Originally Posted by m8o
p.s. GUILTY AS CHARGED!
I did lean towards keeping the aperture wider for both that, and to maximize OOF blur.
My wife if going w/o me with her parents to China this summer. (they're getting old so they are cramming in the last of their major travel these past few years) I decided not to go because:
1) wicked hot in the summer
2) worried about pollution @ this point in time there
3) they'll be passing through as the Olympics start ... it's already crowded; will be insanely crowded.
4) It's mostly a bus tour, when not on the boat (I would have loved the 6 day on the boat part)
5) They're going on for a 3rd week to Vietnam... I had to get back to go to work. And I couldn't book my own flying arraignments or be sure of what seat I would get on the plane. You know as a single flier that I'd get stuck in the middle of 3 seats. As a 6'2" guy, middleaged and a bit overweight (not too badly thankfully) I'm not going to put myself in a position to live that misery for 12 or 15 hours.
6) Care of my 3 dogs and some issues surrounding them.
...so, no epic journey this year.
I do want to go to the Galapagos w/just the wife myself; not a tour with the in-laws.
The Pro wildlife shooter Andy Rouse, gives in his book “Life in the wild”, various tips on wildlife photography. On animals in landscape, he writes : “The common perception in wildlife photography is that the bigger the image in the frame the better. Well, I beg to differ. I love photographing my hares small in the frame, so that their habitat dominates the picture. Of cause, this is not always possible and it does need either a spectacular setting or exceptional light, which is not in my power to control. But I am always looking for the opportunity.”
Andy oftens stops down to f/11, to make sure everything is pin-sharp in the image.
On Teleconverters, he writes : “Unfortunately, I really needed to be in closer, but walking towards the mother would have caused her stress and may have provoked an attack. I was forced to use my least favourite accessory – a 2x teleconverter. I use 1.4x teleconverters all the time with great results, but the 2x versions are dark and gloomy cousins.”
Walter did some great bird photography with the Sigma 500/4.5. And others are hoping for a DA* 400/4 or f/2.8 lens, in the next roadmap.
Still looking forward to your pictures of Giraffes fighting, and from the balloon ride at dawn. That must have been an amazing site.