Aggravated

[HillPhotos2009]

I didn't know where to put this...

I shot a pair of swans tonight - they were so beautiful - and I totally ruined them. Idk what happened. I shot on a tripod with my cam on a timer so I wouldn't add any camera shake to the picture, and the lines are so fuzzy and ugly - I hate the pics.

I like the composition of the shots and I like where I had the exposure - its just the dang lines - FUZZY!

What the fuzz!



Canon 50D, ISO 200, Tamron 28-300, f 6.3

Aperture, maybe?

[KenJulio]

You mention lines, are you referring to the ripples the swans are making?

Also, what was the shutter speed you were using and what was the focal length you were shooting at. That would help give you a better theory as to why.

[HillPhotos2009]

I mean around the swans - you see how the edge of the swan is all fuzzy? Even close-up they've got a blue hue to the outer edges.

Another example.



This photo was at 300 mm, f 6.3, 1/40.

[HillPhotos2009]

They look like they're real low-quality and out of focus.

[KenJulio]

Normally on the super tele photo lenses, the short and long end of the focal lengths, you will not get the sharpest of images and will have some color distortion. Possibly shooting at f8 or f11 would help with that next time. Just a guess.

[HillPhotos2009]

I'll try that tomorrow. I'll have to shoot at a higher iso because it'll probably be sunset again before I get out there, which I'm sure will reduce the quality - but they should at least look more in focus, just a little more grainy, right?

[mak65]

I don't have the capability to read exif on photos but on your close up shot you stated, "This photo was at 300 mm, f 6.3, 1/40."

I would think that at 300mm a shutter speed of 1/40 would be too slow for moving objects - even on a tripod. The slightest motion by the swans (and water) would blur.

Also, between the time your camera focused and the timer triggered the swans may have moved enough to take them just out of focus. However, I don't believe this to be the case. I would expect at least part of a ripple that was in focus to be crisp and I don't see it in either shot.

I think it all comes down to the shutter speed being too slow.

Since the 50D has live view, you could try using that ... Lock the mirror up, manually focus, and trip the shutter via remote (would require a remote) - see if that helps. But, that all said, it would still require a higher shutter speed to freeze motion and prevent blur.

[d2creative]

Shutter speed is too slow for moving objects.
Your subject is moving (the swans AND the water).
If you want to stop the action you'll need to up your shutter speed to at least 1/80, if not 1/125.

You could have skipped the tripod in this case since your subjects were moving, IF you had a higher shutter speed. The tripod is good for static subjects.

[kenw]

ditto: 1/40 is too slow (tripod or not) unless the swans are stuffed and mounted.

[RexGig]

If you must use such a a slow shutter sped, try panning when a swan is moving across the scene. This will blur the water, but the swan, if its neck is still in relation to the body, will be clearer.

The 50D should be OK at a higher ISO, and regardless, graininess is generally more desirable than blur. (I am guessing about the 50D's images at any higher ISO setting, as
I skipped from 40D to 7D.) Try different ISO settings, rather than staying at just one. My default ISO at work is 400, and I routinely crank it to 800 to 3200. (This is usually low-light, but not swans, and I do usually turn ISO down when using flash.)

If you are at your lens' extreme zoom focal length, your images will not be as good as at the sweet spot. Finding an on-line review of your lens may indicate what the sweet spot is likely to be. Moreover, choosing a shorter focal length will mean your aperture can be more open.

Disclaimer: I am neither an expert nor a professional photographer, just a professional in another field who has been additionally tasked with photography for evidentiary purposes.

[srwatters]

The shutter speed has been covered by others, but nobody has answered the blue fringes. It's called chromatic aberration. When using a lens with a large zoom range (such as the 28-300mm you have) the designers have to make some compromises. When you have an abrupt contrast change like in these images (the white swan against the dark water), you're going to see chromatic aberration. You can use software to minimize this in post production, but generally speaking you'll want a higher quality (and more expensive) lens. Reading professional lens reviews will reveal the focal lengths and aperture settings that will have the best and worst quality. A 300mm f/2.8 prime is going to perform better than a wide to tele zoom. It's also going to cost many times more (I think I paid around $3k for mine).

Good luck!

[mak65]

Stephanie:

Your last post said you were going to try again. Hopefully, you saw the "increase shutter speed" posts. Any results? If so, any improvements?

[HillPhotos2009]

I haven't been back out yet. We had an impromptu drive to Angelo to take - so the men are hunting with guns tomorrow, so I'm hoping to gun with my "gun" as well!

[HillPhotos2009]

*hunt, rather

[kenmcphotos]

I hope with my Canon quite often...:)