Category Archives: Landscape

Woodland Scenes

February 24, 2015 by Words | 3 Comments

I’m still in something of an experimental mood with the camera, and spent some time today taking more woodland shots. The technique is the same as I’ve used previously, but I’m attempting to learn a little more control. I also took a wider lens out with me, in addition to the 100-400.

The first two shots here were taken with the long lens.

woodland scene

Shutter 0.8s, aperture f/22

woodland scene

Shutter 0.6s, aperture f/22

There’s noticeably less ‘motion’ in the second image. I delayed slightly before zooming, and probably zoomed more slowly. I’m still exploring the variables and how they affect the image (90% of the time they affect it directly into the recycle bin), but I’m getting a better notion of the type of setting that is likely to work, and I’m slowly increasing the likelihood of the shot looking something like I expect it to.

One of the difficulties I’ve found with the long lens is that it is quite hard to zoom smoothly while keeping the camera steady. I know that using a tripod would help, but even then the zoom mechanism is relatively firm and the barrel needs a significant turn to cover the whole range. The next two shots were taken with the 24-105 lens. It’s altogether lighter and faster to use, and obviously at the wide end takes in more of the scenery. It’s also a lot easier to zoom quickly, even with a faster shutter speed.

woodland scene

Shutter 0.6s, aperture f/22

woodland scene

Shutter 0.4s, aperture f/22

Camera note: photos taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM and EF 24-105 F4L IS USM lens.

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Song Thrush and Woodland

February 20, 2015 by Words | 2 Comments

Another damp February day. Nothing at all this morning (it was too wet), but by lunchtime the rain had eased to a fine drizzle and it the shlter of local woodland meant that I could more or less avoid getting wet. Of course, the conditions are limiting (dark), but actually ideal for taking more slow-zoomed landscapes.

woodland

I’m beginning to understand a little more about what will and what won’t work these shots (and no, I’m not posting the most obvious disasters), so to an extent they are ‘planned’, though the final effect is very much dependent on how still I hold and zoom the camera. I need to try this with a tripod.

One more in this experimental vein, but taken from a much closer position and framed around three pairs of golden-brown branches. This is a much harsher shot overall, and the zoom was faster.

woodland

There were plenty of small birds around (blue tits, chaffinches, blackbirds and robins), but the one to feature today is a song thrush which moved to the woodland fringe where there was just enough light.

song thrush

song thrush

Camera note: all photos taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens.

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Goose and Other Patterns

February 18, 2015 by Words | 4 Comments

If you follow the Permuted twitter feed you’ll have seen this first shot earlier this evening.

greylag neck

It’s a close crop of the neck of a greylag goose. I loved the hard texture of the feathers. Here’s the full shot.

Greylag goose

I also took a wing detail, again looking for textures and patterns, trying something slightly different for a change.

Greylag goose wing detail

Later in the day I did take some slightly more conventional shots (and one that isn’t). First is a boxer dog that was enjoying a run in the country. It was taken against the light, but the movement was good.

Boxer dog running

Next is a little grebe (or ‘dabchick’). It’s tricky to get close to these tiny water birds, and they spend an inordinate amount of time beneath the surface. I caught this one just as it was beginning a dive, hence the forward posture and slightly fluffed body. One of my best of this species.

little grebe

The final shot is a watery abstract. It’s a rickety fence reflected in the meanders at Seven Sisters. I’ve tweaked the contrast on this one to help bring out the colour.

fence reflection

Camera note: all photos taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens.

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