Are you using magnified Live View to check focus? They seem on the soft side. Do they look like this on your monitor? Perhaps you are stopping down too much and getting some diffraction? With a WA lens and this distance you shouldn't need such a small aperture. It looks like your getting the exposure ok in the last two, but I would suggest some systematic experimentation to figure out your softness.
Mike K
Yes I was going to mention wind too. With telephoto focal length lenses you can actually see the wind vibrating your camera/lens at 10X Live View from the spot you shot at. What reduced the vibration for me was to take the lens hood off to reduce the area to the wind, lower the tripod with no leg extensions and sit on the ground upwind of your tripod to block the wind velocity. Adding weight would help too, but with the tripod as low as it will go thats not so easy. However, you were using quite short focal length lenses, so everything must have been shaking quite a lot for wind vibration to be a major contributor.
I still think your aperture was too small, and contributed to a long shutter speed and some diffraction softening. Again, good exposures from this Conzelman Rd turnout.
I stop down extra all the time for the tighter sun star. I'm not a huge fan of this angle on the bridge. IMO the north tower is too obstructed with no real other benefit to the angle. The comp is really weird in #2. Tower too close to the edge of the frame. IMO the 3rd one is the strongest. It combines a nice comp with a nice exposure.
Feb 15, 2012 at 12:16 AM
David Leask Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
I am embarassed that I never thought about lowering the tripod as mentioned. The path I was on was very busy however and it would have definitely obstructed the path. I also did not think about the live view because that could have helped.
Yes, the originals are soft. I actually sharpened them a bit. I am still learning and strive to get the really sharp, crisp photos that I see others posting.
This was my first attempt at photographing this bridge and the first time I have gone to the area where I photographed from. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to view the photos and provide input.
