Fuglejakt som sport, en vits!!

Denne videoen viser hvordan jegere skyter vadefugl for moro skyld som "sport". Det er til å spy av!

Antarktis-bilder på tromsofoto.net

I dag har jeg publisert bilder fra Antarktis, ta en kikk på livet og døden på våre sydlige breddegrader. Troll-stasjonen ligger på 72S. Et av mine favortittbilder er en snøpetrell som må kravle over den døde frysetørrede fjorårsungen hver gang den skal inn og ut av reiret. Dette er billedfortelling om de tøffe forholdene disse flotte skapningene må holde ut for å klare å få fram levende unger! Håper dere liker mine bilder fra vår sørlige utpost!

Tromsofoto.net på SmugMug

Da har jeg startet årets store prosjekt med å publisere bilder (og etterhvert videosnutter) på tromsofoto.smugmug.com eller via mitt eget domene "Tromsøbilder på nett" tromsofoto.net Der kan dere se bilder fra Norge, Svalbard, Antarktis og Afrika. De fleste bildene er gjort via RAW-konverter i Lightroom3 (LR3) og publisert i full størrelse. Nye bilder blir publisert kontinuerlig etterhvert som de er klare til å legges ut!

Reshoot test Canon EF 1.4x I vs III

Due to strange results in the first test I made a reshoot. The result is now quite clear, the III is a bit sharper and has better CA (Chromatic Aberasion) capabilities. See the testphotos.

1.4x I No sharpening flash 1/250 f:5.6

1.4x III No sharpening flash 1/250 f:5.6

1.4x I sharpening LR3 =51 flash 1/250 f:5.6

1.4x III sharpening LR3 =51 flash 1/250 f:5.6

1.4x I sharpening LR3 =51 flash 1/250 f:5.6 100% view

1.4x III sharpening LR3 =51 flash 1/250 f:5.6 100% view 1.4x III sharpening LR3 =51 flash 1/250 f:5.6 100% view Thanks to Espen Bergersen for lending me the 1.4x III

Canon TC 1.4x I vs.1.4x III

Canon upgraded their teleconverters and has now 3 different versions of the much used 1.4x. I own a version I manufactured in 1993 and has been with me from 81N in Svalbard, in Tanzania, Kanya and South Africa to Antarctica. So it is well used! BUT can it stand against the newly arrived 1.4x III ? I have been so lucky to borrow an exemplar from Espen Bergersen http://naturgalleriet.no - loads of thanks to this fabolous photographer! So how is the performance, on my 300/2.8L IS on tripod I put the converters on not using stabilisation and with self-timer 2sec to avoid movement in the setup. To see difference in Original photo and using Lightroom 3 I present both version to compare:

1.4x I No sharpening

1.4x III No sharpening

1.4x I in LR3 Exposure +0.40 Sharpness 51 Noise 15

1.4x III in LR3 Exposure +0.40 Sharpness 51 Noise 15

1.4x I No sharpening

1.4x III No sharpening

1.4x I in LR3 Exposure +0.40 Sharpness 51 Noise 15

1.4x III in LR3 Exposure +0.40 Sharpness 51 Noise 15

The physical appearence is not much different in 20 years, but the new one is a bit heavier (more glass??)

And finally a photo taken with the OLD 1.4x I in bright sunlight, exported into LR3 and the result is not bad. Should you throw away the old one? NO if you have a good exemplar, YES if you really need the latest technology and a gasket against water.

Test of Really Right Stuff MH-01-PRO monopod Head

Manfrotto has made the only easy available head for monopod for years, but now RRS came with a nice-looking piece of equipment that I liked to try on my Canon 300/2.8L IS. The package includes one MH-01 monopod head, one B2-Pro II screw-knob style quick-release clamp, and one 1/4"-20 flat head screw. I've mounted it on a realtively small and lightweight Carbon tripod, and with a swirl-base to be able to turn the whole thing.

Originally it was fitted same way for head knob and the clamp. I turned the clamp 180 degrees to get it away from my hands when operating the main knob.

