Briony's 52 2010 Week 34 SURFACES added 24/08

Briony said:
I shoot mainly in TV mode do you think I should change? and if so what to (trying to stay away from Auto) any suggestions greatfully received.

Thank you
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I shoot in AV. I don't honestly think there's a lot to choose from either really. Having said that I had a day on TV recently and must admit I'm better at working out shutter speeds than I am f-stops so will be spending more time on TV in the future. What is it you think is wrong?
 
I also loved the People photo it made me laugh so much, there's one guy with 3 cameras one over each arm and another one in his hands. My People was criticized but I liked it so I carried on to the next theme and suddenly there's a crane coming up our lane, so you can wake up in the morning and keep your camera handy and you'll see something, the crane was taken with a compact so you don't need 4 cameras just a little one. See if you can get a Play one in to-day. Chemistry, potting shed, gardening, see what the other put up and they'll give you an idea. The main thing is have fun.
 
Focussing is my main problem I think I am trying to get piccys of birds in flight also so I am using a fast shutter speed - right :shrug: but when I come to view them they are all blurred and soft to me, yet the set up shots I take are o.k. i.e the rifle but as you know that wildlife is a hit or miss affair but wanted to stay away from auto. I am better at shutter speeds (maybe not :lol:) but I understand them more.
 
Briony said:
Focussing is my main problem I think I am trying to get piccys of birds in flight also so I am using a fast shutter speed - right :shrug: but when I come to view them they are all blurred and soft to me, yet the set up shots I take are o.k. i.e the rifle but as you know that wildlife is a hit or miss affair but wanted to stay away from auto. I am better at shutter speeds (maybe not :lol:) but I understand them more.
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Tv is definitely the preferred mode for fast moving stuff, Briony. What sort of speeds are you using for your BIF shots, and what lens?

For stationary shots, Av would work better. As long as the shutter speed is fast enough to eliminate camera shake (1/60ish, depending on your hands) it doesn't matter what it is so you might as well let the camera set it. Meanwhile you can control the aperture to get the DoF you want.
 
Ok so should be quick enough. Could well be focussing which, by all accounts isn't very easy. What AF mode do you use?
 
Briony, it's a good shot of the gun, clear, the colours are strong and sharp. Considering you're preference for wildlife, you've done a nice job on it. To make it more interesting.. if you can... stand it up, put the camera low down, as if you were sighting along it, got for a relative small number on the Aperture, and get in quite close and see what comes out... Maybe play with the aperture a bit.. focus on different parts of the firing mechanism and barrel etc.

I agree with Jean, please don't give up, some of the themes can, at first glance appear to be an utter nightmare, and really turn you away from it. But.. treat each one as a way to work out something with the camera or lighting or something... For instance, with mechanical... play with the aperture and Depth Of Field... hey for play, use the fact you a playing with the settings ;)... (as I mentioned in the week 10 thread)... feel free to PM me, I have lots of ideas for Chemistry...

As for Birds in flight... try setting Servo AF, set all focus points, continuous shooting. Target the bird initially with the centre AF point, then, in theory, the camera should keep in focus as long as at least one focus point is on the bird. You may also need to work on your panning technique, especially if they are moving very fast... If you have any not binned yet, post up a couple with as much as you can about the camera settings and the experts can work out what's happening.
 
As for Birds in flight... try setting Servo AF, set all focus points, continuous shooting. Target the bird initially with the centre AF point, then, in theory, the camera should keep in focus as long as at least one focus point is on the bird. You may also need to work on your panning technique, especially if they are moving very fast... If you have any not binned yet, post up a couple with as much as you can about the camera settings and the experts can work out what's happening.[/QUOTE]

I am trying to shoot kites and buzzards (that is after I have been out wioth the gun to shoot them rabbits etc) so they are not moving that quick but have my focus point on the centre square that is where I am probably going wrong:thinking:
 
Briony said:
I manual focus
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:eek::cuckoo:

If you manage to hit focus on a moving subject in manual then you would be some sort of Jedi Photographer!!

The method that jgs001 suggests should give you better results.

EDIT: Ok, I was asking about your BIF focussing, not the gun, which is in focus.
 
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Here we go

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The '1/Focal Length' rule of thumb needs to take into account the fact that you're using a crop body so at 400mm, 1/400 is a bit slow. It's probably a lot to do with your technique (not that mine is any better!) as well and practice is the only way to overcome that!
 
Oh well off I go then and will try and post a really good photo later :lol::lol: my mission today is a "bird in flight"
 
One other thing that might be of interest.... are you using a filter on your lens? The diagonal lines in the bokeh in that BIF image look like the ones I've seen on here caused by using a filter.
 
Is this any better have a perfect opportunity today as other half is ploughing and there must be over 100 kites around also Buzzards, lapwings, gulls and I still can't get it right.:bang:


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Off out again this afternoon to see if I can better them.
 
Even at 400mm, how much of a crop is that ? Also try removing the UV filter, I've had all sorts of odd effects with mine, and now don't use one.

Good luck... I'd suggest starting a new thread in birds... you'll get more input from the bird shooters.
 
Briony said:
Is this any better have a perfect opportunity today as other half is ploughing and there must be over 100 kites around also Buzzards, lapwings, gulls and I still can't get it right.:bang:



Off out again this afternoon to see if I can better them.
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No exif data in that one - what were your settings? SS still looks a bit slow to be honest.
 
Right here is week 9 PLAY I have been playing around with my camera buttons today trying to fathom out how to capture birds in flight, so a bit of a different take on the subject.

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I like it and am please with it although there is still room for vast improvement but got a bit cold after 3 hours!!!!
 
