Birds in Flight
This weekend I set a small challenge, of capturing some birds in flight. This can be the most futile element of photography.
So I sat on the shore of Swinsty, right where the Terns and Gulls always come in to bully and harass the local ducks.
I missed so many shots, birds not in focus, half out of the frame etc. It was one hell of a challenge to try to keep up with them dodging and diving.
I changed camera settings a few times until I found something that worked, but the challenge was a clear learn the habits of the birds, be aware of what its thinking about where its going.
I quickly began to understand their use of the wind, and where to expect them.
The trick was to prefocus, so that you’re not wasting any time focusing on a extremely fast-moving target, where you only have fractions of a second to start tracking, and to be aware of their glide path.
I started in aperture priority, and quickly realised that was just wrong. So over to Shutter Priority to try to freeze the action. Aiming for 1250th of a second, and with Auto-ISO helping keep the camera going I snapped away. Limited by how long I can hand hold the Sigma 150-500 which is a heavy lens.
Much happier with some of the results now, but this one of those projects, where you throw away a lot more than you keep.
Camera Settings:
- Continuous Focus (AF-C)
- Shutter priority (At least 1250th of a second)
- Auto ISO to suit
- High Frame Rate Enabled
- Evaluative metering
- 21 point Dynamic Area focus
- OS on the lens disabled.
- Some negitive exposure comp.>/li>
They are the camera settings that I found worked best. Practise will make perfect, but it will always be an exercise in knowing your target more than your camera.
Critique
I was browsing around Photocamel earlier and came across a thread (http://photocamel.com/forum/landscape-travel/145384-small-fall.html).
The poster placed an image that he had used a diorama style shot. Which, to be honest really does not work overly well with the subject. Some people critiqued this, and gave their thoughts on the image. In post 6, he rather sternly rebukes the comments made in earlier posts
Having been a photographer for 30+ years, I would like to think that I am fairly well versed in the do’s and don’ts with regards to f-stop, aperture and composition.
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FWIW, it’s bad form to critique a photograph without asking first,. This is especially true in a public forum and where there are certain artistic liberties at play that one may, or may not understand.
Now I take an interest in the thread. All postings to Social sites, be they forums, flickr, private websites etc are open to public critique. You have to expect that when posting in full public view. What would art be if people did not discuss it? It would be dull and boring.
I pointed this out in my post (Post 11)
I disagree. People are free to express an opinion, critique it if they wish. You consent to that by making it public display.
You dont have to ask. people will always critique. How boring would the art world be, if no one critiqued? Art Should, and always will promote discussion. Whether the artist wants it or not.
To which he posts rather a childish reply. He offers to go to the website I’ve linked in my signature and critique some of the photos on my website.
Truth be told, I’d love him to. To learn what others think, what the images say to them is what I crave. It makes me think, gives me ideas to improve on photography. And I fully accept that others will view my photography, discuss it, think about it. Is that not the purpose of all art? To promote discussion, thought and critique?
Would Monet’s work be what it is today without people discussing it? I think not.
I’ll repeat one last time:
Art Should, and always will promote discussion. Whether the artist wants it or not.
Related articles
- How Critiquing Other People’s Photographs Can Improve Your Own (photofocus.com)
- Giving a good photo critique How to help your friends become a better photographer (oxfordschoolofphotography.wordpress.com)
As I’ve gotten a couple of emails asking what settings I use when out on the street, I thought it may be a good idea to make a post.
I use a D7000, so some of these settings may be different for your camera.
- Focus / AF
- 9 Point Dynamic
- Auto-Focus
- Continuous Focus (AF-C)
- Camera in A
- Matrix Metering
- Playback Menu:
- Image review: Off
- Shooting Menu:
- Image Quality: RAW
- Colour space: Adobe RGB
- Active D-Lighting: Off (Auto)
- Log exp. NR: On
- High ISO NR: Norm (Off)
- ISO: ISO 100
- Custom Settings Menu:
- a5 Focus point wrap around: On
- a7 Built-in AF-assist illumination: Off
- c1 Shutter Release Exposure Locking: Off (default)
- c2 Meter Off Delay: 8s
- d3 ISO Display: ISO
- f9 Reverse indicators: -0+ (Becaue +0- Just makes no sense.)
