Catching Up: Svalbard: It Ain’t Just Birds I/Which Was Your Favorite? « Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Catching Up: Svalbard: It Ain't Just Birds I/Which Was Your Favorite?

[Not a valid template]

This image was created with the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens, the Canon EF 1.4X III TC (hand held at 245mm), and the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Five frame auto-bracket +/- one stop at f/11 in Av Mode. Lens/TC/camera body Micro-adjustment: +1. (After I had this particular Mark IV repaired and adjusted the micro-adjustment dropped from +5 to +1 with the TC in place.)

Catching Up: Svalbard: It Ain’t Just Birds I

In the July 6 blog post here, I asked which of the three posted images was your favorite, and why. Lots of folks commented. Read on to learn which of the three was my pick. And do see my comments on your comments there as well.

[Not a valid template]

This image was created with the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens and the Canon EF 2X III TC (hand held at 400mm) with the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV . ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/2000 sec. at f/6.3 in Av Mode. Lens/TC/camera body Micro-adjustment: -12. Just look at how sharp this animal’s eye is!

[Not a valid template]

This image was created with the handheld Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM lens and the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV (hand held). ISO 800. Evaluative metering -1/3 stop: 1/125 sec. at f/11 in Av Mode.

My Picks

Of the three images above I like the derelict coal mine HDR grunge and the reindeer best. For me, the flower image i,s as several folks mentioned, rather ordinary. I like the coal mine image for its grunged up color and detail, and the reindeer for its silly expression and the nice low angle–I knelt down on the wet tundra to make the image. Of the two, I would consider only the coal mine to hang in my home.

I had some time this morning to reply to the majority of comments on the original post here. (There was no internet access on the boat in the Galapagos.)

Shopper’s Guide

Below is a list of the gear used to create the images in today’s post. Thanks a stack to all who have used the Shopper’s Guide links to purchase their gear as a thank you for all the free information that we bring you on the Blog and in the Bulletins. Before you purchase anything be sure to check out the advice in our Shopper’s Guide.

Support both the Bulletins and the Blog by making all your B & H purchases here.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM lens. I had lots of fun working with the relatively new IS version of the 100 macro. As always the IS increases a lenses versatility immensely.
Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens. Man, I am loving this lens on my shoulder with the 2X III teleconverter. I also use it a lot–as above–with the 1.4X III TC.
Canon 1.4X III TC. This new Series III TC is designed to work best with the new Series II super-telephoto lenses.
Canon EF 2X III TC. This new TC is significantly sharper than the 2X II version.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body. My two Mark IVs are my workhorse digital camera bodies.

And from the BAA On-line Store:

Gitzo GT3530LS Tripod. This one will last you a lifetime.
Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head. Right now this is the best tripod head around for use with lenses that weigh less than 9 pounds. For heavier lenses, check out the Wimberley V2 head.
Wimberley P-20 Plate. This plate is perfect for virtually all intermediate telephoto lenses. We sell a zillion of them each year.
Double Bubble Level. You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash.
The Lens Align Mark II. I use the Lens Align Mark II pretty much religiously to micro-adjust all of my gear an average of once a month and always before a major trip. Enjoy our free comprehensive tutorial here.

Delkin 32gb e-Film Pro Compact Flash Card. These high capacity cards are fast and dependable. Clicking on the link below will bring you to the Delkin web site. There is lots of great stuff there. If you see a product that we do not carry let us know via e-mail; we will be glad to have it drop-shipped to you and save you a few bucks in the process.

I pack my 800 and tons of other gear in my ThinkTank Airport SecurityTM V2.0 rolling bag for all of my air travel and recommend the slightly smaller Airport InternationalTM V2.0 for most folks. These high capacity bags are well constructed and protect my gear when I have to gate check it on short-hops and puddle jumpers. Each will protect your gear just as well. By clicking on either link or the logo below, you will receive a free gift with each order over $50.

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body. And this is the very best professional digital camera body that I have even used..

5 comments to Catching Up: Svalbard: It Ain’t Just Birds I/Which Was Your Favorite?

  • avatar Dane Johnson

    Hi Artie, Quick question regarding the use of the LensAlign Mk II. When calibrating the microadjustment for a lens that has both a teleconverter and an extension tube, do you set the distance between the LensAlign and Camera at the distance suggested by the LensAlign Distance Tool? Or does the distance need to be shortened due to the extension tube. I didn’t find any information on the LensAlign site.

    Dane, I do not align with a tube (though perhaps I should…). In part, it would be difficult to remember to change the value when you add a tube (with or without the 1.4X TC): the camera body will not recognize extension tubes. As for distance, I tend to test at much shorter distances than recommended so I would not change anything if I did decide to test with the 25mm tube in place. artie

  • avatar Joe Moran

    I like the reindeer. When photographing Birds or animals and you catch a great amusing eye It makes the picture.
    Joe M

  • I agree with you Artie. The abandoned mine is great, especially with the grunge effect.
    Les

  • avatar Henry Ciesla

    As the images were loading, the first being the coal mine, I was (almost) stunned by the image. OK, I’m a nature photog but this one really grabbed me – it’s almost surrealistic & I would definitely hang it.

  • avatar Keith Reeder

    “Of the two, I would consider only the coal mine to hang in my home”

    Ah, but that’s a whole ‘nother question, Mr Morris!

    I still much prefer the Reindeer in a photographic sense – it’s simply a better image, IMHO (but then, I’m a bird/wildlife photographer) – but I don’t think I’d want Rudolph’s body double on my wall either.

    For a wall hanging, something architectural almost always seems to work better than a critter.

    Not in my house. I have about 30 canvas wraps from Canvas on Demand wraps hanging in my home now and will be ordering a lot more when I get home in SEPT. Almost all birds but at least one bear and one frog…. artie