To secure the camera from NOT falling of the clamp I invested in the original RSS base plate B61: Lens for Canon 300mm f2.8L-IS. This plate has safety screws preventing the equipment sliding of the head, and it works!
Conclusion: Very nice made and locks the 300mm easily! Recommended!

http://reallyrightstuff.com/ProductDesc.aspx?code=MH-01-Pro&type=0

http://reallyrightstuff.com/Items.aspx?code=LenCan300f28IS&key=cat

Oystercatcher with this combination attached. 300+1.4x = 420 mm

Urban passerines - urbane småfugl

Went for a few days to southern most part of Norway - Lista to visit friends and do some birding. Came home with some nice memories in the bag.
Equipment: 7D, 300/2.8L IS + 1.4x

Buskskvett - Whinchat Saxicola rubetra

Steinskvett - Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)

Løvsanger på Lista Willow warbler Phylloscopus trochilus

Test of RAW-converter Canon vs. Photoshop (Camera RAW 6.3)

I tend to use Canon DPP for viewing the RAW-files, and now and then falls for the temptation to make an JPG from DPP. But it strikes me that when opening in Bridge/Photosshop CS5 I get more pleasing results. Have a look at this Dunlin shot with 7D, 300/2.8 + 1.4x (420mm)and see if you agree??

Canon DPP, Noise setting Luminance 3
Transfered to Photoshop : Sharpening 63%, Radius 1

Bridge/Photoshop CS5 (Camera RAW 6.3) Noise 50 Sharpening 63 (in RAW-converter)

Camera Model Canon EOS 7D
Firmware Firmware Version 1.2.1
Shooting Date/Time 26.08.2011 08:16:03
Author Stein Nilsen
Copyright Notice stein.nilsen@npolar.no
Shooting Mode Aperture-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/640
Av( Aperture Value ) 6.3
Metering Mode Evaluative Metering
Exposure Compensation +1/3
ISO Speed 400
Auto ISO Speed OFF
Lens EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM +1.4x
Focal Length 420.0mm
Image Size 5184x3456
Image Quality RAW
White Balance Mode Auto
AF Mode AI Servo AF
AF area select mode Spot AF
AF Microadjustment -2
Picture Style Landscape
Sharpness 4
Color Space Adobe RGB

Ansiktsutrykk - Facial expressions

I Dyrehagen i Kristiansand har de fengsla mange av våre nærmeste slektninger i naturen - sjimpansene. De imponerer med sine mennesklige trekk!!
Så denne gangen får jeg gjøre en "Frans Lanting" og benytte meg av mer eller mindre tamme dyr i påvente av Afrikaturen!

Waders on the move - Vadefugl på vandring

For some of the waders breeding season is already history in 2011. The first week of August several tens of Spotted Sandpipers, Ruffs and other birds are gathering for their migration to Africa.
For noen av vaderne er hekkesesongen over og sotsniper, brushaner og andre arter ses i 10-talls antall i flokker på vei sørover.

Ruff feeding - Beitende brushaner Brensholmen Kvaløya Tromsø

Spotted sandpiper, Winter plumage - Sotsnipe Vinterdrakt

Redshank Juvenile - Rødstilk Ungfugl August 2011

Flight of the Curlew - Storspoveflukt

Curlew is commonly seen on poles - Storspove på telefonstolpe
Canon 7D EF300/2,8 L IS f:3.2 -3.5 400ISO

When the chicks hatch they yell at anything moving in the vicinity -
når ungene klekkes skriker de på alle som beveger seg i nærheten!

Static birds with Canon 300/2,8 L IS

Got some nice shots at Lake Prestvannet with Canon 300 2.8 and 1.4x converter.
Mounted on Feisol 3301 Carbon tripod (light weight!)

See the result..

Common tern MAKRELLTERNE. 400ISO PS 5.5, Noise 50, 420 mm f:5,6

Common terns MAKRELLTERNER. 400ISO PS 5.5, Noise 50, 420 mm f:5,6

Mallard dive STOKKAND 400ISO PS 5.5, Noise 50, 420 mm

Hooded crows, juvs, KRÅKE ungfugl,400ISO PS 5.5, Noise 50, 300 mm f:4.0