- 9 Point Dynamic
- Matrix Metering
- Image review: Off
- ISO: ISO 100
- a5 Focus point wrap around: On
- a7 Built-in AF-assist illumination: Off
- f9 Reverse indicators: -0+ (Becaue +0- Just makes no sense.)
York in manual
So I headed off to York, with one thought on my mind. To fully use my D7000 in full manual mode.
So, my standard street setup was put in the camera, and the dial put on M. Dont get me wrong, I’ve used M many times before, but nearly always found a excuse to revert back to more familiar ground in A mode.
Initially, my mind was more on the scene, than the camera and I overexposed / underexposed some of the shots. Quickly I rememberd to balance the exposure meter.
What surprised me the most, was how much more I was thinking of the overall image. Not just raise the camera to the eye and press the shutter, but actually look at the image. Where normally I’d come away with maybe 100 shots, I came home with under 50 as I was just so much more aware of the image.
I did however find that some of my subjects had finished what they were doing, and moved before I had set the camera up. No doubt it will become quicker the more I do it, but I did get rather annoyed that, in y mind at least, I was missing shots.
I did however enjoy shooting in Manual mode. And have no doubts that I shall not move it off Manual for quite a while.
I’ll post some more shots from my recent York wander as soon as I get round to processing them.
As ever, please feel free to take a wander through my York Gallery.
York, Again
Annoyed with my Linux server, as it just keeps rejecting all connections on a seemingy random schedule, and the logs showing nothing untoward, I sparked up my copy of Lightroom and edited a few photos.
York is a great place to photograph, plenty of tourists around, interesting streets, people and architecture. Theres nearly always street artists around, and the market is always there. Plenty of interesting subjects whatever you like shooting.
For more photos, feel free to view my York set.
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August favourites
Its been a good month for my Photography, and I’ve got many photos I liked. Picking three is no easy task for me, but these are the three that I’ve chosen as my August best.
1.) Man with Hawk
Not a ground breaking shot by any means, but the angle of the birds head, the look on the falconers face, really make the photo for me.
This is easy the photo that I’d choose as my number 1.
2.) Unique 
I think this shot just speaks for its self. The original was untouched. But I decided, to draw the attention in a complete way to this rather unique lady.
And last, but by no means least,
3.) Woah!
I liked this photo, and shortly after uploading it, I was contacted by the rider. Who explained her horse was being a little unruly. And thats what makes it special. The story that emerged, the personal touch.
So, thats my favourite three. Do you agree, disagree? Leave a comment and let me know what you think.
Ripley Show 2011
I’d never been to the Ripley Show. So I thought I might bimble down to Ripley and have a little look round.
At £6 entry, free to leave and go back all day, its good value. I dont know if it was expected by the organisers to be larger than it was, but it appeared quite segmented and spread out over a rather large area. The rings where really small and crammed in front of the Beer tent, the sheep and pigs on the other side of the lake, a good 8 minute walk. And a long long way from anything else.
Let alone the gundogs, they where almost impossible to find, and the dogs where right up by the west wall of the grounds.
But despite that, it was a good morning wandering round, watching the various judging competions, not much jumping going on though from the horses.
As it was a lot less busy than the Yorkshire Show, I was able to get a lot closer to the action. I had gone with my Huge 150-500mm, but actually found my 85mm Prime to be more than adequate for the majority of the shots.
This image is Carved In Rosewood ridden by Lucy Morgan. I posted this to Flickr and Lucy commented that it was her. Its always nice to put a name to a photo, gives it a little more life.
I hung around the 3 rings watching the horses, but quickly got a bit bored with the same old happening with nothing to really gt excited about.
Then I found the Falcony display. He was’nt going to be showing the birds flying, but he did show off the birds to the audiance, and frighteningly close.
I love this photo, the look on the falconers face, the bird looking over its wing. The two just work really well together.
I listened to every word he said about his birds. His dedication and respect for these birds is intense, and he truly had a passion for them.
Shortly after he had finished his talk about his charges, I headed over to the Sheep and Pigs to see what was on the other side of the lake.
One thing I did notice, how many young people where showing animals. It was good to see the younger generation taking part in country life and enjoying it.
From beef/Dairy to Pigs and sheep and Horses, there was a good and wide age range showing.
