Wildlife Photography - Tips and Tricks

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[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7zE2Ob3l90[/embed]

A new video with some wildlife photography tips. Get better photos with longer lenses to nail those wildlife shots! 

Lenses

Tamron SP 150-600mm

Tamron SP 150-600mm

  • Animals are for the most part shy making a 400mm lens your best bet with 600mm getting even closer for great shots.

  • Using a longer focal length brings the wildlife to you, letting them take up more of the shot for an impressive photo.

Sigma 100-400mm Contemporary

Sigma 100-400mm Contemporary

The Sigma 150-600 C is one of the best values in super telephoto, The Tamron G2 is a little sharper but more expensive. Check out photorec.tv/wildlifegear for recommended gear cameras and lenses for wildlife photography at every budget.

Shutter Speeds

When you are shooting with a longer lens you want to watch your shutter speeds. Typically when photographing it goes aperture first, but when using a longer lens and especially when photographing wildlife, it's shutter speed first.

Focal length rule: Focal Length * 2(Times the amount of coffee you've had)

A post shared by Roy McKee III (@roymckeeiii) on Oct 27, 2016 at 10:30am PDT

That means for a 400mm lens you are looking at roughly a 1/800 shutter speed. The rule doesn't account for your subject though, meaning that in cases of faster objects like birds in flight you'll need speeds up to 1/2000 of a second. Going for faster photos first can net you "safe" shots with a higher ISO, meaning more noise, then you can back the speed down a bit for cleaner images. Tripods and IS can help speeds a bit as well keeping things a bit lower as well.

  • Remember - expose properly, don’t underexpose your image because when you brighten the image in post it is going to get much noisier.

  • Focus mode - with static or slow-moving subjects a single point is fine - running or flying - a wider array of points really helps the camera track your subject. And switch to Continuous AF for subjects on the move.

Sony a7R III

Sony a7R III

Gear Recommendations - photorec.tv/wildlifegear

Feel free to post questions about gear here or consider joining my awesome photography community at the Photo Enthusiast Network

Vietnam Photography Adventures - Part Three!

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We left Vietnam and head for Cambodia and Siam Reap- amazing floating villages of Tonlé Sap and explorations of Angkor Wat and all the surrounding temples like Ta Prohm!Watch the SeriesVietnam Photography Adventures Part 2Vietnam Photography Adventures Part 1

Vietnam Photography Adventures - Part Two!

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Leaving the amazing Halong bay behind we venture south through the city of lanterns, Hoi An, the city of Hue and of course Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City and exploring the Mekong Delta - Snakes on me, Snakes in a bottle and so much more.Watch the SeriesVietnam Photography Adventures Part 3 Vietnam Photography Adventures Part 1

Would you? On our #mckaylive travels up the Mekong river, we came across Bebe, 7 year old, 50lb boa. I think he liked me! Traveling with the McKay crew is as much about fun experiences as it is about the photos.

A post shared by Toby (@photorectoby) on Feb 4, 2018 at 7:59am PST

Vietnam Photography Adventures - Part One!

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Dark alleyways of Hanoi, remote mountain villages outside Sa Pa, and the awesome Halong Bay are some of our destinations in part 1 of our Vietnam Adventures!

Watch the SeriesVietnam Photography Adventures Part 2Vietnam Photography Adventures Part 3 

Make Photos #001 - Long Exposure B&W

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Part of a new series where I walk you through the capture and post processing of a photo!https://www.instagram.com/p/BODlpZPBypM/Watchhttps://youtu.be/VYD13WQnTd0 Gear Used in this VideoSony alpha a7r iiZeiss Batis 18mmNisi Filters CPL (part of the kit)MeFoto Travel Tripod CFFilmed with:Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IIOlympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 

Lightroom Mobile Updates

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQK2k6a1A-ALightroom Mobile has been updated on Android and iOS - Take a look at the new PRO camera built in that provides shutter speed, ISO and exposure compensation and allows DNG(RAW) Capture and editing on your mobile device. Is it as buggy and slow as LRM has been in the past? How does Lightroom Mobile compare to Snapseed? And on iOS you can now edit any RAW file (coming soon with iOS 10 support)SUBSCRIBE for more contentYou can download Lightroom for Android 2.1 here now for free.Lightroom mobile 2.4 is available immediately for iPhone and iPad from the iOS App Store for free.Mobile Photos shot with the new Camera App in Lightroom Mobile 2.1 on Android (DNG Support)https://www.instagram.com/p/BH2pBkoDYO4/?taken-by=photorectobyhttps://www.instagram.com/p/BH1EME7Du0U/?taken-by=photorectoby 

Photography Tips for Havana/Cuba

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After spending three weeks in Cuba I share some tips for photographing Havana, the old buildings, the American cars and the people of Cuba!

Cuba Photography DO NOTs:

  • Never photo the police in uniform
  • Don't photo all white dressed people

Don't be rude and stick your camera in people's faces.   You are visiting their home not a zoo.  

Cuba Photography DOs:

Strike up a conversation before asking if you may take a photo. 

Puebo toma una photo.

If you know a little more Spanish you could strike up a conversation with people and ask if you can see or visit their home.  As I said I was invited into multiple homes and I feel it's pretty special to be treated so generously.  Feel free to offer something in exchange. Another way to make friends is to bring gifts.  Stickers for the kids,  candy too.  Pens are highly valued by the people at the market and is a nice gesture if you spend a few minutes with a camera in their face.  And on our McKay trips a few people brought the Insta print cameras and those were a huge hit with the young and the old,  it's very nice to share the images with the people you are capturing.  Watch your step.  Holes,  poop,  slippery marble and more.

