kerry ould

Daisy with a macro lens | Cat photography

Daisy is typically a very hard cat to photograph.  She is very suspicious and flighty - except near dinner time.  And then, she will put up with just about anything as long as she is near her bowl.  I used today as an opportunity to play around a bit more with my Tamron 90mm f2.8 macro.  It's a noisy lens so I don't use it often since it scares many animals.  It does however take great photos once you get the hang of it, and once the animal is desensitized to the sound.  It's not my favourite lens, but it has its uses.

I started with some macro images of Daisy's cute little pink nose and her bright green eyes.  From there, I moved on to a few more portrait type shots.  Here are some of my favourites. 

All were shot at f2.8 at ISO1600 with the Canon 5D.

Trouble (Jake) | Dog photographer

I had a short photo session with Jake today.  It's amazing how much he has grown.  He now looks like a little retriever, rather than just a little ball of fur.  He's still a maniac though, and from a photography perspective, he really makes you work to get anything.  As soon as you look at him, it's an invitation for him to run at you and leap on you.  And he Never. Sits. Still. 

When I heard this song, it made me think of him.

Here's some images from today. All were shot with the Canon 5D, freshly cleaned by the fine folks at Vistek. The majority of the outdoor shots were taken with a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS, while the indoor shots were with my Canon 50mm f1.4 and 24-70mm f2.8L at 1600 ISO.  

Cricket...as a test subject

Well, I finally got frustrated enough with my old zoom lens that I made the investment in a new one.  I've been drooling over this one for a while.  It's a Canon 70-200 2.8L with image stabilization.  You can read more about it here.  I've used it for the last couple of dog sessions (Vince, Dakota, Archie & Radar) but it was actually Cricket that was my test subject to get the hang of it.

This lens is perfect for working with animals since you can sneak up on them a bit better.  The lens is also basically silent.  My old zoom that had image stabilization was not so it would actually scare more nervous animals.  I am so in love with this lens. 

Cricket is a great subject.  She's pretty unfazed by just about everything.

Don't be fooled by her cranky look...she's actually a big suck who loves attention.

Lenses for sale!

I have a couple of Canon lenses for sale. Both are in excellent condition and include a Hoya UV filter, Canon lens hood and the original lens caps. I am finding I no longer use these lenses so I am making some room in my camera bag. Both have served me well and take excellent images. I have always used a filter on these lenses, so there are no scratches.

Canon 24-85mm, 3.5-4.5 USM - $350
Ultra-wide zoom lens with portrait-length telephoto capability. Includes a Hoya 67mm UV filter and Canon EW-73II lens hood (Lens purchased for $499, lens hood $95 and filter $31 + taxes)
Click here for Canon's product information page
Sample image:

Canon 75-300mm, 4-5.6 USM with IS (Image Stabilization) - $500
From Canon: This is the world’s first interchangeable SLR lens equipped with an Image Stabilizer. You can reap sharp pictures even in low-light conditions when camera shake would normally blur the shot. Effective for sunsets and places where you cannot use a tripod. Includes a Hoya 58mm UV filter and a Canon ET-64II lens hood (Lens was purchased for $799, lens hood $55 and filter $40 + taxes)
Click here for Canon's product information page
Sample images:

If you want more information, let me know. kerry@silverliningphoto.ca

What's in the bag?

I am frequently asked what equipment I use to do my photography.  Here's a quick run-down:

Brand?
When I upgraded to digital I had to start totally from scratch as my old film equipment was so old, the lenses wouldn't have been compatible with the new digital equipment.  Because of this, I had to make the tough decision that many people face - Canon or Nikon?  I ended up with Canon, mainly because I like their lenses, but if you ask a hundred photographers, chances are there's a pretty even Canon/Nikon split.

Camera body?
I started with a Canon 20D right when it was first launched.  It was a great camera that served me well and continues to serve as my back up camera now. 
I later upgraded to a 5D as I wanted a full processor camera.  I love this camera to bits!  Again, it was a great investment.  I added a battery grip to this one so I have double the battery power and it's also easier to hold and balances out the weight of some of my heavier lenses.

Lenses?
If you are going to invest in lenses, go all the way and get the best that you can afford!  With Canon, look for their L-series lenses which are very high quality.  Below are the lenses I use, in order, starting with the ones I use the most.

• Canon 24-70mm/2.8 L USM - I use this lens 80% of the time during sessions.  It's quite versatile but a bit of a monster.  This sample was shot at 65mm (ISO 100, f2.8, 1/500).  I really love this lens.  It was one of the best investments I made.

• Canon 50mm/1.4 USM - if you can only afford one lens, this is a good one to start with.  It's very reasonably priced and with the big aperture, you get some amazing bokeh! It's also a good middle-of-the-road focal length.  The image below was shot at ISO 100, f1.4, 1/2000.

• Canon 16-35mm/2.8 L USM - I got this lens for landscape work and travel.  It's a bit of an extravagance (read $$$), but it will last me forever. I occasionally grab for it during a session for something a little different. This photo from Muir Woods in San Francisco was shot at 16mm, ISO 800, f2.8, 1/200.

• Canon 70-300mm/4.0-5.6 III - I have a love/hate relationship with this lens.  It's served me well, but I want something with a bigger aperture.  This photo of Brody was shot at 300mm, ISO 250, f5.6, 1/500.

 

• Tamron 90mm/2.8 Macro - Great for close-ups of little hands and feet or other times when I want to get some close-up detail.  It's also a great focal length for portraits.  This sample was shot at ISO 100, f2.8, 1/500

There are also a couple of lenses I hope to upgrade to:

• Canon 85mm/1.2 L
• Canon 70-200 2.8 L IS USM

One word of warning - when buying a camera, beware of the camera body/lens packages camera stores like to sell you.  They often come with a "cheap" lens so that the package price is appealing and it makes it easier for you to buy.  You are far better off to pay a bit more and get a really great lens.  A reputable camera store can guide you in making the right choice. 

Bags?
I love Crumpler bags.  They are well made and I believe they have an extensive warranty.  I have a few of them.  For everyday, I use the 7 million dollar home, while for travel, I use the Whitney and Cox since it also holds my laptop and, because it's a backpack, it's a bit easier to manage when juggling luggage and navigating airports.  Interestingly, I also use a Crumpler bag as my commuting bag which is how I originally discovered them. 

So as not to put you to sleep, I'll cover a bit more about my post-session processing and computer equipment in another post.

If you have any specific questions, leave me a question in the comments and I will be sure to respond.