All of them confident and proud of their animals.
This young lady for instance, quite sure of her pig, guiding it round the shabby built showing ring, and taking no piggy nonsense.
Then there was this young lady. The sheep she had, was being non to co-operative with the procedings, did it put her off? Not a chance. It took all her strengh to control that ram. But she did it, and was awarded 2nd Place.
The judge looked like a verified sheep guy, a obvious farmer. The ring was surrounded by weatherd farmers, alot in their 70′s by the look and as fit as a butchers dog. It looked like a local market had formed.
I enjoyed my time at the Ripley show. Unlike the Yorkshire show, it was a lot less commercial, and more like an Agricultural show should be. Local farmers highlight of the year. Not the huge farmers with their massive machines and hundreds of heads of sheep. This was a show for your average farmer, working every hour and pouring blood sweat and tears into their work.
I can honestly say, I enjoyed Ripley show a damn sight more than the Yorkshire show.
I was also impressed with my new D7000. It works so well with my 85mm prime. Just love that combination. Images crisp and well saturated even at 1.8. Love it. I don’t often do a lot of PP, and almost every shot came out of camera, and had absolutely no work. Every image on this page had no PP done, and was RAW shots. I took in excess of 500 images that day. A lot where on continuous drive, and a lot thrown out due to stupid mistakes on my part. I almost exclusively shot in aperture priority, several times forgetting to adjust aperture, giving some horrible DOF issues on some images.
But I simply cant fault the D7000. Pure quality.
Sigma 150-500
I got this Monster of a lense a few weeks ago, and hav’nt really used it proper, so I thought I’d head down to the Deer Park and give it a try.
I found a large mixed group of Fallow and Red Deer just off the road. So I set up under the cover of a large Oak. Added bonus was it protected me from the rain 
I was a good 70-80 meters from the Deer at this point and they where well aware I was there.
Snapping away merrily, they started to move toward me. They got into around 30 meters or so.
I was well pleased with the lense performance. It was almost every shot was acceptable in sharpness, even streched out to 500mm, where this lense is reported as soft. Not as sharp as a £1500+ nikon of course, but for this price, I cant complain.
It focused stupidly fast, thanks to Sigma‘s HSM motors.
Background blur was pleasing to my eye at least.
I certainly dont regret getting this lense, you just have to learn its moods, at what aperture it works best at, and its speed. ISO adjustments are definatly your friend with this lense. I had vibration reduction off for these shots, as I was shooting off a Monopod. But I did use it when I photographed at Leeds Airport. It worked well, but I would always tend to use a lense of this focal length on a monopod or tripod.
Its a very heavy long lense that gets very tiring hand holding incredibly quickly.
All in all, a great lense, and fantastic buy for a budget.
I called it quits when a group of kids came in from the left, making a hell of a racket, walking toward the Deer, which caused them to scatter.
Railways
I’d love to recreate this photo. However I’ve run into a couple of problems doing so
- Tripod is required. I’ve got tripods. But they are really heavy and bulky.
- I cant get into a railway station thats busy enough. I’ve asked in Leeds Station, and was told no, in no uncertain terms that any form of photography will result in BTP being called.
I did think of trying a shot of people getting on and off the Leeds Train at Harrogate, but this stain of a train station is a utterly crap location.
So until I can get permission to photograph at Leeds Station, this photo op is on hold.
A York Wander
I was slightly bored today. so took my self off to York. That is, when the train actually ran. I was in town for 9.30, and the first train was at 11:20. I mean seriously the rail companys need to drag themselves into this century. People still work, and play on a Sunday. This lazy assed Sunday attitude caused me to miss the York 10k run. Oh well.
In contrast to Leeds, York is a much more tourist town, no odd ball characters here (Apart from Street Artists).
Of course, Purple Man was out as normal. Every day, come rain or sun this guy sits here, motionless, with the occasional shift raising monies for various charitys in the region.
You have to give the guy credit for that.
One thing I have noticed doing Street Photography, is that you have to be quick, to avoid the “Evil Question Stare”, this guy on his bike is a prime example.
