p.77 #10 · Official Nikon Z 180-600mm f5.6-6.3 VR Image Thread
The right lens for the job...
As many of you who are Nikon nature photographers know, I'm a huge advocate of the 400mm f2.8TC for wildlife photography. I post a lot in that thread, as I find that the lens is in the sweet spot for the subjects I like to shoot. I, however, often use a 100-400S and 180-600Z. The latter (and topic of the thread) is often the last lens out of the bag. Some of this is because the 180-600 and 400 f2.8TC don't fit nicely in my bag, while the 100-400 is an easy companion. As a result, I have relegate the 180-600 as my kayak and whale photography lens.
On Saturday morning I did a "photographer's outing" at Ano Nuevo State Beach. The shoot starts at 6:00 AM and allows photographers to take their time, and this is in contrast to the more typical informational tour. Since it was going to be cloudy, my first thought was to bring the 400TC. The 400 f2.8 excells in poor light, but as I was packing to leave at 4:30 am, I made a game day decision and grabbed the 180-600. The decision was spot on, as the tide was coming in and the seals were much closer to us than expected. It was an amazing 3.5 hours of photography and the 180-600 did just fine... Here are three from the morning, and I will share more as the edits are completed.
cheers,
bruce
NIKON Z 8NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens600mmf/6.31/50s25600 ISO0.0 EV
NIKON Z 8NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens180mmf/6.31/200s25600 ISO0.0 EV
NIKON Z 8NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens520mmf/6.31/1000s6400 ISO0.0 EV
p.77 #13 · Official Nikon Z 180-600mm f5.6-6.3 VR Image Thread
OwlsEyes wrote:
The right lens for the job...
On Saturday morning I did a "photographer's outing" at Ano Nuevo State Beach. The shoot starts at 6:00 AM and allows photographers to take their time, and this is in contrast to the more typical informational tour. Since it was going to be cloudy, my first thought was to bring the 400TC. The 400 f2.8 excells in poor light, but as I was packing to leave at 4:30 am, I made a game day decision and grabbed the 180-600. The decision was spot on, as the tide was coming in and the seals were much closer to us than expected. It was an amazing 3.5 hours of photography and the 180-600 did just fine... Here are three from the morning, and I will share more as the edits are completed.
Beautiful work, as always, Bruce! I love Ano Nuevo and surf(ed) there often even though it is a well-known shark pit because of the Elephant Seals' breeding ground you capture.
I would usually only take my Sony rx0 ii strapped to my wrist in the water, but your shots with the 160-600mm are exceptional. Surfers don't need to join a tour to gain entry, either, but the rangers always check for boards (fyi!).
p.77 #14 · Official Nikon Z 180-600mm f5.6-6.3 VR Image Thread
kalani_kane wrote:
Beautiful work, as always, Bruce! I love Ano Nuevo and surf(ed) there often even though it is a well-known shark pit because of the Elephant Seals' breeding ground you capture.
I would usually only take my Sony rx0 ii strapped to my wrist in the water, but your shots with the 160-600mm are exceptional. Surfers don't need to join a tour to gain entry, either, but the rangers always check for boards (fyi!).
Thanks for the note Kalani...
I wish I could surf, but I can't keep my balance on a stand up paddle board in a MN lake
I think that Ano Nuevo is actually closed to surfing from mid-December through mid-March due to the sensitivity of the elephant seal rookery. Of course beaches are open to surfers surrounding the peninsula that includes the state beach, but this little stretch of ocean and beach is reserved for the seals until the big males and mothers leave. Eventually, the beach consists of fat pups that need the courage to go to sea, at that point the focus of the beach is heavily focused on the conservation of the rookery habitat.
