Jun 25, 2018 | Field Reports
Cassin’s Finch
captured by D5 / 180-400VR w/built-in 1.4x
It was a very fun and educational weekend with the newly arrived 180-400VR. It was fun because it was a new lens (I love new glass). Educational because I learned something about myself and my photography I didn’t know before. I’m very fortunate to be able to order the 180-400VR from B&H and using my NPS priority, get one of the first to be shipped. Right off the bat, I knew I had made the right choice is getting the lens (here are my first thoughts). Here’s what I learned about the lens and me the last couple of days.
I never knew what a pain adding a teleconverter can be! I use one a lot with the 800mm, either its matched 1.25x or the TC-14eIII. With the 180-400VR, the 1.4x is built-in, flip the switch up for 1x and down for 1.4x. My finger quickly figured out which for which and the ease of shooting with and without instantly made me wish more of my lenses had one built-in. With its MFD of just over 6′, this is a lethal combo, one I didn’t know I would like and now find a need for as my mind thinks of applications. That was something I learned about myself.
When it comes to image quality, flexibility, AF speed and all that other technical stuff, for my photography, the 180-400VR excels past the 200-400VR2! Just the ability to focus at 6′ at 800mm (180-400VR + TC-14eIII makes me long for nesting season (it’s just ending where I live).
Below are some images I took over the weekend as I tried to shoot as the smoke from our wildfire filled the air (more on that later). With the price of the lens really making be pace the office floor, it’s a phew now that it’s here and working out much better than I could have predicted. It’s nice when there is new glass, new lessons.
[envira-gallery id=”47984″]
400f4 on the left 560f8 on the right
Jun 21, 2018 | Field Reports
Learning that improves our mind and hearts moves our photography forward!
1. Get it right in the camera! So much easier (and quicker!) to get a final image that is representative of what you see.
2. Go as long as you can or you will come up short. There was more that one occasion where I wished I had more reach.
3. Keep learning how to use my equipment better. I have downloaded Snap Bridge and am learning how to use it as an example. There are many more.
4. Exposure, exposure, exposure! Be aware of how light is changing and adjust accordingly.
5. Be nimble and use your knowledge of behavior and biology to get the best shot. Don’t follow the “herd,” especially in places like Yellowstone and the Tetons. The best bear shots I have are a result of your anticipation of where the bears were headed and not where everyone else was standing.
6. Be cognizant of heat shimmer and adjust as best you can. My badger shots are not as sharp as I would like. Hope for clouds or a breeze!
7. Keep working on hand-holding and long lens techniques. Force yourself to not to rely on higher ISO to get sharp images.
This is Craig’s list of “takeaways.” After our Adventures, we follow up after folks have gone back home by going through the images of our workshop clients because the learning doesn’t stop once we put you back on the plane. Much of the learning takes place talking in the van or at meals that are put into action at the camera. Craig & Chris both, along with their photos sent after they got home, listed their “takeaways.” Takeaways is another way of saying what they learned shooting with me in Yellowstone. As a teacher, it is always very satisfying to see some of the lessons make an impact and help a student down the road. We have this and so much more we share on our workshops we want to explore with you. And if you want to join us, give Sharon a call 661.204.1506 because what Craig shared here is waiting for you, a great set of takeaways!
Jun 14, 2018 | Field Reports
DCIM100MEDIADJI_0006.JPG
Our C-47, #43-48950 has made incredible progress at the hands of the talented crew at Turin Aviation Group! As you can see from our aerial view, she’s got all her body work done and first coat of the final “green” applied. Just finding the exact green she came with from the factory was a challenge. That coat of paint represents hundreds of hours working on corrosion control and panel work that is now invisible below the new paint. We made two filming visits this month to keep up with the work. You can see an update of our filming on our NormandyBound.com site.
And we want to thank ALL who keep contributing to the filming of the documentary! We’re so pleased to have sent out our 50th coin, that means a lot to us! Thanks!!!!
Jun 11, 2018 | Field Reports
The tranquility that is the Kauai northern coast. Simply good for the soul!
Jun 3, 2018 | Field Reports
photo courtesy Nikon
When the 180-400VR was first announced, because of my gear addiction, I instantly wanted it. I’ve had the 200-400VR since it was first introduced, then upgraded to the 200-400VR2 when it came out. So “upgrading” just seemed the thing to do then I looked at the price. Gulp! I looked through my files for the last 18 months to see how much I shot with the 200-400, not enough to justify the upgrade and so I wasn’t going to buy one. It’s how gear acquisition works in the office. Then two big game projects hit the calendar, a couple of ground to air projects and with that, the math worked out and volla, B&H got the lens to me and now this gorgeous lens is now in the locker. And simply put, it’s spectacular!
What’s the upgrade in the 180-400VR? First is the lower focal length limit is 180mm, the other is the built-in 1.4x teleconverter. So the lens is a 180-400VR f/4 at 1x and with the 1.4x in use, it’s a 252-560mm VR f/5.6. It does this while maintaining an MFD of 6.6′! The thing I really like is the ease of activating and deactivating the 1.4x. You don’t have to take your eye away from the viewfinder, it’s a simple flip of a switch. And, and … you can add an external teleconveter to the 180-400VR with its built-in 1.4x in operation. My choice is the TC-14eIII which when attached to the 180-400VR and its 1.4x is applied, you have a 352-784mm f/8 lens in what I consider a pretty small, light package (remember this comes from someone who’s main lens is the 800mm). But the question you gotta ask is, is it worth it?
The image quality is simply, quite honestly, gorgeous (blog post Monday will have those)! Many will ask how it is compared to the 200-400VR and to me, it’s a tad better. Then they ask how is it with the built-in 1.4x and there, it’s beautifully better than adding the TC-14eIII to the 200-400VR. And with the TC-14eIII attached to the 180-400 with or without its 1.4x in operation, the results totally blew me away! Other things that I really like, the focusing ring it now at the rear and the balance is better. It does weigh a tad more and is a tad longer but it’s not noticeable. What has my mind spinning are the possibilities this lens brings in “compact” lens with big focal length range, 180mm to 784mm, with just a lens and a teleconverter. While I was hesitant in the beginning, I’m so glad I’m all in now!
May 31, 2018 | Field Reports
I’m exhausted and that’s because it was simply a fabulous day! Photoshop World started with its Precon yesterday and I had a marvelous group of 40 photographers eager to tackle the world of writing with light, better known as photography! Under incredibly stormy skies after an hour of classwork, we headed out to my dear friend’s Stallion 51 to work with six Mustang P-51Ds and our models Tea & Shada.
It was a great class and I know this because I didn’t get to shoot other than a couple of example photo to give folks a direction to start. With all the rains, we took advantage of the huge hangar and gorgeous light its big open doors provide us. You can see Tea above from the simple exercise of moving a subject in further and further into the hangar to use that light. We had a short break in the rain when they could pull on a Mustang out on the ramp. With the great God screem above, the girls hopped up on a wing to bring our “Rosie the Riveter” in contact with her work. Both photos were taken with the D5 with 105f1.4.
Our time outdoors was short lived and the Mustang and the rain returned and it had to be hangared again. Took this opportunity to do a little flash work. My dear friends at B&H Photo we kind enough to give every one of the attendees one of my favorite light modifiers, the Impact Quikbox Micro. To help learn how to use flash and the light modifier, I had folks solve the complex problem of lighting our models with the strong backlight of the open hangar for a background. They did marvelous gaining control over flash and removing the fear of this unknown light. So while it might have been pouring rain, for me and all the attendees the light shined and photography won the day. What a great start to Photoshop World!
