A swan for Gawan plus a less graceful fellow

Still using my Sigma 70-300 plus Kenko MC7 2x TC combination. I find I need the reach of 600mm for the more opportunistic bird shots. Now acquired a monopod so I was out experimenting with it the other day. Found it quite difficult to get the hang of. The sharpness success rate seemed to be as poor as hand holding, but I think the best shots with the monopod were better than my hand held ones. I need to develop my monopod technique. Which way do people find the best for working with a monopod? The clearest explanations of different techniques I have found so far were here:

How To Use A Monopod & Multi-Purpose Tripod

I used SR in all these shots. I know you shouldn't with a tripod, but would other people use SR with a monopod?

I usually use spot metering when trying to get wildlife shots but I'd been out the previous week doing some landscape/architecture shots and I had the metering on multi-segmented for that and forgot I'd changed it. A lesson for me in always checking the settings.

The exif data showed F5.6 but I guess the actual light getting through was F11. Does this mean that DOF will be as if the lens was at F11 when used on its own without the TC?

Sorry for all the questions but I'd be grateful for help in my continuing learning curve.

Anyhow to the images:

A while since I caught you with my flock of (glass) swans photo Gawan. But I thought of you as this fellow passed.
1/2000th, F5.6, ISO800, Exp Comp -0.5


I then came across this obliging Grey Heron.
1/90th, F5.6, ISO800, Exp Comp -0.5


He took off after a while and landed here. Is the F for "Fool" or "Fun"? He was pretty precarious on that buoy, but managed to keep his balance. That got even more difficult for him when a couple of seagulls decided they didn't like him being around and started to dive bomb him.
1/1500th, F5.6, ISO800, Exp Comp -1.0


Paul

[Peter Zack]

Nice set of images Paul. The second shot is very good. That heron likes to take risks. I bet he'd have some issues if he fell in the water since I don't think they are swimmers (not with those feet).

I keep the SR on since a monopod is not rock steady and it will still help reduce movement blur. Seems to work fine.

The DOF becomes the new effective setting created by the TC from what I've read. There are mathmatical formulas for this and I bet Lowell has the definitive answer for this one.

I put the monopod leg between my legs (so the monopod is actually extended longer) so it's at a 10-15 degree angle with the foot behind me. So with this setup my legs with the monopod leg creat a "tripod" configuration. I find straight up and down is harder to get right. I loosed the head and basically use it like a gimbal unless panning the shot.

For the swan shot, I might have turned the ISO down to 400 and also the shutter speed to 1/500th or so. Then stop the lens down a bit more. That could have resulted in a sharper image.

[daacon]

Good efforts Paul. I have only used a Monopod a few times and struggle with it as well. I like Peter's suggestion and will give that a go next time. It is hard to remember to check all the settings everytime. I try but alas sometimes forget and like you said all of sudden I wonder what happened. Looks like you have a great area to pratcie though ! I like the last shot a big gust of wind might have made for a funny set of pics (or better yet a big ole wave).

[gawan]

Originally Posted by channeler

[...] A while since I caught you with my flock of (glass) swans photo Gawan. But I thought of you as this fellow passed. [...]

Paul

Nice one Channeler! You caught me with this one too I also like the heron, the surroundings fits great to the composition of thar photo!

[channeler]

Originally Posted by Peter Zack

Nice set of images Paul. The second shot is very good. That heron likes to take risks. I bet he'd have some issues if he fell in the water since I don't think they are swimmers (not with those feet).

I keep the SR on since a monopod is not rock steady and it will still help reduce movement blur. Seems to work fine.

The DOF becomes the new effective setting created by the TC from what I've read. There are mathmatical formulas for this and I bet Lowell has the definitive answer for this one.

I put the monopod leg between my legs (so the monopod is actually extended longer) so it's at a 10-15 degree angle with the foot behind me. So with this setup my legs with the monopod leg creat a "tripod" configuration. I find straight up and down is harder to get right. I loosed the head and basically use it like a gimbal unless panning the shot.

For the swan shot, I might have turned the ISO down to 400 and also the shutter speed to 1/500th or so. Then stop the lens down a bit more. That could have resulted in a sharper image.

Thanks Peter. I think you're right about the Heron. He'd have got very wet. It's a wonder he kept his balance. The implications of TC/lens combinations are a little more complicated than I first appreciated. I guess the starting point needs to be at least a stop or two down from wide open on the lens to get away from the lens' inherent weaknesses, but then the loss of stops with the TC causes even more problems. Feels like between a rock and a hard place. You're right about the swan shot. Still have to get used to adjusting all the settings at the same time as taking up the opportunities. The light conditions kept changing every few minutes, partly clouds but mainly due to open or wooded environment. I'll have a go with that suggested monopod position, but as my wife considers me to be accident prone I already have visions of falling over the monopod leg with it in that position.

Paul

Originally Posted by daacon

Good efforts Paul. I have only used a Monopod a few times and struggle with it as well. I like Peter's suggestion and will give that a go next time. It is hard to remember to check all the settings everytime. I try but alas sometimes forget and like you said all of sudden I wonder what happened. Looks like you have a great area to pratcie though ! I like the last shot a big gust of wind might have made for a funny set of pics (or better yet a big ole wave).

Thanks Dave. Good luck with the new monopod position. Perhaps we should christen it the "Peter position". Hope you are not as accident prone as I am. We'll have to compare notes after trying it out. A friend mentioned this place to me months ago and I've only just got around to visiting it. It has a natural lake, woodland, moor, artificial lakes and canal all within a couple of sq miles. I've seen more variety of birds in a few hours there than I've seen in days at other places. After two visits I'm starting to get to know the haunts of some of the birds which will help for the future. I thought it was going to be the dive bombing seagulls that were going to see the Heron into the brink but he stood his ground and even had a go at them with that fearsome beak of his. They were too fast for him though, and too fast for me to get a shot in.

Paul

Originally Posted by gawan

Nice one Channeler! You caught me with this one too I also like the heron, the surroundings fits great to the composition of thar photo!

Thanks Gawan. Hope to get some action shots of him on future trips.

Paul

[thomasjmpark]

but as my wife considers me to be accident prone I already have visions of falling over the monopod leg with it in that position.

Lol Paul, I too have that vision now! I have the same problem aswell, I got a monopod 2 months ago to take into the hills with me but every time I use it I find that I could have gotten the shot quicker by just holding it. If im going to spend time setting up a shot then I might aswell have my tripod.

Nice pictures though The Heron is funny.

[little laker]

I love Herons, and you did a sweet job of capturing him in the second pic Paul

[channeler]

Originally Posted by little laker

I love Herons, and you did a sweet job of capturing him in the second pic Paul

Thanks Stu. Now I know where I have a good chance of seeing herons I'll be back trying to get some action shots of them, (if I can master that monopod).

Paul

[channeler]

Thanks Tom. The monopod I got came with a quick release for the camera so I found I could get the camera in place quite quick, but as to keeping it real steady that's another story. I'll keep practising.

Paul