It's "Hey Rick! What's Your F-stop?" Wednesday #2

It's "Hey Rick! What's Your F-Stop?" Wednesday. This series was prompted by the question I get asked most on my workshops.

My response to the question is, of course, "What is your creative vision? That will help you determine your camera settings."

After we discuss that all-important topic, I share my settings.

Hey Rick #2

Photograph: Cabbage white butterfly.

Location: Croton on Hudson, NY.

Camera: Canon 1Ds. (I now use the Canon 5D Mark III).

Lens: Canon 100mm Marco.

Exposure: ISO 100. f/18 @ 1/80th second - with Canon MR 14-EX Ringlight. (If you are into close-up photography, a ringlight is a must.)

Reasoning: Butterflies move very fast, so focus changes fast. Shooting at a small aperture gives you (and me) a much better chance of getting a "flying flower" in focus.

Use a shutter speed enough to blur the action, and use a speedlite to freeze the action . . . in the same photograph.

Concept: Use a combination of daylight and the light from a speedlite to add motion to a still photograph.

Processing: I used Topaz Clarity to add detail to my image. You can get a discount on all Topaz plug-ins on my Play & Save on Plug-ins page.

Like flying flowers? My Flying Flowers wallpaper app is free. See My Apps page for info.

This wallpaper app is filled with my favorite photographs of butterflies – often called flying flowers. They are yours to enjoy on your iPad or iPhone.

Some of the butterflies were photographed in and around my home in Croton–on-Hudson, New York. Others were photographed at Butterfly World in Coconut Creek, Florida.

I hope to see you on one of my workshops. We will be photographing butterflies and birds (and more) on my Digital Delray workshop in January.

Scroll down to find other "Hey Rick!" posts.

Explore the light,
Rick

P.S. My forthcoming Focal Press book, Creative Visualization for Photographers, has an entire "Hey Rick!" chapter – with different photographs.

Starting Monday: Six Days of Photo Safari Tips

Great migration, Kenya. Canon 100-400mm IS lens.

In preparation for my 2015 Botswana digital photography workshop, starting Monday, I'm running a series here on my blog: Six Days of Photo Safari Tips.

Shoot me an email for info about this awesome Botswana photography adventure.

Check out my Beauty of Botswana gallery to see my favorite photographs from my two previous trips to this wildlife wonderland. One tip that applies to all those photographs: Work with a good guide. He or she will help you make good photographs, but you need to set goals before you leave camp, which is usually before the sun comes up.

Also check out my on-line class: Capturing the Wild: Safari Photography. You can use my tips for making great pictures on a photo safari and at a wildlife park.

Stay tuned.

Explore the light,
Rick

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2015 Botswana Photo Workshop Planned

I am planning a 2015 Botswana photo workshop with my friend Tim Vollmer (who organizes my Iceland photo workshops). Shoot me an email for info.

View more images in my Beauty of Botswana photo gallery.

All my 2015 digital photography photo workshops are listed here.

In preparation for the workshop (or any trip to Africa), check out my Capturing the Wild: Safari Photography Class on KelbyOne.

Explore the light,
Rick

P.S. Tim and I are also planning a Greenland photo workshop. Stay tuned.

Canon's Most Versatile Lens (IMHO): the 24-105mm IS

Use the arrow keys above to view the gallery that I just put together of some of my favorite images that I took with my Canon 24-105mm IS lens – which, in my humble opinion (IMHO) – is the most versatile lens that Canon offers. I like that lens so much that I always travel with two (one as a back up).

I use that lens on my full-frame image sensor Canon 5D Mark III.

As you will see in the gallery, the lens is great for wildlife, landscape, portraits, nature travel photography and more.

Sure, I shoot with other lenses, but I think that more than 75 percent of my photographs are taken with this lens.

What is your favorite lens? I'd like to know.

All my lenses are listed on My Gear page.

Explore the light,
Rick

P.S. If you like to add galleries on your web site, check out Squarespace. Adding galleries is fast, easy and fun.

It's "Hey Rick! What's Your F-stop?" Wednesday #1

I am starting a new series here on my blog: It's "Hey Rick! What's Your F-Stop?" Wednesday. The series was prompted by the question I get asked most on my workshops.

Hey Rick #1

Photograph: Mandarin Ducks.

Location: San Diego Zoo, San Diego, California.

Camera: Canon 10D (I now use the Canon 5D Mark III) .

Lens: Canon 100-400mm IS lens @ 260mm.

Exposure: ISO 400. f/5.6 @ 1/180th sec. Exposure compensation: -1. Set at -1 to preserve highlights.

Reasoning: Use a fast enough shutter speed to stop the action – and these guys were moving kinda fast. After focusing on the eyes, use a wide aperture to set the background slightly out of focus, which will make your subject stand out in your image.

Concept: Shoot tight to capture the all beauty in details.

I hope to see you on one of my workshops.

Like stuff like this? Subscribe to my blog.

Explore the light,
Rick

P.S. My forthcoming Focal Press book, Creative Visualization for Photographers, has an entire chapter – with different photographs – on this topic.