Stuff
On Saturday morning I presented “A Bird Photographer’s Story” at the San Diego Museum of Natural History to kick off the opening of the spectacular Birds of the World exhibit. It was one of the more wonderful mornings of my life. More soon. This blog post, which took 3 hours to prepare, was published at 9:01PM Pacific time on Saturday evening, morning, one minute after midnight (on Sunday) in the east.
I will be sharing additional 100-400 images along with additional positives and a very few negatives on the new lens. I used the 100-400 II a lot on my San Diego trip with both the 1D X and the 7D II and on occasion, with the 1.4X III TC. I shot all morning in La Jolla on Thursday with the hand held 1-4II and the 1D X. With great results. Images and more comments soon.
South Georgia October 2015
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This image was created with the hand held Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens (at 349mm) and the Canon EOS 7D Mark II. ISO 1600. Evaluative metering +1 stop as framed: 1/500 sec. at f/5.6 Manual mode. Rig on the Black Rapid RS-7 Strap. Four AF points to the left of the central AF point (manual selection)/AI Servo Rear Focus AF as framed was active at the moment of exposure (as is almost always best when hand holding). Click here to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #1 |
Stunning Color and Sharpness
All six of today’s images, created at La Jolla, CA on the recently concluded San Diego IPT with the 100-400 II and the 7D II, feature stunning sharpness and color. All created on February 4, 2015 in cloudy conditions.
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This image was created with the hand held Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens (at 278mm) and the Canon EOS 7D Mark II. ISO 400. Evaluative metering at zero as framed: 1/1250 sec. at f/5.6 Manual mode. Rig on the Black Rapid RS-7 Strap. One AF point to the left and two rows up from the central AF point/AI Servo Rear Focus/Expand AF as framed was active at the moment of exposure (as is almost always best when hand holding). Click here to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #2 |
Clouds and Soft Light
Working on foggy or cloudy mornings allows you to work against distant green and brown cliff backgrounds. On sunny days, the only distant background available down sun angle is Pacific blue. Not bad but the colors of the pelican really rock against the earth tones.
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This image was created with the hand held Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens (at 200mm) and the Canon EOS 7D Mark II. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop as framed: 1/1600 sec. at f/5.6 Manual mode. Rig on the Black Rapid RS-7 Strap. One AF point to the left and two rows up from the central AF point/AI Servo Rear Focus/Expand AF as framed was active at the moment of exposure (as is almost always best when hand holding). Click here to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #3 |
Zoom Out for Head Throws
Almost inevitably I cut off the end of the bill when photographing head throws. The trick is to zoom out a lot more than you think could possibly be necessary. As I did here.
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This image was created with the hand held <Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens (at 182mm) and the Canon EOS 7D Mark II. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 stop as framed: 1/640 sec. at f/5.6 in Manual mode. Rig on the Black Rapid RS-7 Strap. Center AF point/AI Servo Rear Focus AF on the bird’s eye and re-compose with elbows resting on a rock for stability. Click here to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #4 |
Fairly Wide
Here, working at 182mm allowed me to include a considerable bit of the rock perch.
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This image was created with the hand held Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens (at 349mm) and the Canon EOS 7D Mark II. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop as framed: 1/500 sec. at f/9 in Manual mode. Rig on the Black Rapid RS-7 Strap. Center AF point/AI Servo Rear Focus AF on the bird’s eye and re-compose with elbows resting on a rock for stability. Click here to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #5 |
A Bit Tighter
For the image above, I zoomed in just a bit to 349mm. Note that with more magnification that I stopped down to f/9 for extra depth-of-field.
Image Questions
For images #4 & #5 how would having been able to get two inches lower have improved the images?
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This image was created with the hand held Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens, the Canon Extender EF 1.4X III (at 349mm), and the Canon EOS 7D Mark II. ISO 1600. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop as framed: 1/400 sec. at f/9 in Manual mode. Rig on the Black Rapid RS-7 Strap. Center AF point (by necessity)/AI Servo Rear Focus AF on the bird’s eye and re-compose with elbows resting on a rock for stability. Click here to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #6 |
Adding the 1.4X III TC
To create the classic sleeping head pelican portrait I added the 1.4X III TC and worked at 420mm.
Your Favorite?
Please take a moment to let us know which of today’s six images is your favorite and be sure to let us know why.
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Typos
In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).
Number two really was an easy pick for me. The colors and position make it outstanding.
Many tanks. The colors really work well together. a
Ditto Denise, the one with green background is my favorite.
Wonderful images, as usual. I knew why getting two inches lower would have helped–you’ve trained me well–but Neil Hickman got there first. 🙂
Love the one with the green in the background.
When you added the 1.4x III, does the 100-400 II auto focus or do you still have to manually focus?
The 7D II like most of the newer Canon bodies focus to f/8 so that combo does autofocus. And well, too. artie
Would there be a significant difference if using the 1.4x II with the set up? Thanks as always for your help.
Please see Image #6 above and you tell me :). There are issues when adding the 1.4X TC to this combo. I will address those here soon. artie
Getting a bit tired of pelicans.
Best advice. Take a nap. A very long one….
Al great images, Artie. Like the pose in the first one. Great tips, especially for stopping down for the tighter zoom. I know I am not at the level of most of your readers, but your tips do gradually sink in for me. You are a good teacher.
Many tanks 🙂 a
Hey Artie, amazing images but your captions and links are referencing the mark I version of the lens, not the new mark II. Just want to make sure people don’t accidently order the old version when they want the new. I have the mark II on order already. Maybe I made a mistake and if so, I’m sorry.
Many, many thanks. My erros have been corrected. later and love, artie
Love 2 and 3. The pose in 2 is perfect. As you said, the bird’s color in the head throw looks awesome against the earth tones.
I have this lens on order through your BH link. Any info as to when they will be available?
Thanks on all counts. Please shoot me your B&H receipt via e-mail and I will do my best to get your order expedited. artie
Get lower to get the tail off the rock. All great images, but No 6 had the “Wow” factor for me.
You nailed the tail bit 🙂 artie
Love #2 perfect color, focus, pose and background. Taken in the best light of this series. I would print this one so I could admire it every day. I have a picture hook with a paper clamp in my dining room so I can study the latest and greatest print.