Post Your Best Nature Shots!

[devsalvi]

This birdie showed up outside my work. Thank god i carry my camera everywhere.


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.24.65/_5F00_MG_5F00_9233.JPG[/img]


125mm, f5.6, 1/320, iso 400


Lens was the kit lens 28-135 IS





Cheers!


Dev

[stampedingturtle]

First time posts []any constructive criticism is welcome.


All these where taken with a Canon 450D and an EF70-200.


Seagull.


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.28.72/Bird-800x.JPG[/img]


Swan.


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.28.72/Swan-Drip-800x.JPG[/img]


Young swan.


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.28.72/Swan-Drip-2-800x.JPG[/img]


Regards,


Paul

[Jon Ruyle]

I especially like the seagull. I'm assuming that one was heavily cropped... (only because it would be tough to get that close with a 200mm lens)

[stampedingturtle]

Yes it was cropped down by quite a bit, fortunately it was out the centre of the lens so it was pretty sharp.

[devsalvi]

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>

[Bill M.]

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]

[devsalvi]

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

[George Slusher]

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.

[Bill M.]

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.

[Jon Ruyle]

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.

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.