Comments on: Learning wildlife photography – Making sharper images – Part 1 http://www.paulburwell.com/blog/2009/01/learning-wildlife-photography-making-sharper-images-part-1/ News and Views from the world of Wildlife Photography Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:52:42 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Håkan Olsson http://www.paulburwell.com/blog/2009/01/learning-wildlife-photography-making-sharper-images-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-1079 Håkan Olsson Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:16:48 +0000 http://www.paulburwell.com/blog/?p=771#comment-1079 Some cameras come with an option to set a button (like af-on, on my 50D) so you can use servo af and then if the animal stops you can push that button to lock the servo af so you can recompose and take the shot. Then you save some time and don't have to change the af mode to one-shot. I'm sure you know that, but it might help someone else. In my camera you have to set a CF setting to get that function. Some cameras come with an option to set a button (like af-on, on my 50D) so you can use servo af and then if the animal stops you can push that button to lock the servo af so you can recompose and take the shot. Then you save some time and don’t have to change the af mode to one-shot. I’m sure you know that, but it might help someone else. In my camera you have to set a CF setting to get that function.

]]> By: Paul Burwell http://www.paulburwell.com/blog/2009/01/learning-wildlife-photography-making-sharper-images-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-57 Paul Burwell Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:08:18 +0000 http://www.paulburwell.com/blog/?p=771#comment-57 If you aren't seeing a single AF point, it could be that your camera is in a mode where they are all turned on and the cameras decided what has the most contrast in the center of the frame and is focusing on that. When I say meter off the snow, I mean finding an area of snow that I can use to fill the frame in my camera through whatever lens I'm using. I'll make an exposure, check the histogram and then compensate. Usually by adding up to 2 1/3 stops of compensation. Otherwise, when you're photographing in white snowy conditions your camera will tend to underexpose the images (the camera's meter looks at the scene and determine that whatever is being metered should average out to a medium grey). To compensate for the camera's meter just not being that smart, you have to purposely tell the camera to overexpose beyond what its natural tendencies are. If you aren’t seeing a single AF point, it could be that your camera is in a mode where they are all turned on and the cameras decided what has the most contrast in the center of the frame and is focusing on that.

When I say meter off the snow, I mean finding an area of snow that I can use to fill the frame in my camera through whatever lens I’m using. I’ll make an exposure, check the histogram and then compensate. Usually by adding up to 2 1/3 stops of compensation. Otherwise, when you’re photographing in white snowy conditions your camera will tend to underexpose the images (the camera’s meter looks at the scene and determine that whatever is being metered should average out to a medium grey). To compensate for the camera’s meter just not being that smart, you have to purposely tell the camera to overexpose beyond what its natural tendencies are.

]]> By: Little Links - Thursday January 8th 2009 | Joe Scanlon http://www.paulburwell.com/blog/2009/01/learning-wildlife-photography-making-sharper-images-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-52 Little Links - Thursday January 8th 2009 | Joe Scanlon Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:26:56 +0000 http://www.paulburwell.com/blog/?p=771#comment-52 [...] Burwell shows how to make sharper images for you photo blog : Part 1 Part 2 Part [...] [...] Burwell shows how to make sharper images for you photo blog : Part 1 Part 2 Part [...]

]]> By: Sean http://www.paulburwell.com/blog/2009/01/learning-wildlife-photography-making-sharper-images-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-49 Sean Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:54:20 +0000 http://www.paulburwell.com/blog/?p=771#comment-49 ok, thanks, great to know focus point matters since I don't recall see the red dot in view finder in Al Servo. mode. what do you mean meeter off the snow? do you mean you try to expose the wolf , but snow maybe over exposed? ok, thanks, great to know focus point matters since I don’t recall see the red dot in view finder in Al Servo. mode.

what do you mean meeter off the snow? do you mean you try to expose the wolf , but snow maybe over exposed?

]]> By: Paul Burwell http://www.paulburwell.com/blog/2009/01/learning-wildlife-photography-making-sharper-images-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-48 Paul Burwell Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:29:16 +0000 http://www.paulburwell.com/blog/?p=771#comment-48 Sean, Regardless of the focus mode (Servo versus One Shot) it matters which focus point you use. Whatever focus point is selected is what the camera is going to try and focus on. I usually use evaluative metering and have used my camera enough to understand when I need to add in compensation or not. If I'm shooting under tough conditions (like a black wolf on white snow), I'm pretty much going to be in manual mode where I'll meter off the snow and then add the appropriate compensation to get to the exposure I need for my camera. I'm constantly evaluating my histogram to make sure the light isn't changing. Sean,

Regardless of the focus mode (Servo versus One Shot) it matters which focus point you use. Whatever focus point is selected is what the camera is going to try and focus on.

I usually use evaluative metering and have used my camera enough to understand when I need to add in compensation or not.

If I’m shooting under tough conditions (like a black wolf on white snow), I’m pretty much going to be in manual mode where I’ll meter off the snow and then add the appropriate compensation to get to the exposure I need for my camera. I’m constantly evaluating my histogram to make sure the light isn’t changing.

]]> By: Sean http://www.paulburwell.com/blog/2009/01/learning-wildlife-photography-making-sharper-images-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-45 Sean Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:04:44 +0000 http://www.paulburwell.com/blog/?p=771#comment-45 I wonder in AL Servo mode, does it matter which focus point to choose? I think if using spot metering, it uses the center focus point for exposure. so if one choose another focus point, what you focus may not be proper exposed. I wonder in AL Servo mode, does it matter which focus point to choose?
I think if using spot metering, it uses the center focus point for exposure. so if one choose another focus point, what you focus may not be proper exposed.

]]> By: Learning wildlife photography - Making sharper images - Part 2 | Paul Burwell Photography http://www.paulburwell.com/blog/2009/01/learning-wildlife-photography-making-sharper-images-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-44 Learning wildlife photography - Making sharper images - Part 2 | Paul Burwell Photography Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:42:39 +0000 http://www.paulburwell.com/blog/?p=771#comment-44 [...] Learning wildlife photography - Making sharper images - Part 1 [...] [...] Learning wildlife photography – Making sharper images – Part 1 [...]

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