The challenges of photographing animals

[corkyg]

I guess birds are animals too - and they make fun subjects. This coral crested cockatoo was a real character. Kept trying to grab the lens.

bird1

And these flamingos were in the lobby of a hotel in Acapulco. Another Oly P&S product.

bird2

And this was another where timing was everything - a female Harris hawk landing on the handler's glove during a free flight demo . . .

bird3

And, . . . Dr. Pizza - what exactly is a fainting goat? Do they pass out when looked at?

 

[soydios]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
I couldn't agree more that it's difficult to photograph animals. Since we sell fainting goats, we always need good pictures of the goats we have for sale as well as good pictures of the parents so potential buyers can judge the quality of the animals. I literally have 1000's of pictures on my computer of the animals; only a very small fraction are usable.

haha, you sell the fainting goats? awesome.

 

[GoingUp]

Originally posted by: OdiN
Looking over your photos - here is what I come up with.

Camera shake.

Unless you have an IS lens, you should follow the shutter=1/Focal Length rule (especially with a crop camera). What this means is that if you're zoomed to 200mm, you should use 1/200 for shutter speed - or faster. You can use a slower shutter speed, but you have to be steady.

If your lens does have IS, you need to find out what generation. Some IS can compensate up to 2 stops, while others can do up to 3 and the newest I hear is up to 4!

So say your IS lens is 2-stop IS - it's 2nd Gen stuff.

If your shot would have to be taken at 1/125 (at 125mm), with the IS on, you could take the shot at 1/30 and be okay for the most part. With a 3-Stop IS (like my 70-200mm), you could go one stop further to 1/15. That may be one of the advantages that my IS lens offers compared to your lens if you don't have IS (or if it has older IS tech).

But I'm going to guess it doesn't have IS and you're just shooting at too slow of a shutter speed for your focal length. The cat can remain perfectly still - but due to camera shake it doesn't come out tack sharp. Part of this can be lens quality as well.

One of the awesome things about LiveView is that I can demonstrate the value of IS to people. Turn on live view, zoom in to 200mm with IS off, and then using LiveView, do the digital zoom to 10x.

Watch how much the image moves when you try to hold it still.

Then flip on the IS. HUGE difference. You can usually keep the image very still - not nearly as much movement.


In one of your shots, you're shooting at 200mm and have a 1/30 shutter speed. Unless you've got IS, you should never ever do that - especially without flash and not on a tripod. If you're on a stable tripod, use whatever shutter you want for the most part.

I was using the Canon 70-200mm F2.8 IS lens. I tried it with IS on and off. The weight started getting to me, especially for some of the poses I was in trying to get closer to the cat. I think only having the ISO at 400 prevented me from the faster shutter.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: corkyg
And, . . . Dr. Pizza - what exactly is a fainting goat? Do they pass out when looked at?

When they're startled or really excited, due to a genetic condition, they stiffen up. Even the slightest bit off-balance and over they go. There's a very small video clip on the top of our website (you've gotta click a green arrow or something) - you can see a goat stiffen up and flip over when our neighbors grandson is chasing them around.

(My wife has completely redesigned the website, just hasn't uploaded the new design, so don't be too critical )

 

[corkyg]

What's the URL or link for the website?

This video shows it pretty well . . .

Goats

 

[DrPizza]

Oh duh... slatebrookfarm

 

[gsellis]

Confused. You are shooting digital? Was it the mirror/shutter or do you have the fake "shutter" noise that you can turn off? Because if it was one of those that does the noise that can be turned off in settings, that makes me go "Hmmm".

Note: Turn it off if you ever shoot anything the can shoot, stab, or eat you.

 

[troytime]

Originally posted by: OdiN

Originally posted by: troytime

Originally posted by: OdiN
Pic of my cat...who's still in CA:

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/OdiN/nekobw.jpg

i really hate cats

but that is a fantastic photo

Thanks

I only wish I hadn't cut off that little bit of his paw - but he was only gonna stay looking at me for so long lol.

i'm certainly all for it, but don't tell PETA about your animal cruelty
(j/k, i know what you're actually referring to)

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: gsellis
Confused. You are shooting digital? Was it the mirror/shutter or do you have the fake "shutter" noise that you can turn off? Because if it was one of those that does the noise that can be turned off in settings, that makes me go "Hmmm".

Note: Turn it off if you ever shoot anything the can shoot, stab, or eat you.

DSLR - so it was a real mirror going up, etc.

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: Gobadgrs
I was using the Canon 70-200mm F2.8 IS lens. I tried it with IS on and off. The weight started getting to me, especially for some of the poses I was in trying to get closer to the cat. I think only having the ISO at 400 prevented me from the faster shutter.

I think you needed a bit faster shutter speed - you can take shots at 1/15th on the long side of that lens with IS on. I don't think you were stable enough.

However, what mode was the IS in? Mode 1 or 2?

 

[GoingUp]

Originally posted by: OdiN

Originally posted by: Gobadgrs
I was using the Canon 70-200mm F2.8 IS lens. I tried it with IS on and off. The weight started getting to me, especially for some of the poses I was in trying to get closer to the cat. I think only having the ISO at 400 prevented me from the faster shutter.

I think you needed a bit faster shutter speed - you can take shots at 1/15th on the long side of that lens with IS on. I don't think you were stable enough.

However, what mode was the IS in? Mode 1 or 2?

2 I think. Whats the difference? Maybe I should read the instruction manual

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: Gobadgrs
Whats the difference? Maybe I should read the instruction manual

Mode 1 is for general use with IS active on both the horizontal and vertical axis. Mode 2 is for use when panning horizontally, with the horizontal axis being turned off. Still camera, Mode 1.

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: Gobadgrs

Originally posted by: OdiN

Originally posted by: Gobadgrs
I was using the Canon 70-200mm F2.8 IS lens. I tried it with IS on and off. The weight started getting to me, especially for some of the poses I was in trying to get closer to the cat. I think only having the ISO at 400 prevented me from the faster shutter.

I think you needed a bit faster shutter speed - you can take shots at 1/15th on the long side of that lens with IS on. I don't think you were stable enough.

However, what mode was the IS in? Mode 1 or 2?

2 I think. Whats the difference? Maybe I should read the instruction manual

That could have been your whole problem. Mode 2 is for panning only and definitely not for handheld.

 

[GoingUp]

Originally posted by: OdiN

Originally posted by: Gobadgrs

Originally posted by: OdiN

Originally posted by: Gobadgrs
I was using the Canon 70-200mm F2.8 IS lens. I tried it with IS on and off. The weight started getting to me, especially for some of the poses I was in trying to get closer to the cat. I think only having the ISO at 400 prevented me from the faster shutter.

I think you needed a bit faster shutter speed - you can take shots at 1/15th on the long side of that lens with IS on. I don't think you were stable enough.

However, what mode was the IS in? Mode 1 or 2?

2 I think. Whats the difference? Maybe I should read the instruction manual

That could have been your whole problem. Mode 2 is for panning only and definitely not for handheld.

Good to know. I was trying to shoot a basketball game tonight and I had all sorts of problems too. Transferring the photos now to take a look.

 

[virtuamike]

#1
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It's a little bit like shooting sports (or any type of action for that matter). Keep your shutter speed up and anticipate the moment rather than reacting to your subjects (I'm not particularly fond of waiting for IS/VR and AF to kick in). If you don't have the light to work with, then don't be afraid to let the ISO climb. And try using a shorter focal length so you can work closer (easier to get a feel for you subjects) - they don't bite