p.67 #1Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
umut_h_toprak wrote:
Second shot is sublime. What beautiful rendering...
It's a joy to browse this thread hope it stays active despite all the new toys people seem to be enjoying these days. Thank you for your own beautiful conributions
Thank you...
Unlike many of the hotspots, the elk I photograph live along the Pacific Coast in Central CA. The environment is very different there, and I often see them with the Pacific Ocean in the background.
p.67 #2Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
A little high key action...
I was looking for a little something different for a book I am currently working on. This was taken from the mudflat. The egret landed and didn't realize I was there, and then it did. I actually didn't see the second egret until I reviewed my images. Shooting at 10 fps, it was in only one shot... an apparition of an egret
While the 120-300TC is the new kid on the block, I think that the 400TC is just the right lens for me. If money were no object, I'd have ordered the zoom via NPS, but the concept of a bottomless bank account does not accurately describe this retired teacher's savings account
cheers,
bruce
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens560mmf/4.01/4000s5000 ISO+1.7 EV
p.67 #4Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
Amazing photos y'all!
Really loved clicking through the pages. One question as someone that's never photographed wildlife. How do y'all take the pictures of potential dangerous animals without fear of safety? A lot of the photos looked very intimate almost as if you're in the animals' line of sight.
Hope it's allowed to post. I know I could just ask an AI chatbot but I feel thse forums are meant for discussion.
p.67 #5Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
Cheekz4dayz wrote:
Amazing photos y'all!
Really loved clicking through the pages. One question as someone that's never photographed wildlife. How do y'all take the pictures of potential dangerous animals without fear of safety? A lot of the photos looked very intimate almost as if you're in the animals' line of sight.
Hope it's allowed to post. I know I could just ask an AI chatbot but I feel thse forums are meant for discussion.
Hello,
In the spirit of maintaining the integrity of this thread, I am going to include some photos taken with the 400TC during the last three months. However, I do want to address your question. To be clear, there are better places on FM to ask this question... You could start a new thread on the Nikon board if you want a limited response, or ask the question on the wildlife board. With that stated, there are a number of wildlife shooters who look at this thread and they may choose to chime in as well.
First, let's address the core question about safety. My standard answer, and one that I offer with the greatest sincerity and honesty, is that I am far more fearful of humans than I am of the wildlife subjects that I photograph. I find that non-human animals tend to behave in very predictable ways, while humans do not.
Humans often carry concealed weapons, exhibit irrational behaviors when threatened, are often encountered under the influence of drugs/alcohol, and are fiercely territorial around their partners and children. As a nature photographer, I am often looking for locations where the human population is very low relative to the density of natural subjects.
Second, the most talented wildlife photographers have spent years in the field, reviewing the work of other photographers, and reading about the subjects that they pursue. I am a trained research evolutionary and ecological biologist. I have traveled the world doing research and making photographs of wildlife and landscapes. When I see a photo of an unfamiliar animal, I search for information about it, and try to learn about its habitats and behaviors. I do not go into the field without prior knowledge about the ecosystem and the inhabitants of that ecosystem.
Three, I am very respectful of my subjects. I do not approach them, but I choose locations where I hope they will approach me and offer a good angle to capture their bodies and behaviors. I watch how my behavior, as a photographer, influences their actions and will back off if I am encroaching within their inherent "safety" zone. I never approach an animal in a group where they have no capacity to leave the area for fear of interacting with a human. I consider my most successful wildlife shots to be those where the animal either does not know I am present, or it continues with its behaviors when I arrive, during my presence, and after I leave.
Just yesterday I was photographing an otter that arrived at my location. I decided to lie prone on the ground, shoot from a low angle, and hide in the reeds. While I was not comfortable, the otter was not aware of my presence. As a result, I watched it hunt its prey, eat, groom, and leave. At no time was I a threat to it or it to me.
We stay safe by studying our subjects, respecting our subjects, and minimizing our own impact on them.
