What’s Up?
Up at 2:45am. Left the house at 5:30am. After getting TSA-Pre (checked-in) in Orlando my two flights went as smoothly as possible. I landed in San Diego at about 1:30pm. Unpacked, took a very short nap, answered some e-mails, and had dinner with friends Patrick and Robin Sparkman; Patrick loaned me his 600 II. Then a quick stop at Trader Joe’s for breakfast and a case of spring water. I was back in the room just after 9:30 Pacific time, 12:30am in Florida. I may sleep in tomorrow…. IAC, I decided to complete this short blog post before I hit the sack.
Today’s blog post took about 30 minutes to put together; talk about a day off. This one was published at 10:14pm PT, 1:14am ET on Thursday from my hotel room in San Diego. I still have many exciting new images, tales, and lessons from my recently concluded trip to share with you here over the course of the next few weeks and am looking forward to doing just that. Do consider joining me in South Georgia next October for the trip of a lifetime. See here for the complete details.
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This image was created at 9:45am in cloudy conditions on January 5, 2015 at Neko Harbor, Antarctica tripod-mounted Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens, the Canon Extender EF 2X III (at 400mm–effective 640), and the amazing Canon EOS 7D Mark II. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/500 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode. Central sensor (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. |
70-200/2X III TC/7D II Yields Flesh Pink on Krill Guano Pink
As noted here previously, the later into the trip we got the lighter I went. I made many landings in Antarctica with “only” the 70-200 II with both series III TCs and the 7D II. And made lots of wonderful images. Funny how that works…
I had been looking in vain for days for a situation where I could use the pink krill guano as background when suddenly an isolated Gentoo Penguin extended a wing and held the pose long enough for me to create about half a dozen image with the background I had been looking for. The flesh pink underside of the stretched wing was the perfect icing on the perfect cake.
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All of the images on the card were made on South Georgia. This remote wilderness island offers both spectacular scenery and hordes of tame wildlife and birds. From top left clockwise to the center: Southern Elephant Seal, courting King Penguin pair, King Penguin abstract, Grey-headed Albatross, King Penguin rookery on Salisbury Plain, Macaroni Penguin head portrait, King Penguin molting Okum Boy, Macaroni Penguin pair, King Penguin preening, Southern Elephant Seal yawning, the view of Gold Harbour from a Light-mantled Sooty Albatross nest. Click on the image to see an extra-large version. |
The 2015 South Georgia Expedition Voyage
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If you have been thinking and dreaming of finally visiting South Georgia, this is the trip for you. Quit dreaming and act now. Though I will not be an official leader on this trip, those who have traveled with me know that I cannot help but teach. I will make pre-trip gear recommendations. I will hold informal pre-landing briefings. In the same vein, everyone will receive a free copy of our Antarctica Site Guide once they are paid in full (July 2, 2015). I will be available on the ship to review your images,, answer 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 ship-board birds in flight and marine mammal photography opportunities.
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Typos
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Great image Guru. The IS version of this great zoom seems heavy to me, how about the non-IS one? Any difference in IQ?
Thanks in advance.
Thnx. 3.28 lbs. Compare with the tiny 70-200 f/4L IS at 1.67 lbs. Non-IS f/2.8 is heavy too. IQ fine on a tripod.
You get what you pay for and what you can carry 🙂 a
Just lovely! Can’t wait to hear what you say bout the 7D II and the new 100-400. AND – will it take the extenders? OR – is that being greedy?
Thanks Neil, Asked and answered 🙂 The 7D II focuses to f/8; therefore, it will AF (with the center point or center point Expand–5 sensors lit up) with the 1.4X III TC. Please remember to use my B&H link for your purchase. Many thanks for that. artie