I need more glass or more megapixels[:(]

Very cool, cian.


That eye contact really makes the pic IMO, and the detail is great.

Way cool.

40d ISO 800 70-200 IS @ 200mm F2.8 1/320.


All are cropped at least 50%


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.25.30/IMG_5F00_2522.JPG[/img]


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.25.30/IMG_5F00_2523.JPG[/img]


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.25.30/IMG_5F00_2528.JPG[/img]





Would love any critique - especially on exposure and PP. I think
highlight tone priority would have helped - the head's highlights are
blown. I also debated between more DoF vs higher ISO.

Nice shots! Having stalked Great Blue Herons myself, it's a game of luck and patience and I think you had both. Looking at your photos,you didn't havea lot of light to work with so I don't think you could have changed ISO, shutterspeed, or aperature to get better results. I think what you got is pretty good for the conditions.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...0x533_sRGB.jpg





http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...AuburnHoof.jpg

Just some recent ones. Spring is here!!! That cute kid, Colin.


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.28.47/IMG_5F00_8586-copy.jpg[/img]


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.28.47/xaaaa2.jpg[/img]

great blue on that dragonfly!


Nice light on the goat.


Aww, the fuzzy duckies are so CUTE!


They grow up to be pretty dirty.


We used to have some ducks and geese in a way too small backyard. I really liked how they ate snails. We got an above ground pool, about 3 feet high, and they and the geese would get all excited and swim around underwater like they were flying. We threw a couple hundred feeder fish in there, and they really had a good time. Way messy though. Within a couple days, you couldn't see the bottom, then algae and mosquito larvae soon afterwards.

when the duckies are grown up and fat, I have a great recipe for them.

2 summer residents have returned;


Oriole on 5-5-09


http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...ital/BWIO2.jpg





Rose-breasted Grosbeak 5-6-09


http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...edGrosbeak.jpg

Some great shots in this thread. Here are some of my favorites.


Yertle the Turtle: 40D 560mm f/13@ 1/125 tripod AP+1/3 center crop


http://www.pbase.com/dbrasco/image/1...6/original.jpg


Eagle Eye: 40D 400mm f/5.6 @ 1/50 ISO 100 AP -1/3 tripod center crop


http://www.pbase.com/dbrasco/image/1...6/original.jpg





Into the Sunset: 40D, 390mm f/5.6 @ 1/8000 ISO 500 offhand


http://www.pbase.com/dbrasco/image/9...4/original.jpg





Sundown Swan: 40D <span class="exif"]1/200s f/6.3 at 280.0mm iso800 tripod


http://www.pbase.com/dbrasco/image/9...2/original.jpg





Thanks for looking. More at [View:http://www.pbase.com/dbrasco/animals] if you're interested.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Don Burkett

Yertle the Turtle: 40D 560mm f/13@ 1/125 tripod AP+1/3 center crop

---

Don, is that a Seussicalreference!? My school just got done doing that musical so my mind is still in Suess land.


Sorry, totallyirrelevant, but I just had to ask.


Very nice pictures by the way!


I like "Eagle Eye" the best. :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rodger

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Don Burkett

Yertle the Turtle: 40D 560mm f/13@ 1/125 tripod AP+1/3 center crop

---

Don, is that a Seussicalreference!? My school just got done doing that musical so my mind is still in Suess land.


Sorry, totallyirrelevant, but I just had to ask.


Very nice pictures by the way!


I like "Eagle Eye" the best. :D
<div style="clear: both;"]</div>

---

Indeed it was. Dr. Seuss was my favorite as a child and a favorite to read to my children.