Search
Generic filters
Exact matches only

King of the………Zoo!

Homepage Forums Photo Critique Nature and Wildlife King of the………Zoo!

  • This topic is empty.

King of the………Zoo!

  • shutterbug
    Participant

    Can anyone tell me what is the best way to deal with chainlink
    fencing (apart from cutting a hole in it!) I thought this would have
    been a good shot but the fence ruined it. (sorry to be boring with zoo shots)

    This was taken from a side angle, would that make any difference?
    settings were f5.6 1/100 ISO 400

    joe_elway
    Participant

    Open up the aperture as wide as you can. It does soften a shot a wee bit but it’s worth it. You now are working with a small DOF. Extend the lens as long as you can. This shortens the DOF. Get the front of the lens as close to the fence as possible (wear a lens hood!). You’ll not have thrown the fence out of focus and virtually invisible. AF will work most of the time but sometimes a link in the fence interferes… just move wee bit and that’s the problem solved.

    I usually shoot at F5.6 and 400mm and mostly have no problems. Sometimes you can’t get close enough to the fence and that messes you up.

    shutterbug
    Participant

    Are we the only two on the site? :) My lens (Sigma 70-300)
    I think will only let me use f5.6 at 300mm and I was probably a
    good two foot or so from the fence, had the lens hood on also.
    I found with the AF it just kept focusing on the fence so had to
    switch to manual in the end. Thanks again Aiden.

    Expresbro
    Participant

    Myself and Aiden had this same conversation I remember, last time we visited the zoo. I must get back and try it myself now. It wasn’t an option with the Fuji. Trouble now is that I only have a 135mm lens…I can feel a buying ache coming on… :D

    shutterbug
    Participant

    :) :) When I got my camera I swore to my hubby “thats all I want I wont need anything else”
    it just kinda snowballs doesnt it? I am very pleased with the Sigma 70-300 but you still think
    if I had another 100mm extra look how close I could get.

    joe_elway
    Participant

    Robbie, if you’re looking for reach at a decent price then check out what Sigma do up to 300mm. They’ve a few 70-300’s that are affordable, I’ve the bottom end one and I think Noely has the next one up.

    http://www.sigma-photo.com/lenses/lenses_all_details.asp?id=3304&navigator=3
    http://www.sigma-photo.com/lenses/lenses_all_details.asp?id=3303&navigator=3

    Don’t know how good it’d be at blurring out fences though. I don’t think I’ve ever tried with it! I usually only break it out every now and then.

    joe_elway
    Participant

    It doesn’t stop at another 100mm. I’m at 400. I have a 1.4x (softens the shot a lot) but even 560mm isn’t enough. I’d love an EF 600 (bank manager wouldn’t) but even with that I’d want an EF 800 (and a sherpa).

    Sodafarl
    Member

    Robbie step turn off the computer and step away, you are going to get into big trouble if the guy from Fedex arrives with any more parcels, unfortunate about the delivery bit the Boss normally guesses what has been bought.
    Shutterbug I like your picture especially if you were having problems getting it.
    Soda

    shutterbug
    Participant

    Thanks Sodafarl, now I really must turn off the computer and get
    some work done, or Im gonna be in BIG trouble. :)

    Expresbro
    Participant

    Hehehe!! I know what ya mean Carl…but top of my list right now is the Flash Gun…then I’m gonna look at lenses…think the tripod is falling down the list.. :D

    I’d like to pick up a longer reach lens too… but am undecided whether it’s worth spending money on a budget lens…or try and save and go for something better and just wait….

    Decisions decisions decisions…it’s doesn’t get easier does it Shutterbug…:-)

    I’ll check out those links Aiden, as I’m sure will all the other shooters with money burning holes in their pockets..:-)

    CianMcLiam
    Participant

    First rule is take the flash as far away from the lens as possible, then get the lens as close to the chain link as possible, if you cant get right next to it, block light from falling on it as much as you can. Using the smallest aperture that you can helps enormously.

    joe_elway
    Participant

    CianMcLiam wrote:

    Using the smallest aperture that you can helps enormously.

    Nooo! Use the largest apturture, i.e. F2.8, F4, F5.6 depending on your lens. A small aperture is F22 and will give you a perfectly in focus front chain link fence, subject, back chaninlink fence and mountains in the background.

    Rob
    Member

    joe_elway wrote:

    CianMcLiam wrote:

    Using the smallest aperture that you can helps enormously.

    Nooo! Use the largest apturture, i.e. F2.8, F4, F5.6 depending on your lens. A small aperture is F22 and will give you a perfectly in focus front chain link fence, subject, back chaninlink fence and mountains in the background.

    Aidan, I think Ken meant the smallest number, which is of course the largest aperture… :lol:

    Rob.

    joe_elway
    Participant

    Agreed Rob. Using mixed up jargon can confuse people so I though I should clarify.

    CianMcLiam
    Participant

    Oops! Apologies, Rob’s correct, by smallest, I meant in F number, not actual aperture diameter! I’m coaching an unwilling wife on the craft of photography at the moment so I’ve been using this terminology because when I try to explain about largest number being smallest opening the eyes start to glaze over :)

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 16 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.