I hope this answered your questions,
bruce
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens400mmf/3.21/1000s320 ISO+0.3 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens560mmf/4.01/4000s450 ISO0.0 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens560mmf/4.01/4000s1100 ISO-0.7 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens560mmf/8.01/4000s5000 ISO0.0 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens560mmf/4.01/800s720 ISO+0.7 EV
Really loved clicking through the pages. One question as someone that's never photographed wildlife. How do y'all take the pictures of potential dangerous animals without fear of safety? A lot of the photos looked very intimate almost as if you're in the animals' line of sight.
Hope it's allowed to post. I know I could just ask an AI chatbot but I feel thse forums are meant for discussion.Hello,
In the spirit of maintaining the integrity of this thread, I am going to include some photos taken with the 400TC during the last three months. However, I do want to address your question. To be clear, there are better places on FM to ask this question... You could start a new thread on the Nikon board if you want a limited response, or ask the question on the wildlife board. With that stated, there are a number of wildlife shooters who look at this thread and they may choose to chime in as well.
First, let's address the core question about safety. My standard answer, and one that I offer with the greatest sincerity and honesty, is that I am far more fearful of humans than I am of the wildlife subjects that I photograph. I find that non-human animals tend to behave in very predictable ways, while humans do not.
Humans often carry concealed weapons, exhibit irrational behaviors when threatened, are often encountered under the influence of drugs/alcohol, and are fiercely territorial around their partners and children. As a nature photographer, I am often looking for locations where the human population is very low relative to the density of natural subjects.
Second, the most talented wildlife photographers have spent years in the field, reviewing the work of other photographers, and reading about the subjects that they pursue. I am a trained research evolutionary and ecological biologist. I have traveled the world doing research and making photographs of wildlife and landscapes. When I see a photo of an unfamiliar animal, I search for information about it, and try to learn about its habitats and behaviors. I do not go into the field without prior knowledge about the ecosystem and the inhabitants of that ecosystem.
Three, I am very respectful of my subjects. I do not approach them, but I choose locations where I hope they will approach me and offer a good angle to capture their bodies and behaviors. I watch how my behavior, as a photographer, influences their actions and will back off if I am encroaching within their inherent "safety" zone. I never approach an animal in a group where they have no capacity to leave the area for fear of interacting with a human. I consider my most successful wildlife shots to be those where the animal either does not know I am present, or it continues with its behaviors when I arrive, during my presence, and after I leave.
Just yesterday I was photographing an otter that arrived at my location. I decided to lie prone on the ground, shoot from a low angle, and hide in the reeds. While I was not comfortable, the otter was not aware of my presence. As a result, I watched it hunt its prey, eat, groom, and leave. At no time was I a threat to it or it to me.
We stay safe by studying our subjects, respecting our subjects, and minimizing our own impact on them.
This was very helpful! This definitely helps me get a behind-the-scenes understanding. I definitely love the photos! I like how you mentioned to study the animals and their habitat and try not to bother them.
p.67 #9Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
I just cannot visit this thread without getting an urge to switch to Nikon for this lens. What is it that makes the images from this lens so powerful?
Confession: I have to Sony 600/4 and the A1 and enjoy it immensely, but I never get the chills like the images from Z8/9+400TC give me, they just draw you in and I can try to articulate why that is, but I expect to fail hopelessly, so I will just repeat what I said close after its release already: the Nikon 400TC has the most immersive and compelling image quality I have seen to date, and if I would start over now, I would 100% get it with the (hopefully) coming ZXX
p.67 #10Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
I think a big part of it is the fact that users of this lens tend to be damn good photographers, have access to excellent locations and understand their fieldcraft.
The rendering of this lens is superb though, I agree.
I've not seen super great examples of fast action like small birds in flight with it though, likely more due to the cameras than the lens itself.
Would love to have a lens like this in the Sony world.
