Within the last few weeks I have had the opportunity to walk around both Yorkshire Wildlife Centre and Chestnut Wildlife Park. The Chestnut Wildlife Park is know for it’s collection of owls and otters as well as it’s deer park in which you can walk through. This was my first outing with my new lens, Tamron zoom 70-300mm. The day was not a success in my eyes. I tried complete manual setting, using large ISO of 800 to help with the increased shutter speed and large aperture. I managed to get some decent shots of otters including the one below.
The owls on the other hand was hard to capture due to the three layers of chicken wire on the cage. I had to manually focus on the birds of prey which I didn’t like doing as I have bad eyesight. I have one or two that I like but you can still see the wire making the image look dirty.
The Yorkshire Wildlife Centre, know for saving lions and have a lemur forest to walk through, was more of a success.
I did however have issues with birds of prey in flight, I couldn’t get close enough due to the crowds and always managed to get them flying away. I think next time I will need to go see a birds of prey santuary owner for some private sessions.
I tried a different approach and turned the dial to Tv, Canons shutter speed priority. This was I could set the shutter speed much higher without having to worry about aperture. Some say this is cheating, but why only limit yourself to manual if chosing shutter speed or aperture priority can get you better images much faster. Don’t get me wrong I use full manual for most of photographs these days, however for animals and wildlife which move so fast and erratically I would rather have a setting where I don’t need to think much and manage to get a photograph I’m proud of.
As usual more photographs can be found on my Flickr account; http://www.flickr.com/photos/marriott_rob/
I think with any type of photography you need to learn the subject as much as the camera you are using. I think if you visit the place 3 more times you will understand the subject that much more along with the location so you will get infinitely better shots.
ReplyDeleteAs for camera settings fuck what is in niche or supposedly the correct way to shoot. The correct way to capture a picture is the way that works and nothing else. No working pro will spend 40 minutes setting up a shot manually if they can get the same results in 10 minutes using some auto settings. Its all about getting the shot you want and the shot that works. The ways and the means are a personal preference. I take a business like approach as if I ever want to make money out of the hobby then I need to take a business like approach. That would be time and motion. If it takes to long you are making less money.
I agree. Especially now I am making money from my photos. :-)
ReplyDeleteSweet. Good to hear Rob
ReplyDeleteIt has taken me the best part of ten years to get off my lazy arse to do this though. oh and being stuck in a dead end job.
ReplyDelete