Briony said:
Right here is week 9 PLAY I have been playing around with my camera buttons today trying to fathom out how to capture birds in flight, so a bit of a different take on the subject.

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I like it and am please with it although there is still room for vast improvement but got a bit cold after 3 hours!!!!
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:clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap:

So, now you've p'd me off, that's great, seriously, if I could get anywhere near that I'd be happy. My birds have to be stationary, I can't manage 'in flight' stuff.
 
Briony - whatever you do, please don't give up!!! Be proud that you're attempting this project and producing some great shots!

At least you're keeping up with uploading the pics in time, which is loads more than I am :lol:
 
Thanks guys, just a great opportunity today to see so many but as ususal I still am not happy and out again tomorrow afternoon to try and better these shots.

Anyone want to join me?
 
That's a great shot. BIF are flippin' hard. I've only managed one decent one and that was by accident.
 
Briony said:
Thanks guys, just a great opportunity today to see so many but as ususal I still am not happy and out again tomorrow afternoon to try and better these shots.

Anyone want to join me?
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Rob C The cake is made and the kettle on !! See you this afternoon Kites booked - hopefully :lol::lol:
 
Briony said:
Right here is week 9 PLAY I have been playing around with my camera buttons...
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What a great take on the theme. I'm not really qualified to comment on what makes a good bird shot, but I like the way you were thinking. :thumbs:
 
That is excellent :thumbs:

I can never get birds in flight. I am lucky to get reasonable stationary shots.

I am officially jealous now :lol: You have a farm with good access to loads of wildlife photography. If I lived anywhere near Oxford then I would be camped on your doorstep :D

Keep going with it.
 
well done .. must be very hard to catch in flight, and an interesting play on the theme !
 
Hi Briony,

I'm glad that you haven't given up with this :hug:
There really is a lot to learn through doing a 52 and you're guaranteed plenty of feedback and support.

And I happen to think that there's a lot to like with your rifle image :thumbs:
It's a good interpretation of the theme, lovely & sharp and there's some very interesting detail in there.

In terms of how it could be improved, John has already summed up what I wanted to say (as usual ;))

jgs001 said:
To make it more interesting.. if you can... stand it up, put the camera low down, as if you were sighting along it, got for a relative small number on the Aperture, and get in quite close and see what comes out... Maybe play with the aperture a bit.. focus on different parts of the firing mechanism and barrel etc.
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With this type of shot, experiment with some different viewpoints and angles. Get in closer to some of the detail, tweak the aperture settings to see what effects you get. It's a great way to get used to the different capabilities of your camera.

And then we have "Play" : (Your BIF)
OK . . . all this time you've been telling us you can't do it and you want to give up . . . and then you go and post something as brilliant as this ;) :thumbs:

I know absolutely nothing about bird photography, but I'd be very happy to get something like this.

Wildlife and animal photography is obviously your passion, so why not see if you can try to incorporate it into the rest of your 52?
The themes are just there to prompt you to get out with the camera and give you a bit of inspiration. It really doesn't matter if there's only a tenuous link to the theme (although you might come in for some playful teasing for it)

Have a look at Leanne's (Shorty's) 52 thread from last year.
She really wanted to work on her pet photography, so you can see how she fitted this into some of the themes. You'll also see how her pet portraits improved over the course of the year.
Part 1 and Part 2 here.
 
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Hi Briony - I'm really, really pleased to see you here this week - and 'playing' with 'play' like this. I've never come anywhere near anything like this BIF - it's an awesome bird and I love the line of his (?) wings, and the way he's just cruising along. I think you've made a good job of a difficult shot. :thumbs:

I can't really help you on the technical side for BIF - it's sooo difficult and there's so much to contend with. And manual focus on a moving object is well out of my league. :lol: You'll get lots of help on the bird forum, though.

However, the 'feeder' shot, it looks as though the camera has focussed on the netting rather than the bird (I've had this trouble trying to shoot through netting!) or there's a tiny bit of camera shake. The light levels have been awful just lately which doesn't help either. If you're shooting handheld, one tip I learned was to keep your elbows firmly into your sides, breathe in, frame and focus the shot, breathe out, then gently press the shutter button. It helps me. :)

Those kites are worth persevering with - and you're already getting some good 'keepers'. Good luck with Chemistry. :)

Jean
 
:clap::clap: Well done Nicki... that's a huge improvement on the other shots... and a corker of a BIF too. The only thing I'd do now... just crop the top left off to put the bird on a third with room to fly into.
 
Right for CANDID I went along to a local place from me that does a bit of parachute jumping just to take a few shots as I am not happy going out in the street to take photos.

I took 2 shots of people just doing there everyday jobs,

1. A tandem parachute jumper just packing up his chute after jumping.

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Unedited version


047-2.jpg


This guy does tandem jumps to make a bit more money to enable him to travel the world jumping.

2. Filling up the plane with fuel, it has to be done:

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I said to my self I CAN do this and I DID do this therefore you have "candid" :lol::lol:

Looking at NO 1 shot I can see that I have oversharpened it any comments and help please.
 
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Nice composition Nicki! Not too keen on the edited version, I prefer the original. Also, I hate to be the one to say it (again!) and get booo'd but.... is it just me or is it out of focus?
 
I agree with you John but I think it is slightly OOF that is why I tried to sharpen it.

Hindsight I should have used a different lens and for this weeks Produce I am trying to use something different.

Thanks;)

Back to the birds me thinks :lol::lol:
 
You already know about the OOF in the first one but it is a great capture.

I reckon a crop on the right to lose the bloke and one on the left to lose the OOF focus roofcrate or whatever it is will make the second shot a cracker.

Andy
 
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