What’s Up?
Yesterday morning’s photo session got off to a very exciting start; see the whole story below.
I spent a good part of Wednesday setting up my new MacBook Pro. I got some amazing help from Apple Care and am quite close to being ready to rock and roll on the new machine. When I am good to go, I will send the old MacBook Pro in to have the problematic at best “butterfly” keyboard replaced. Once it is repaired it will make a great back-up.
The forecast for today — Thursday 13 AUGUST 2020 — is for mostly sunny turning early to mostly cloudy with afternoon thunderstorms. I will be headed out to photograph at about 7:00am.
I did get to see Part I of Alan Murphy’s Bird Photography Tips Webinar on Tuesday past. Alan’s clever tips will help all bird photographers especially those who are working at feeders and set-ups. See the info on Part II (tonight) below. If you are busy you can register and view the program online for a full week.
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Bird Photography Tips Part II Webinar with Alan Murphy
To register for Alan’s August 18th webinar, click here or on the image above. Alan’s abililty to create surreally perfect set-ups and attract birds into photographic range is remarkable … I will be there and am looking forward to it with anticipation as I am in the process of turning my living room into a bird photography blind!
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Purchase a (new) qualifying SONY camera body (a7r iii, a7r iv, a9, a9 ii) from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a $40 discount on the SONY e-guide. Purchase a (new) SONY 200-600mm G lens from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a $25 discount on the SONY e-guide. Purchase a (new) SONY 600mm f/4 GM lens from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a free SONY e-guide with one or two videos.
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Click here to learn more about the SONY e-Guide.
The BAA Used Gear Page
The BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Past Sales list at the bottom of the page.
Money Saving Reminder
If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase of more than $1000.00, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H. Those include the SONY a7r IV, the SONY 200-600, the SONY 600mm f/4 GM, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is eager to please.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
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This image was created on Wednesday 12 August 2020 at Indian Lake Estates. Simply resting my rig on the passenger side window frame, I used the Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, Sony FE 1.4x teleconverter, and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 10000. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/320 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. Somewhat miraculously, the exposure was confirmed as perfect by RawDigger. ABW at 7:15am with clouds on the eastern horizon. Tracking Flexible Spot (M) Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. Click the image to see a larger version. Bobcat |
A Miraculous Morning!
I was heading south on Orange Avenue at about 25 mph to look for some wildflowers. Some clouds in the east covered the early sun. About halfway to the end of the road, a Bobcat bolted across the road at full speed about 100 yards in front of my SUV. I slowed considerably as I got to the spot where it ran into the woods — hoping against hope. I glanced to my right as I stopped and was stunned to see the handsome cat sitting in a tiny clearing looking right at me. What were my chances? Slim and none. Or less!
But the right side front window was already down. And the big lens with the 1.4X TC and an a9 ii was resting against the passenger seat. I never even thought about setting up the tripod for many reasons; my only chance would be to lean to my right, rest the big lens on the passenger side window frame, and pray a bit. As I turned the camera on, I instinctively rolled the Control Wheel dial many clicks clockwise with my right thumb to raise the ISO, not knowing or caring where it stopped. The cat just sat there and stared at me. The total time elapsed had been less than 15 seconds.
With the image in the finder miles under-exposed, I noted the shutter speed of 1/2000 sec. I rotated the top-back wheel, again with my right thumb, to lower the shutter speed until I saw some Zebras on the cat. It stopped at 1/320 second as I noted that the ISO was 10,000. I focused on the face, re-composed left a bit to move the cat off center, and fired off 8 frames. Then the cat turned and disappeared. From the moment that I stopped until the Bobcat exited stage left could not have been more than 30 seconds.
One of the things I love most about nature photography and about bird photography in particular, is that you often have so many decisions to make in so little time. When you make them all quickly and correctly, the results can be tremendously satisfying. I was quite proud of myself as I almost always screw up under pressure. But knowing my gear and all of the camera settings and dials intimately allowed me to react quickly and almost instinctively.
ISO 10000 and RawDigger
As I mentioned here very recently, since using RawDigger and learning to mega expose-to-the-right (m-ETTR), I have not needed to run post-conversion noise reduction on a single image. And that was the case with today’s featured Bobcat image. Do understand that the larger the file size, the greater the noise with a properly exposed RAW file made at a given ISO. Knowing that I would be shooting in dark conditions I was glad that the a9 ii had been mounted on the 600 GM instead of the a7r iv.
Patrick Sparkman will be reviewing the RawDigger e-Guide next week and it should be available for purchase soon afterwards.
Folks often ask, “What is the highest ISO you will use?” My answer is always the same: if I need to make a sharp image, I will not hesitate to set an ISO high enough to get me the shutter speed that I need (along with a good exposure). Though I was somewhat rushed for time with the Bobcat, I figured that 1/320 second (at ISO 10000) would be fast enough to make a sharp image even at 840mm with the rig resting on the window frame …
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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 :).
Awesome!
Great capture with an elusive subject.
Another instance of preparation and skill enabling opportunity. A really nice one Artie, congratulations!
Iso at 10000. Wow what a clean looking image. Is that due to the Sony camera? Fantastic image. Looks like iso 100.
Thanks, Hank. In general, lower mega-pixel cameras have less noise than higher mega-pixel cameras. Since I have learned to mega-expose to the right (m-ETTR) with RawDigger my high ISO images look much cleaner than before …
with love, artie
Wonderful!
Fantastic Artie! Another great example of the harder you work the luckier you get. Congrats!
Great pose. Incredible shot at ISO 10000. Well done.
Lovely. It all came together wonderfully.
Amazing and you know so often this is what happens when out looking for a chance to capture even a look at something in nature. Often here in Wisconsin the same things happen when out and about as one needs to be ready and grab and PRESS the shutter while hoping for the best. Your chance of having the bobcat stop in a clearing Priceless let alone the odds. Know your camera as you said and every now and then we are rewarded with a once in a lifetime wow.
Wisconsin love your way
Bob
That’s Awesome!