Image Optimization Magic Part II

This image of an adult Bald Eagle beginning a dive was created on the recently concluded Homer, Alaska Instructional Photo-Tour with the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM zoom lens (hand held at 207mm) and the Canon EOS-7D. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop off the blue sky 30 degrees up from the [...]

For Your Critique: Image #9

This panorama was created from seven vertical frames stitched together in Photoshop (File/Automate/Photomerge). The individual images were made with the tripod-mounted Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens and the EOS-1D Mark III (replaced now by the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV). ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2 stops: 1/800 sec. at 8.

As is my [...]

Sweet Situation

Western Gull, adult head portrait. Image created with the tripod-mounted Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens and the EOS-50D. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 1/3 stops: 1/250 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode. Fill flash at -2 stops with the Canon 580 EX flash on the 4th Generation Design Integrated Flash Arm with the [...]

Rattler Options!

Here I started with Fractalius’s Rounded pre-set on its own layer and did lots of fine-tuning to get the look that I wanted. The image was then tweaked in Photoshop. The snake’s original eyes were revealed by painting away the Layer mask that I created (on the Fract layer). With my Layer Masks [...]

I Finally Got in the Water...

This image was created this morning at Indian Lake Estates, FL with the tripod-mounted Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens with the 1.4X III TC and the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV ISO 200. This is a 7-frame AEB HDR: +/- one stop around Evaluative metering at zero: 1/800 sec. at f/8. Central sensor/rear-focus [...]

Something From Nothing Sillhouette Lesson

Tripod-mounted Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens, the 1.4X III TC, and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 800. Evaluative metering at zero: 1/500 sec. at f/25 in Manual mode. Central Sensor/Rear Focus AI Servo AF and re-compose. Read on to learn about rear focus.

Lens/TC/Camera Body Micro-Adjustment: 0.

For a greater appreciation [...]

Preparing JPEGs for the Web & More Photoshop Tips

This image was created at Nickerson Beach, Long Island, NY with the tripod-mounted (I was kneeling) Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens, a 25mm Extension tube, and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +2 stops: 1/1000 sec. at f/5.6

Lens micro-adjustment: -4. Central sensor/AI Servo/Rear Focus AF (with AF active at the [...]

Juvie Sanderling: Capture, Clean-up and Cropping Lessons

I created this image while seated behind my tripod-mounted Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the 1.4X III TC and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/1000 sec. at f/10 in Manual mode.

Lens/TC/camera body Micro-adjustment: 0.

Juvie Sanderling Capture Lessons

As regular readers know, wind against [...]

Size Does Matter; The Power of the Square of the Focal Length

Size Does Matter; The Power of the Square of the Focal Length

In the original “The Art of Bird Photography” I wrote something to this effect: the size of the bird in the frame is not a factor of the focal length but rather a factor of the square of the focal [...]

What is the Worst Thing About This Image?

The Warbler Finch image image was created at Gardner Bay, Hood Island, in the Galapagos with the the tripod-mounted Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens, the 1.4X III TC, and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 500 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode.

Lens/TC/Camera Body Micro-Adjustment: +10.

What [...]