first photos with my 70-200
Discussion
Nothing particularly special, since it's the first time I've taken it out anywhere, and I'm still getting to grips with it. Any comments/suggestions are welcome, espececially on how I could edit them better, since I'm clearly not very good at it. I used Rawshooter essentials 2006, just Auto WB and adjusted the exposure.
So here's what I got, before I was accused of graffiting on the trees by a "community protection officer" at the park.
Good thing another guy who works at the park saw me earlier and confirmed it wasn't me.
So here's what I got, before I was accused of graffiting on the trees by a "community protection officer" at the park.
Good thing another guy who works at the park saw me earlier and confirmed it wasn't me. Edited by Typhon on Friday 9th February 16:47
The ducks and swan look underexposed (e.g. can't see the ducks' eyes) or is it my monitor?
If yours is the same and you were using matrix (evaluative?) metering it's possible the lightness of the reflection from the water has meant that the camera has underexposed for the actual subject. Spot metering or dialling in exposure comp would avoid. If they're raw, you may have enough latitude to bump up in Rawshooter (try a combination of exposure and a little fill light). Squirrel looks about right. You could play with a little curves if you wanted to experiment to increase contrast slightly perhaps.
Stuart
If yours is the same and you were using matrix (evaluative?) metering it's possible the lightness of the reflection from the water has meant that the camera has underexposed for the actual subject. Spot metering or dialling in exposure comp would avoid. If they're raw, you may have enough latitude to bump up in Rawshooter (try a combination of exposure and a little fill light). Squirrel looks about right. You could play with a little curves if you wanted to experiment to increase contrast slightly perhaps.
Stuart
Monitor not calibrated so apologies if I've misled Typhon. In fact it makes me wonder whether I have a bigger problem as I can't extract enough brightness even if I do ramp it up. It's a good (Lacie Electron Blue 22) monitor but I got it secondhand and I understand that as they get older brightness levels drop 
Birthday coming up so it sounds like I need to add at least a calibrator to the list! I'll put questions in another thread though.
thanks
Stuart
Birthday coming up so it sounds like I need to add at least a calibrator to the list! I'll put questions in another thread though.
thanks
Stuart
Hm, I've had a little play around with the first picture. Does this seem a little better, or is too bright/contrasted/saturated? Bear in mind I have an un-calibrated, prehistoric computer monitor, so I'll have a little trouble getting things like this right
Edit: I'll see if I can do something with the others when I have some more time
Edit 2: In response to stuart b, I was using spot metering. However I did buy a book on exposure today, so I'm understanding some things better now
Edit: I'll see if I can do something with the others when I have some more time
Edit 2: In response to stuart b, I was using spot metering. However I did buy a book on exposure today, so I'm understanding some things better now
Edited by Typhon on Saturday 10th February 21:59
typhoon now you got the camera its one thing to take photos and another to take photographs.
Get a book called Basic Photography by Michael Langford, a bible for anyone really - a great book, also consider taking a night course or something similar if possible and you'll go from liking your pics to loving them to obsessing about it till you hate all the pics you once loved then wish you never bothered...
Get a book called Basic Photography by Michael Langford, a bible for anyone really - a great book, also consider taking a night course or something similar if possible and you'll go from liking your pics to loving them to obsessing about it till you hate all the pics you once loved then wish you never bothered...
Typhon said:
Hm, I've had a little play around with the first picture. Does this seem a little better, or is too bright/contrasted/saturated? Bear in mind I have an un-calibrated, prehistoric computer monitor, so I'll have a little trouble getting things like this right
Well apart from the fact that it'd stand a darker background, to let the little critter have a bit more "presence" - a quick and crude attempt: 
LOL - does everyone take photos of swans when they get a 70-200 lens? And does anyone really use it much afterwards?
My swans: www.furtive.co.uk/birds/
My swans: www.furtive.co.uk/birds/
I've just picked up a 70-200 L 2.8 for close in sports work, not a swan in sight!
cracking lens and quick enough to cope with floodlit footy. matched nicely on to a shiny new 30D, well its shiney now but the rugby season is just kicking off so ....
LF
edited to add:
ok so not all sports
cracking lens and quick enough to cope with floodlit footy. matched nicely on to a shiny new 30D, well its shiney now but the rugby season is just kicking off so ....
LF
edited to add:
ok so not all sports
Edited by lotusfan on Tuesday 20th February 12:18
stuart b said:
I kept notes and will write it up.
I had a go anyway. Here it is in case it's of any use.
http://bonell.wordpress.com/
Stuart
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