SUGGESTED CUBA PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR:

I shot for most of the trip with a full frame camera and a 50mm lens.  Great combination.https://www.instagram.com/p/BFxhtL3NMCU/?taken-by=photorectobySony a7RII with Sigma MC-11 Adapter and Sigma 50mm f/1.4 ART series lens.  (links go to B&H Photo for prices - Your purchase of gear through my links is part of my income and keeps me in business)If I saw an interesting person I would have my camera ready before I asked for permission.  You get a more natural look if you are ready to snap the photo right after you ask. The longer you take the less likely you are to get a genuine expression.Wide angle lenses can be fun with all of the curves of the car. Crop: Tokina 11-16 f/2.8Telephoto for sneakier street photography - Suggested 70-200 F/4

Locations for shooting.  

There is no shortage of photo ops in Havana no matter where you explore but for the most authentic Havana experience I would stay near Central ParkPrado Ave Also listed on maps as Paseo de Marti separates central Havana from the old city.  Fantastic photo opportunities on the broad Ave and central park has a great collection of old American cars for hire and photography.  If you want the less shiny American cars, just head down any back street,  they really are everywhere. https://www.instagram.com/p/BGZIkpTNMHE/?taken-by=photorectobyWander a few blocks left or right off Prado and you will quickly find the colors,  the crumbling walls and more to photograph,  really you even get that on Prado though they are trying to restore the buildings along the Avenue.  https://www.instagram.com/p/BF7P65BNMNh/?taken-by=photorectobyFountain square,  Cathedral square and arms square give you a taste of restored and historic Havana.  Obispo Avenue is a car free Avenue that runs from arms square to central park.  This is a more touristy stretch but offers lots to see and places to eat.  Again I encourage you to venture off onto the side streets,  I did this day and night and felt safe at all times. Sunrise and sunset from Malecón, Havana, Cuba(sea wall) and the fort is great for sunset and city skyline plus the Cannon shot ceremony at 9pm every night.  You pay to get in but consider paying 1 cuc more to get up on the roof which comes with a free drink,  best view of the ceremony and a good view of the city.  If you only want the city view stay down below on the fort walls.  https://www.instagram.com/p/BGEnlrctMLd/?taken-by=photorectobyMarti theater,  across from Central Park is lit beautifully at night. And the capital currently being restored will be beautiful. https://www.instagram.com/p/BGQYud7tMKC/?taken-by=photorectobyIt will be interesting to see what happens to Cuba and especially havana over the next few years as tourism increases.  McKay Photography is making plans to return, Email David Here I’m interested in Cuba next year!More photos from Cuba: Want to travel with me to some place other than Cuba? Maybe Croatia? Vietname? Iceland? More information and more locations listed at Photorec.tv/Travel. 

Metal Print Savings, Franken Camera Mark II & Working

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AdoramaPix has a 30% deal on Metal Prints- Get your work printed directly on metal- it looks beautiful, unique and is so easy to care for.   Shop this link and support the site Use Promo Code: PXAFN30SUNDAY-FUNDAYWe currently have the Olympus Air in for testing - this is that little camera module that communicates wirelessly with your smartphone or tablet and provides a standard micro 4/3 mount.  This means if you have any micro 4/3 lenses from Olympus or Panasonic or say a MetaBones speedbooster laying around (like I do) you can also throw Canon lenses on there. Sometimes I don't have a good reason for doing something other than I just want to see if it will work- It does, and works quite well, even the Image Stabilization in the 70-200 works!  So this is the LGV10 coupled wirelessly to the Olympus Air with the Metabones speedbooster and then the Canon 70-200 f/2.8.   It all provides a 140-400 f/2 Lens :)

Taken with the Olympus Air and Canon 70-200 f/2.8 Lens.Taken with the Olympus Air and Canon 70-200 f/2.8 Lens. SUNDAY-WORKDAYChristina and I spent some time shooting for a local apparel and gear company.  I spent most of my time capturing behind the scenes and we will be sharing more soon.  I shot with the Sony a7SII and did see the temperature icon/over-heat warning once toward the end of the shoot- I will be testing more and sharing my thoughts on the Sony a7SII soon. 2015-11-08 15.01.27 2015-11-08 15.02.31  

Photo Mish Mash Episode 10 - Av Mode is Dangerous

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Week in Review-Stay tuned for the giveaway...We didn’t define a few words last week in our Jargon episode like BOKEH!!! Blown Out, Highlights, Histogram, ChimpingHistogram video Link - What is your HistogramHistogram discussionChimping9:00 70D focusing problem70D focus issue? Dont panic - it is disappointing but not cause for total panic12:27 NEWShttp://lensvid.com/gear/lensvid-exclusive-what-happened-to-the-photography-industry-in-2013/Revel android release http://m.connect.dpreview.com/post/6445023773/adobe-releases-revel-for-androidAre camcorders dead?Getty’s BIG announcement http://www.bjp-online.com/2014/03/10-facts-you-need-to-know-about-getty-images-embed-feature/29:50 Discussion - AV MODE IS DANGEROUS!!37:28 Reader Questionssokoli989 asks - What is the most common lens you use at weddings?March Canon Mail In Rebates (LINK)Does the greater number of focus points mean more will be in focus?Often asked about Nikon having 39 focus points vs the 11 from Canon and relatedly I had someone comment that they always use all the focus points so that everything will be in focus.Fav Photo of the week?Christina pickshttp://www.flickr.com/photos/96294033@N08/8790207444/in/pool-digitalphotorecToby pickshttp://www.flickr.com/photos/spammie33/12515239865/in/pool-digitalphotorec48:13 something special - GIVEAWAY