> > From: Tim Øsleby <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: 2006/04/10 Mon PM 11:43:03 GMT > To: <pentax-discuss@pdml.net> > Subject: RE: Composing on screen vs. in viewfinder. > > In theory, I agree 100% with every word you say. > In reality, most of the time, there are 25 meters of water between me and > the birds. > What alternatives does that leave me with? Investing heavily in lenses (read > selling the car), or cropping.
Buy a canoe? http://www.profotos.com/education/promag/articles/december2001/birdblind/index.shtml http://www.iucn.org/themes/SSC/actionplans/grebes/ch4b.pdf m > > > Tim > Mostly harmless (just plain Norwegian) > > Never underestimate the power of stupidity in large crowds > (Very freely after Arthur C. Clarke, or some other clever guy) > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Bob W [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Sent: 11. april 2006 00:23 > > To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net > > Subject: RE: Composing on screen vs. in viewfinder. > > > > Hi, > > > > first of all, I would question the following statements: > > > > > photography and birds. My longest glass that is usable is > > > 500mm (with converter it tends to be too soft), so I have to > > > crop the pictures to make them interesting. > > > > > Now, when shooting digitally, being forced to crop later > > > something happens with my mindset. > > > > Why do you think you have to crop later? What is forcing you to do this? > > Like you, I have shot mainly slides, and I prefer to compose in the > > viewfinder. I never shoot with the intention of cropping later, and I very > > rarely crop. When I've shot wildlife it has usually been with a 400m lens > > as > > the longest, plus a 2X TC. Admittedly, most of the wildlife I've shot has > > been bigger than most birds, but I never found a problem with composing in > > the viewfinder. I would hazard a guess that any issue you have is more > > psychological than real. With a hide you should be able to get very close > > to > > the birds. At the bird sanctuaries I've been too, the hides and the birds > > have been very close to each other. I notice that the most popular birding > > binoculars are something like 8x45, which is not very big. The main issue > > with them seems to be the need to focus closely, which also tells me > > something about how close you can get to birds. > > > > I recommend that you put these thoughts of cropping out of your mind, and, > > as you suggest, practice. Get used to the new techniques you are using > > first, before you expect world-shattering photographs, and accept that it > > will take some time to get through the learning phase. > > > > -- > > Cheers, > > Bob > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: Tim Øsleby [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > Sent: 10 April 2006 22:53 > > > To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net > > > Subject: Composing on screen vs. in viewfinder. > > > > > > Those of you reading the list lately may have noticed that I > > > have a project going on, that forces me to explore some new > > > land (read learn new techniques). > > > How a beeeep should you avoid noticing that? With my endless > > > ranting questions ;-) > > > > > > I have been talking about using longer lenses, building hides > > > and so on. > > > This has been great fun, and I am learning a lot about > > > photography and birds. My longest glass that is usable is > > > 500mm (with converter it tends to be too soft), so I have to > > > crop the pictures to make them interesting. > > > > > > This has made me realise that I am a lot better at composing > > > in viewfinder then I am with composing on computer screen. I > > > have been thinking about this. I have some ideas about why. > > > > > > First: > > > It is that in the field I compose more on instinct. I am > > > there, and I have emotions about the motifs. My heart is > > > involved, and I believe that it is my heart that makes the > > > composing decisions. Back at home, the motifs are more > > > distant to me, so there I compose by brain (and as you know, > > > that's not much of a brain). > > > > > > The second reason has to do with the decisive moment: > > > When I shot slides my mind was in "capture mode" (sorry Shel, > > > I know you don't like that word). When pushing the button I > > > knew that what is in frame, stays in frame, and what is out > > > of frame, stays out. (Everybody who has tried masking slides > > > in glassless frames, knows that you do everything you can to > > > avoid that activity later). > > > > > > Now, when shooting digitally, being forced to crop later > > > something happens with my mindset. There is no decisive > > > moment in post processing on computer. > > > There is always possible to go back. > > > > > > What I'm saying is that I think I need the decisive moment to > > > make a good composition. I also need to be emotionally > > > connected with the motif in some way. > > > > > > But what do I do about this? Practise is one obvious answer. > > > And I will practise. But, I also have a strong belief in the > > > power and wisdom of this list. I would really surprise me if > > > it doesn't burp up some good ideas and advise. > > > > > > > > > Tim > > > Mostly harmless (just plain Norwegian) > > > > > > Never underestimate the power of stupidity in large crowds > > > (Very freely after Arthur C. Clarke, or some other clever guy) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ----------------------------------------- Email sent from www.ntlworld.com Virus-checked using McAfee(R) Software Visit www.ntlworld.com/security for more information
