<< Previous Next >>

Wild Speculation


Wild Speculation
Photo Information
Copyright: Jim Kemp (SonoranLight) Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 21 W: 4 N: 51] (236)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2000-06
Categories: Nature
Camera: Nikon F4s, Nikkor 500 ED IF4P, Fujichrome RAP 100F
Exposure: f/4, 1/125 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): The Magical Number 4, Horses of the world [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-03-08 4:51
Viewed: 1237
Favorites: 3 [view]
Points: 38
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Near the Arizona – Nevada border, I was on assignment to photograph open range land when I noticed this group of horses off in the distance. I quickly mounted my 500mm to my tripod and tried to frame a good shot, but they were grazing and turned away from me. My assistant behind me in the brush made some accidental commotion that spooked the horses. They abruptly turned in my direction and froze for a brief moment, long enough for me to make this one shot before they bolted out of sight.

Joe (Sarah171) asked me a great question regarding depth-of-field and post production work. I pasted my response below -

Yes, Joe, the image depth of field was created in camera as a result of setting the lens aperture to either f4.0 or 5.6 - it's been a while, but I do remember that I was concerned about slight motion blur with the heavy 500mm because of the low light and insufficient shutter speed [even with two lens anchor points] - so aperture was probably wide open at f4.0, and shutter speed 1/250 or 1/125. A safe rule in general on a long lens is to try to keep your shutter speed to at least twice the lens focal length (i.e. a 500mm lens = 1/1000th of a second) - even with a good tripod. As for PP - slight crop in from left and top of image, dust spot removal and minimal level adjustments – nothing major.
matchstick has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekLens members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekLens members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Valy67: Wild SpeculationSonoranLight 1 04-05 01:58
To matchstick: Wild SpeculationSonoranLight 1 03-29 11:54
To newtypeimage: Wild SpeculationSonoranLight 1 03-28 00:50
To katya534: Wild SpeculationSonoranLight 1 03-24 12:13
To technogran: Wild SpeculationSonoranLight 1 03-22 23:08
To Saiz: Wild SpeculationSonoranLight 1 03-10 00:11
To Conspicor: Wild SpeculationSonoranLight 1 03-10 00:09
To padre: Wild SpeculationSonoranLight 1 03-10 00:00
To Sarah171: Great question...SonoranLight 1 03-09 23:45
To OeilMagique: Wild SpeculationSonoranLight 1 03-08 13:30
To jokiedokie: Wild SpeculationSonoranLight 1 03-08 10:53
To suzley: Wild SpeculationSonoranLight 1 03-08 10:43
To surfacing: Wild SpeculationSonoranLight 1 03-08 10:31
To joergen115: Wild SpeculationSonoranLight 1 03-08 10:28
To CVTJan: Thank you, JanSonoranLight 1 03-08 10:26
To SunToucher: Thank you, NiekSonoranLight 1 03-08 05:03
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Hi Jim,
What a beautiful serene picture. The colors and light are really soft to the eye. I like the color and DOF you've captured. I like the note with the foto. Gives it the right credit to the decisive moment.
TFS,
Niek

Dear Jim, a late welcome to TL!
Very nice entry, the DOF gives nice attention to the horses. They even posed for you in correct order regarding to fur colour... Composition is tight and works well for this kind of shot. Pretty much a pro shot. I added you to my favourite photographers. Yours, Jan

Hi Jim! Perfect picture! Just too hang on the wall. Background and frame nice!
Jorgen.

Hi Jim,
incredibly perfect shot! Wonderfully catched these beautiful animals. Sharp, well balanced tones, fantastic background. tfs

Marek

Hi Jim

Truly , a wonderful picture...very professional. Well done, you must be very pleased with this.

SF.

looking pictures with my daughter, she insist i fav this one so she can look to it more often. A very nice pic, well done. and Lotte (my daughter) says thanx!

Hi Jim
I think they were watching you. Very beautiful pic, color and nice DOF with the help of your 500 mm lens. Very good scan of the slide. Thank you
Paul

  • Great 
  • padre Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 1419 W: 90 N: 263] (4035)
  • [2006-03-08 21:40]
  • [+]

This is very well done Jim. The exposure and white balance seem spot on and the dof worked very well to highlight the subjects. I ran across 5 in Montana last year, quite a feeling isn't it? Excellent work. B

Just shows being in the right place at the right time is as important to photography as good preparation. Really nice photo. The subjects are well placed and interesting. There are no distractions whatsoever. I look at the photo with curiosity and feel that the horses are looking back also with curiosity.

  • Great 
  • Saiz Gold Star Critiquer [C: 909 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2006-03-09 2:36]
  • [+]

C'est une ode à la liberté, superbe composition Jim
Les chevaux sont très beaux, bravo pour cette belle prise
Antonio

Very engaging image Jim. The depth of field is bang on. Were you able to achieve it in-camera of did you do during PP? Either way the capture is a winner. Nice work?

Joe
P.S. Thanks for your kind and instructional comments on a couple of my shots.

It is a beautiful photograph, Jim. I like how horses were captured with different impressions. What bothers me a bit is white line of the sky. I don't know if a different POV would have helped to eliminate it but it doesn't diminish the beauty of these horses and an overall pleasant feeling of this photograph.

Katya

What a wonderful capture. They couldn't have posed better for you if you had arranged them yourself. The colours are rich and stand out so well against the background. It has a 3-D effect. This would make a wonderful artwork to hang on the wall for a horse lover. Great work!
Cheers
Joan

Hello Jim
This is a very nice four horses good colours, shrpness see all the details on the horses skin.. great work. nice frame also like the one you made for my son's pictures thanks..

Take care.
Bong

This is an excellent image. I guess your big lens got their attention for that one brief moment. Great job.

Regards,
Anton

Wonderful photo, I love it ! Everything's perfect, composition, BG, sharpness, colors... I love the the attitude of the horses, with the heads held high and the pointed ears.
This is great photography
Valerie.

I'll always remember Robin Williams saying carpe diem in Dead Poet's Society. Of course, in this case it's seize the moment, the opportunity. You cetainly did that!
It's been long since I used an slr and having to swap lenses. I can't imagine me mounting a 500mm and still get the shot - I'd be too excited ;) Technically, I'm amazed at the sharpness of the horses at 1/250 and given the size of the lens - you have steady hands. I also miss the bokeh of long telephotos which is wonderful in your shot!
Cheers kc

hello,
very beautyful photo.
this my Favorite.
kind regard Lotte

Very good horse shot. fantastic sharpness, excellent depth of field, nice colors...
getting a good shot of a wild horse is not easy... they eat most of the time, so their heads are always down, and they spook easily...

Great capture!

thanks

Simon

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF