From yesterday's 70-300mm shoot.

[pandora]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echidna: Late afternoon midwinter light.

E-520, Aperture priority @ 1/100 @ f/5.6 @ iso 400 @ 270mm from about 20ft


E-520, Aperture priority @ 1/200 @ f/5.6 @ iso 400 @ 240mm from about 20ft

[kenwae]

Interesting looking creature....I like the second one better, largely because the focus seems clearer on the face and behind the face is a bit less crisp, which is as it should be with f/5.6; but, on the first one with a profile the out of focus spikes are a bit distracting from the parts in focus....but, i like the composition on both.

[iconoclast]

nice shots. I like the first more due to the grass colors, brighter green and yellow. I think the quills on the first create an interesting pattern, which draws attention from the animals face but I dont think that is necessarily detracts from the photo on a whole. It's not a portrait of a loved one, after all, for which focus on the face and eyes is most important.

[pandora]

Originally Posted by kenwae

Interesting looking creature....I like the second one better, largely because the focus seems clearer on the face and behind the face is a bit less crisp, which is as it should be with f/5.6; but, on the first one with a profile the out of focus spikes are a bit distracting from the parts in focus....but, i like the composition on both.

Originally Posted by iconoclast

nice shots. I like the first more due to the grass colors, brighter green and yellow. I think the quills on the first create an interesting pattern, which draws attention from the animals face but I dont think that is necessarily detracts from the photo on a whole. It's not a portrait of a loved one, after all, for which focus on the face and eyes is most important.

Thanks kenwae and iconoclast, I appreciate both your feedbacks with which I agree. I have to say that under better light at such close range I would normally shoot at between f/8 - f/12 at iso100 - 200. At f5.6 dof gets dangerously shallow at 20ft but as the target kept moving albeit slowly, I needed to keep the shutter above 1/100. I did consider ramping up to iso800 but the e-520 starts getting noisy in that area.
Unfortunately, I lost the defining shot when the animal lifted its head and looked directly at me - I kept frantically jabbing the shutter release until I noticed the alert - CARD FULL! (4GB) ... #*@%&!!! In future I'll remember to empty the card occasionally or carry a spare.

[Max@Home]

Originally Posted by pandora

In future I'll remember to empty the card occasionally or carry a spare.

...occasionally ?? ...or ??

Learn yourself a routine!

Shoot

Back at PC: get card out, use cardreader and download all then delete all

Card back in camera: do two formats

Shoot

ALWAYS carry a second card when you go out shooting, put it in the bag with your spare battery...

I like the second shot better, there is too much OoF in #1 to keep my attention drawn...

...&: amazingly good lens

...€0.02...

Kindest regards!

Max@Home

[pandora]

Thanks Max, on each point of your good advice you're absolutely right, and as a retired professional I should have known better - complacency, absent-mindedness, lack of focus are afflictions of the aged that eventually catch up with all of us, mate!

Edit: However, you'll be pleased to know that I do have two synchronised 500GB external storage devices attached to my PC that I always download to after every shoot.

[Max@Home]

Originally Posted by pandora

Thanks Max, on each point of your good advice you're absolutely right, and as a retired professional I should have known better - complacency, absent-mindedness, lack of focus are afflictions of the aged that eventually catch up with all of us, mate!

...I know, and just then routine helps

Edit: However, you'll be pleased to know that I do have two synchronised 500GB external storage devices attached to my PC that I always download to after every shoot.

very pleased K well earned

...€0.02...

Kindest regards!

Max@Home

[pandora]

Originally Posted by Max@Home

...I know, and just then routine helps
very pleased K well earned ...€0.02... Kindest regards! Max@Home

Thanks again Max.

[iconoclast]

yes, routine is best.
I used to hate copying files before I automated the process. Now I just pop the card in, press 1 button and let the program finish and then remove.

Now its the sorting/rating and pp that I get lazy with.

[pandora]

Originally Posted by iconoclast

yes, routine is best. ... Now its the sorting/rating and pp that I get lazy with.

Ah yes, routine, I must remember that, I must remember, I must , I ... er what?
Who in hell has stolen my #%@**!! lens cap!!!

[pandora]

e-520 @ 1/340 @ f/5.6 @ iso100 @ 140mm. (70-300zoom)