So what I wanted do was take the series of lenses and take some shots of wildlife in the local park, which isn't and certainly wasn't as easy as I first thought.
What I wanted to test out and refine was focusing on the animal- subject, its movement and the way I could pull foreground and background in to focus. To an extent Bokeh with some shots.
You may ask why, Nikon provide an easy description:-
"Bokeh is all about the depth of field of an image. When you capture an image, the depth of field is the certain distance from the camera where everything is in focus.
The depth of field can be deep (where the everything from the minimum focus distance of the lens to infinity is in focus) or extremely shallow (where, for example, the nose of a face-on portrait is in focus, but the ears are not)"
In the image below focus on the Owl effectively amplifies and draws your attention to the detail and composition of the Owl and tree branch, the rest of the image is out of focus.
So the aim is to capture footage that :-
Creates this type of shot
Is colour graded appropriately
Use of the correct lens
Is suitable for input in to a show reel
So what could get in the way of that.......well W.C. Fields coined the phrase ‘never work with children or animals’, and he may just be right!
What I have learned is that :-
Squirrels and birds are less accommodating of my film schedule than I first thought..how rude :-)
They move quicker than I can with a camera and tripod
They can hear me a mile off! so a Telephoto lens is key
They don't follow the brief in my head.....Oh please stay for 30 more seconds the shot will be great...ok don't ...off you go then!
People love a camera...."Hello what are you doing?".....off runs the squirrel!!!!
None Playable Characters enter the game in the form of random dogs. In reality they are doing nothing wrong but suddenly they see my squirrel and chase it off. Thus requiring me to wait and then entice the squirrel back with nuts. I'm not quite a "squirrel wrangler" just yet but getting there :-)
Security- Personal Safety. Cameras attract people some are just interested but some could be interested in other ways. Parks are remote in some areas, and gangs can be about so you can be a target. A risk assessment and knowing when to leave, and how to leave is key. There was a few times during the shoot that it felt uneasy, but I was accompanied and it was daylight. However it must always be a consideration
Lighting, it's hard to place artificial light with nature type shots so post production and grading will be my friend here
References
WC Fields. Sacred Cow: WC Fields would have had a fit
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