I got the stare, and it can, and does ruin a shot. Sometimes it makes it, but generally I dont want to be noticed, not because I’m shy or anything, but I want the
photo to be a slice in time, a moment in someones life. I want to observe, not be observed.I’d set myself a little challenge today, to use one and only one lense. I chose my 50mm 1.8 and stuck with it. No zoom, I had to go to the subject, think about the composition. I did take some other lenses, but avoided the temptation to swap. And truth be told, I loved it.
One of my first shots was a Busker, just outside the Minster. He was really good. His voice had a silky smoothness and just sounded good. If I’d been thinking, I’d of got a video. But alas, I did’nt think.
My favourite shot of the day came at the Minster. A young couple, she was photographing the top of the minster.
A lazy dog, hitching a ride
I’d decided even before I went out, that I would concentrate on Black and White. And I did not let my self down. I got some great shots, and loads of keepers.
As normal, more shot can be found on my photosite here
A Quick portrait shoot
So Sunday, I picked up two willing subjects for me to practice Portraits. We trundled down to the local park, and did a few shots. We all had fun and I learnt a lot from playing around with my Nikon D7000.
First off, I broke out the 85mm Nikon 1.8 and tried a few headshots, the sun was high, maybe on reflection I should have waited until later in the day.
1/1250 f/2.8 ISO 100
Just look at those shadows. Looks like panda eyes. I really should have had the reflector out and bounced some light into there, or at the very least of got some fill flash going.
We did a few shots like these, and I think the ones of Lauren came out somewhat better.
1/500 f/2.5 ISO 100
The lighting was a bit better here.
Still a bit of shadow in the face area, and a little too bright on the right hand side of the image.
But these are all things I now know to look out for, and slowly climbing the learning curve. One of my issues is that I’m always in a rush to get the image, I always forget to check for something.
We next did some dual shots of both Holly and Lauren together, and I experimented with a bit of DoF.
I particularly like this image, the distant look on Laurens face, the rather straight look on Holly’s face, with just the hint of a smile is just making the image. Neither of them where expecting the shot, and I prefer this to the “Concrete” poseing.
1/200 f/4.5 ISO 250
So we continued, and the girls getting into it now, Hollys nerves where starting to calm down, and getting used to the people who took an interest in what we were doing. I actually think they both enjoyed the attention
But this, I think has to one of my favourites from the day, a moment, just stolen where she had no idea I was photographing her, just got her whole personality, Bright, bubbly and absolute gem after getting over her nerves, the moment of a laugh as Lauren stuttered on the curb.
1/1000 f/1.8 ISO 100
The smooth bokeh of the background, the way she’s positioned in the frame, and the way she is looking all work well for me. I thought the processing works especially well for the image.
A few fun shots later, where the pair where just themselves, worked well and captured some good moments.
I had fun, and learnt a lot, and the girls had fun, which was the important thing
1/1000 f/4.5 ISO 250
More images available here
A Leeds Wander
So I decided to have a little street photo session and headed off to Leeds. It was busy, but there was’nt a lot going on. So I just plodded along looking for people that I found interesting. I was shooting with my D7000, and a Nikon 85mm 1.8 I’d just picked p from the Girls at Jacobs. I’d gone into Jessops and asked if they had it in stock, and they asked if that was a filter or camera! Luckily the staff at Jacobs know their stuff and no stupid question…
This Guy was watching a live music performance near albion street. I found his face interesting.
So On I wandered. Missing a few shots here and there, and then this young woman crossed my view finder, and there was no way I could have not pressed the shutter. She was so unique, with her purple hair, big hat and rather unique dress sense.
Some stupid errors with camera settings saw me drop a few images and kick myself, but I came away with some, what I consider good, images.
I walked round for hours, yet people where just not interesting, I could not find anyone displaying any emotion, or anything else. So it turned to just who I found interesting. My street photography still requires some practice…
See the rest of my images over at my photosite..
Great Yorkshire Show
Soon the 152nd Great Yorkshire Show will be back on in Harrogate. The main farming event of the year.
Its a photographers dream. So much to shoot, so many different styles to practice. This year, as well as the compulsory shots of the events, I’ll be concentrating on taking “people” images. Trying to capture the people of the farming community, the passion for the land and the job they do.
I really need to spend the time photographing people. Outside of the studio, I lack confidence, those off the wall shots, spontaneous undirected snaps of life.
