Wildlife Photography across the Water: Happy Birthday to me

Sunday, 30 May 2010

Happy Birthday to me

Another year has shot by and today i am another year older-and feel it as i am still under the weather but we have a big BBQ today to celebrate so will have lots of medicine (drink) to make me feel better, So you know that i now have a kayak (still unused) as the weather has been either crap or i have been ill but what you dont know is that i now have a Nikon D3s on order, It should have been here yesterday but Amazon messed me around abit and it missed the shipping date and as its a holiday weekend here in the USA it wont be with me until Wednesday, Now i have ummed and arred over a D3s ever since they came out and nearly got one about 3 months ago but couldn't really justify getting one over the D3 that i already have, But i do hate not having a sensor cleaner and the D3 is a dust magnet, I used live view alot when i had Canon as i set the exposure using the live histogram, With the D3 is not the one touch that it was on the Canon so i went back to my old ways but the D3s has a dedicated live view button so i can once again set the exposure without having to take a test shot, Another feature i loved on the Canon 1D3 was the silent mode and this was a big advantage when shooting foxes and other shy animals, The D3s now has this excellent and i am sure under used feature and of course it now has 720p video, Not that i can see myself using it much but may take the old bit of video when shooting the Manatees again early next year, I will sell the D3 more or less straight away but will do some side to side shots to see how the grain stacks up at various ISO settings, From what i have read its about the same up to ISO 1600 and then the D3s steps up a gear and is in a class of its own, I dont really shoot above ISO 1600 on the D3 as i see that as the limit that i feel agencies will accept but if i can shoot at 1 stop higher and get the same IQ it will be great and a real benefit, So there you are i have justified it well at least to myself, The D3 has been fantastic and i will miss it-certainly THE best camera i have ever owned, What a great birthday its turned out to be

Dave

1 comment:

Bobbster30 May 2010 at 20:32
Happy Birthday good luck with the D3S
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Bio's

David Courtenay, a self taught wildlife and nature photographer, has been capturing images for over 30 years. He has had a passion for wildlife since early childhood and remembers being glued to the television whenever Survival, Wildlife on One and other natural history documentaries were shown. In the 2006 he swapped his established career for the life of a wildlife photographer, such a move demands a measure of uncompromising passion and commitment.

David has travelled extensively throughout Europe as well as spending more than 7 months in India working with local guides and trackers in search of Bengal Tiger, Asian One horned Rhino and Asian Elephant. He has also photographed Wildlife in Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, Sumatra, Africa, Canada and America. Working closely with Conservation companies he tries to raise funds to help Wildlife that has been put on the endangered list by poaching and habitation loss

Martin Dyer has had a passion for avian wildlife since childhood, particularly raptors. Photography was also another keen interest and it was with the specific availability and control of the whole process that digital offers that Martin was then able to combine the two in 2003. Based in the UK, Martin is a regular visitor to Scotland, specifically the Isle of Mull to watch the Eagles resident there. Other trips to Europe and around the UK are usually part of Martin’s agenda in a typical year.

However, as a firm believer on making the most of the local patch, Martin has spent a lot of time and hard work creating a wildlife garden which is reaping the rewards with many new species and varieties of wildlife. A keen member of a number of wildlife photographic groups, Martin is keen to expand his portfolio into other areas of wildlife, and has already established a wide portfolio of images of fungi.