Canon 100-400II/Which Teleconverter? & What do you think of the image design: disappointing or fortuitous?

What’s Up?

I answered a few zillion more e-mails yesterday and began work on a companion CD book for the solo San Diego exhibit. I worked hard with the folks from Cheesemans’ organizing the BIRDS AS ART group on next October’s South Georgia/Falklands expedition, their last. I learned from Ted Cheeseman that this voyage is now 75% full so if you are planning on joining us and would like to become part of the BAA group, please scroll down and do not tarry.

This image was created at Salisbury Plain on South Georgia on our last day of landings on the memorable 2015 Cheesemans’ South Georgia Expedition with the Induro GIT 304L tripod/Mongoose M3.6-mounted Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens, the Canon Extender EF 1.4X III (at 560mm), and the rugged Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/200 sec. at f/16. AWB. Center AF point (Manual selection)/AI Servo/Rear Focus AF as framed was active at the moment of exposure. Click here to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. King Penguins neck abstract

Canon 100-400II/AF with which Teleconverter?

I receive several e-mails each week asking if the new 100-400II will focus with this camera or that teleconverter. First off, assuming that you have one of the newer Canon camera bodies (5DS R, 5D S, 1D X, 5D III, or 7D II), your body will focus to f/8. As the 100-400 II is effectively an f/5.6 lens, that means that it will autofocus with the 1.4 X III TC at effective f/8, and that it will not autofocus with the 2X III TC at effective f/11. When working with static subject the latter combination can produce some amazing images as long as you (gasp!) focus manually and are working with a sturdy tripod. See the blog post here for a wonderfully sharp example of what is possible.

Do understand that when you add a 1.4X III TC to the 100-400 II (or to any f/5.6 lens) with any camera body, initial focusing acquisition will be slowed somewhat as the AF system needs light (and contrast) so see; adding a 1.4X TC robs the system of one stop of light, going from f/5.6 to f/8 That is one reason that I love using this combination on sunny days (although it worked just fine in cloudy bright conditions for today’s featured image). Note also that with a 1.4X TC on the 100-400 II or on any f/5.6 lens that only the center AF point (plus the 4 assist points if you go to Expand) will be available.

What do you think of the image design: disappointing or fortuitous?

On every South Georgia trip that I have made–5 in all–I create many hundreds if not several thousand tight images of the necks of King Penguins. These birds are both large and curious. Working with a full frame camera for today’s image I did not hesitate to add the 1.4X III TC to the mix.

I was excited to see that the main subject in today’s image had bent its head over backwards creating a new and different shape and new and different patterns. But just as I pressed the shutter button I realized that another penguin had walked into the frame.

What do you think? Do you like the additional penguin breast in the lower left corner? Or do you hate it? Either way, be sure to let us know why. I will share my thoughts with you here in a day or three at most.

Blog Interactivity

Please remember that more learning takes place when the blog is truly interactive. You will learn more by pondering a question and leaving a well thought out response. And when you do leave a comment, everyone else learns more as well.

Depth-of-field Questions

Why f/16 for this image? The extraneous penguin’s breast was only about two inches in front of the subject; why didn’t it show more detail?

All images on the card were created on the 2015 Cheesemans’ South Georgia Expedition. From top left clockwise to center: King Penguin resting on Snow, Fortuna Bay; Macaroni Penguin in snow, Cooper Island; Grey-headed Albatross, Elsehul; King Penguin neck abstract, Godthul; Northern Giant Petrel, Undine Harbor; adult Wandering Albatross, Prion Island; Elephant Seal, Undine Harbor; South Georgia Pipit fledgling/thanks Joe Kaplan! Fortuna Bay; high key King Penguins in snow, Fortuna Bay. Card design and all images copyright 2015: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

The Cheesemans’ 2016 OCT/NOV South Georgia/Falklands Expedition

If reading last Saturday’s blog post here put a thought in your mind about joining the BIRDS AS ART group on the Cheesemans’ 2016 OCT/NOV South Georgia/Falklands Expedition, please shoot me an e-mail with the words “Cheesemans’ Last Southern Ocean Expedition” cut and pasted into the Subject Line with any questions or if you wish to receive additional inspiration. This will surely be my last ship-based trip to the Southern Ocean as well.

All of the images on this card were created in the Falklands on the 2014 Cheesemans’ Southern Oceans Expedition. From top left clockwise to center: Black-browed Albatross tending chick, Steeple Jason Island; Black-browed Albatross courting pair, New Island; the Black-browed Albatross colony at Steeple Jason Island; Black-browed Albatross landing, New Island; King Cormorant head portrait, New Island; hull detail/derelict minesweeper, New Island; Rockhopper Penguin head portrait in bright sun, New Island; Striated Caracara, Steeple Jason Island; Magellanic Snipe chick, Sea Lion Island.

An Expedition Overview

Experience the vibrant spring of South Georgia, a true Antarctic wildlife paradise. Observe and photograph wildlife behaviors seldom seen beneath the towering, snow-blanketed mountains that dominate the island’s landscape. Southern Elephant Seal bulls fight for breeding rights while females nurse young, overlook vast colonies of loafing King Penguins, watch Macaroni Penguins cavort in the snow, photograph handsome Gray-headed Albatrosses in flight or attending to their cliffside nests and awkward Wandering Albatrosses attempting first flight. The itinerary includes six landing days on South Georgia and three landing days in the Falklands to observe too cute Rockhopper Penguins, Magellanic Penguins standing watch at their nesting burrows, and more Black-browed Albatrosses than you could ever imagine. To commemorate Shackleton’s famous self-rescue crossing South Georgia, CES also offers an optional trek retracing his steps. With Cheesemans’ twenty years of experience in the Antarctic region, they commit to an in-depth exploration of one of the densest wildlife spectacles found anywhere in the world, and with only 100 passengers, they routinely give you the opportunity to completely immerse yourself on each landing.

Two of the scheduled Falklands’ landings, New Island and especially Steeple Jason Island, rival the best locations on South Georgia. Those will likely include Salisbury Plain, St. Andrews Bay, Elsehul, Fortuna Bay, and either Cooper Island or Hercules Bay (for Macaroni Penguins).

Why Sign Up Through BIRDS AS ART?

If you have been thinking and dreaming of finally visiting South Georgia, this is the trip for you. There will likely never be another trip like this as the best outfit in the Southern Oceans business will not be returning after 2016…. Quit dreaming and act now. Though I will not be an expedition staff member on this trip, those who have traveled with me know that I cannot help but teach. And I will be doing a introductory photography program for the entire ship on our crossing to South Georgia. All who sign up via BAA will receive a free copy the new Southern Ocean Photography Guide (a $100 value) that I am currently working on. It will include pre-trip gear and clothing recommendations and a ton of info that you will find to be invaluable.

I will hold informal pre-landing briefings aboard ship so that when you land you know exactly what to expect and where to go. I will be available on the ship to review your images, answer your questions, and conduct informal over-the shoulder Photoshop sessions. And best of all, everyone who signs up under the auspices of BAA are invited to tag along with me on the landings where I will be glad to offer invaluable in-the-field advice. And the same goes for the shipboard birds in flight and marine mammal photographic sessions.

Again, if you would like to join me on what will truly be a once in a lifetime opportunity to a wondrous place, please shoot me an e-mail with the words “Cheesemans’ Last Southern Ocean Expedition” cut and pasted into the Subject Line.

You can learn more about the trip here. If you sign up on your own be sure to mention that you would like to be part of the BAA Group. I’d be glad to answer any and all question via e-mail or by phone at 863-692-0906.

Important Notes

#1: If you fail to e-mail me as noted directly above, and register directly with CES you MUST let them know that you would like to be part of the BIRDS AS ART group.

#2: Joining the BIRDS AS ART group as above will not cost you one penny.

For additional details on the trip and the ship, see Saturday’s blog post here.

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Typos

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