I’m really going to enjoy this years show, of course, photographs will be available in the Events gallery.
Daily Fail at it again
Lol, just Lol.
The Middle England frenzy whipper the Daily Mail has been stealing images again. See here for the full rundown.
Cold as Ice
My lord its been cold this week. I’m not even sure it has crept above 0 all week. Even when it does, the ground is going to be cold for a long time to come. In my time off, I got a little bored and went for a walk along Oak Beck. I hav’nt been down there since the loss of my two dogs. I was half expecting to see one of them come out of the undergrowth, soaked to the skin carrying a huge stick. But alas, they are both gone, but the memories remain.
Another Weekend
So another weekend is done. This on slightly more profitable than the rest. Quite a few images have been sold off my website this weekend, amounting to a decent bit of cash coming in. As ever this was donated to charity as is my norm. This time it was the turn of a British charity to help street and slum children in India.
EGNM
I have a guilty pleasure. I enjoy taking aircraft pictures. But I’m not a plane spotter. I dont tick them off in a little book. I dont get excited when a A330 comes in. I just like to hear that immense rumble, and feel the backwash as these huge birds accellerate down the runway.
If someone asks me what aircraft that was, I cant tell them.
Anyway, my Local Airport is Leeds Bradford. There are many places you can get good shots, from both ends of the runway. So here is a quick rundown of places.
First off, is the “Bomb Craters”. This is a area of very rough ground. Can get quite busy up here, and the view is semi blocked by the Multiflight hangars. To get there, turn Left at the traffic lights. Entrance is about half mile up the road on the left.
From parking here, you can also walk down to out next point. A Public footpath exists between the Fence and golfcourse. This however is a very wet and overgrown, so wear decent boots. You will get right down to the End of Runway 32, and get some good shots of aircraft landing if the current rotation is that way. (Rotation changes at 3pm everyday)
But by far my favourite place is the Cemetary, on Cemetary Road. From this elevated position you can see the entire length of the runaway and a good view of the Apron area. It can however get really really busy up here. And parkin space is at a premium.
For those that are interested, you can get all sorts of lovely information about the Airport from NATS. Airport charts and navigation information is all provided on their site.
Airport frequencies for those with a scanner are (Note that some changed as of June 2010, these are the new frequencies)
- Leeds Approach 125.575
- Leeds Tower 120.300
- Leeds Delivery 121.800 As broadcast on ATIS or directed bt ATC
- Leeds Radar 125.575, 133.125 As directed by ATC.
- ATIS Leeds Information 118.025
- FIRE Leeds Fire 121.600 Available when Fire vehicle attending aircraft on the ground in an emergency.
There are a few others in use, such as ground crew and other misc services, but these are the main ones. Multiflight can be found on 130.650 MHz.
Be sure to check out the Flickr group for LBA.
A Wanted weekend
After what was possibly the worst day I’ve ever had at work, I was really looking forward to this weekend.
I went off on Saturday, determined to get some better shots of the Deer. Another photographer was up there, with a huge Canon, and the biggest lense I’ve ever seen outside of a sports stadium.
Rutting season is more or less over and the Stags are taking it easy. still chasing the occasional buck chancing his luck, but for the most part their just chilling.
Then in the evening, I went to the Fireworks display on the stray, which to be perfectly honest, was a disappointing affair. But my god there was alot of people there. And as normal, people where dumping their cars wherever they could spreading chaos in their wake.
Leaving the stray area was a nightmare. The largest roundabout in Harrogate, the empress just turned into a random free for all, as people jostled to get on and off it. It was just a complete nightmare. I decided I wanted no part of that and went left back toward the fireworks and down North Park Road. Getting home I loaded the fireworks shots into lightroom, and was a little disapointed. I chose to ue my Sigma 10-20mm, and that was a error, I was a little to far away from the fireworks, and most of the frames where overly blah. I loaded several of the shots into Phostshop, and arranged them into a single layerd document. and fidlled with them until I had something I liked. So all was’nt lost.
I dont know what I’m doing on Sunday, but I’ll sure as hell not waste the day. Might actually go to Leeds or maybe York and do some people type shots. I enjoy street photography, but my old bug bear of nerves always gets me when I see a good shot.
And, I’ll watch out for Police speed traps
