70-200 + 2x Extender = fantastic wildlife shots

[leebase]

My company has "wetlands" that are landscaped around the corporate headquarters, where I work. Been there 3 years and had never actually walked outside other than too and from the parking garage. Anywho...in an effort to get healthy, I've been walking during my lunch hour...and today I took my camera along with me.

Since I wanted to shoot the wildlife, I brought my 20D, Sigma 70-200 f2.8 EX and Sigma 2x APO converter. Didn't bring my monopod. All these shots are handheld at 640mm 35mm equiv. I set the ISO to 400 to allow me f5.6/f8 aperatures with shutter speeds over 1/1000 -- in what I thought would be a mostly vain effort.

Even with all the reach, the wildlife was still mostly too far away. The photos I have in my gallery have been severely cropped, most of them anyway.

All that said, I'm THRILLED with the results. I shot RAW and used Rawshooter Essentials to process and I couldn't be more enthused at the output.

Gallery (http://leebase.smugmug.com/gallery/508137)

These goslings were not that far away, only about 15 yards.

http://leebase.smugmug.com/photos/20838635-L.jpg

Here's one of the "real far away" shots. And a moving bird at that. And a black bird at that. So no, it's not a "real sharp" photo, but I'm pleased with it nonetheless. I like the composition (after cropping, of course)

http://leebase.smugmug.com/photos/20838658-L.jpg
This next one I'd count as "sharp".

http://leebase.smugmug.com/photos/20838654-L.jpg

Again, adjusting one's expectations -- hand held, moving, far away, 2x converter slowing down the AF and costing 2 stops of light, and severely cropped. It's this type of photo that, IMO, gives lie to the "2 more megapixels doesn't matter".

Ok...so the photos are not ready for National Geographic. But ever since I got my 300D, I've been envious of the "bird photos" that folks have gotten...folks like Danielle. These aren't up to her quality either, but one has to start somewhere.

Lee

[MuskyDude]

I'm in the same boat so to speak; I have beautiful parklands right next to work. It's a win-win situation, exercise and photo ops. Get's the spirit going...

I like your shots Lee but that first one is just fantastic. :clap Thanks for sharing.

AJ

[jthomas]

All that said, I'm THRILLED with the results. I shot RAW and used Rawshooter Essentials to process and I couldn't be more enthused at the output.


Lee Excellent pictures! I would be interested to know what adjustments you made in Rawshooter before saving as jpeg. Did you massage in PS also?

[Harryb]

Hey Lee,

The goosling shot is wonderful. :thumb You learned one of the first lessons about wildlife photography and that is that the perfect lens for wildlife shooting is always 200mm more than the one you are shooting with. :D

Looking forward to seeing some more shots from your wetlands.

Harry

[3rdPlanetPhotography]

What did that sigma lens cost? I have the 20D and now looking for a zoom lens after I recover from the expense of the camera :wink



My company has "wetlands" that are landscaped around the corporate headquarters, where I work. Been there 3 years and had never actually walked outside other than too and from the parking garage. Anywho...in an effort to get healthy, I've been walking during my lunch hour...and today I took my camera along with me.

Since I wanted to shoot the wildlife, I brought my 20D, Sigma 70-200 f2.8 EX and Sigma 2x APO converter. Didn't bring my monopod. All these shots are handheld at 640mm 35mm equiv. I set the ISO to 400 to allow me f5.6/f8 aperatures with shutter speeds over 1/1000 -- in what I thought would be a mostly vain effort.

Even with all the reach, the wildlife was still mostly too far away. The photos I have in my gallery have been severely cropped, most of them anyway.

All that said, I'm THRILLED with the results. I shot RAW and used Rawshooter Essentials to process and I couldn't be more enthused at the output.

Gallery (http://leebase.smugmug.com/gallery/508137)

These goslings were not that far away, only about 15 yards.

http://leebase.smugmug.com/photos/20838635-L.jpg

Here's one of the "real far away" shots. And a moving bird at that. And a black bird at that. So no, it's not a "real sharp" photo, but I'm pleased with it nonetheless. I like the composition (after cropping, of course)

http://leebase.smugmug.com/photos/20838658-L.jpg
This next one I'd count as "sharp".

http://leebase.smugmug.com/photos/20838654-L.jpg

Again, adjusting one's expectations -- hand held, moving, far away, 2x converter slowing down the AF and costing 2 stops of light, and severely cropped. It's this type of photo that, IMO, gives lie to the "2 more megapixels doesn't matter".

Ok...so the photos are not ready for National Geographic. But ever since I got my 300D, I've been envious of the "bird photos" that folks have gotten...folks like Danielle. These aren't up to her quality either, but one has to start somewhere.

Lee

[Khaos]

Great shots. The goslings are fantastic.:thumb

[jwear]

Hey Lee,

The goosling shot is wonderful. :thumb You learned one of the first lessons about wildlife photography and that is that the perfect lens for wildlife shooting is always 200mm more than the one you are shooting with. :D

Looking forward to seeing some more shots from your wetlands.

Harry Lee I am going along with Harry, little goosseus :thumb and your glass can never be to big :scratch or long :scratch oh you get the idea :):

[leebase]

Excellent pictures! I would be interested to know what adjustments you made in Rawshooter before saving as jpeg. Did you massage in PS also?
I set to Outdoor Strong, boosted saturation even a bit more on some, shadow contrast adjustment, sharpening, and a dash of detail extraction.

Then cropped with jpegcrops -- no photoshop or other image editor.

Lee

[leebase]

I'm in the same boat so to speak; I have beautiful parklands right next to work. It's a win-win situation, exercise and photo ops. Get's the spirit going...
It does. Gathered a couple coworkers to start walking with me. But they are treating it like exercise...I'm just taking a stroll through nature.

I like your shots Lee but that first one is just fantastic. :clap Thanks for sharing.
Thanks,

Lee

[leebase]

Lee I am going along with Harry, little goosseus :thumb and your glass can never be to big :scratch or long :scratch oh you get the idea :):
Or a BOAT....would have been nice to get closer in a canoe or something.

Lee

[leebase]

What did that sigma lens cost? I have the 20D and now looking for a zoom lens after I recover from the expense of the camera :wink
It's about $750-800 -- and can produce even better shots when not hampered by the 2x converter.

Lee

[jwear]

Or a BOAT....would have been nice to get closer in a canoe or something.

Leeyea but i can not keep it still on flat ground . I have given that boat idea a thought or 2 myself :D maybe an old innertube if anyones knows what they are these days

[bfjr]

I'm on onboard with everyone else #1 rocks the boat :thumb