Red Squireel disappointment

[dewmuw]

Visited Formby Woods (near Liverpool) this week. It is one of a few remaining havens for the red squirrel in the UK. I took about 300 shots and ended up binning most. The dappled light coming through the woods was really hard to deal with and I ended up with very noisy shots or shots of bright backgrounds and dark squirrels.

Any advice would be appreciated.

1/100s f/5.6 at 400.0mm iso200
http://www.pbase.com/dewmuw/image/64142819.jpg

1/200s f/5.6 at 400.0mm iso200
http://www.pbase.com/dewmuw/image/64142820.jpg

[MAH]

Well done on capturing them never mind seeing the as I've never seen one. A campsite I stopped at in Wales last week had seen one the previous week but it was elusive for me :(

They are so much cuter than the grey (rodent) ones. The tail on that top one is enormous.

I think they are excellent.

[Olli]

Damian, I can't see any noise in there (ISO only 200), they look very ok for me. Regarding strong contrast, you can do a lot with e.g. RawShooter (assuming you are shooting raw). Also selective dodging could help to open the dark areas, if you so like.

[dewmuw]

Thanks Mark and Olli.

I guess my biggest disappointment was spelling squirrel like that in the title! :D

[Olli]

I guess my biggest disappointment was spelling squirrel like that in the title! :DI tought that was the British English spelling. ;);)

[dewmuw]

I tought that was the British English spelling. ;);)

Yes that is usually my excuse! ;)

[Gungnir]

I just thought you'd got yer bits caught halfway through typing it ;)

Have you been to Thetford forest? Opposite end of the country I know but they used to put feeders out for the squizzers. Makes getting a good shot that bit easier.

[dewmuw]

Thanks Gungnir. No I haven't been to Thetford. I have seen Red Squirrels in Cumbria and Anglesey though.

[mdgphoto]

Nice shots. I have to say though, those things are annoying! Especially while hunting.. when they pounce through the leaves it kinda sounds like a deer, and gets your adrenaline flowing, then you see the stinking red squirrel, sometimes I just want to pop one ;)

Nice shots though

[Anthony J Howe]

Only saw a red Squirrel just the other day, but didn't have the camera. Big mistake as they are not around often. AND... a red fox came into my front garden at 5.30am but by time I fumbled half asleep and found the camera it was long gone.

Love these shot Damien the red colour looks good on this squirrel and no need for improving, you have done exceptionally well.

[Dimitri_V]

I understand your problem Damian,happened to me many times.
Now i usually try to keep a darker part of the place as a bg so the subject comes out nice and bright.
Of cours,it doesn`t always work with animals and birds.:lol: :lol: :lol:

[cfcRebel]

Damian, when shooting from the ground, pointing the camera up, you often get sky as bg. That means bright bg (worse if cloudy). In that situation, try bump up the Exposure Compensation to +0.33 or +1. Also, if you are using Av mode, pop up the flash and use it as fill flash. That would cast a highlight on your subject against the harsh bright bg and make your subject pop.;)
Go back to the park and give it another try.

[dewmuw]

Thanks for the comments and thanks for the advice - I really appreciate it. I'll keep trying for the killer shot - not actually killing them though mdgphoto! ;)

[Lightstream]

You've got a 30D, try the spot meter, it is fantastic.

I've learned over time to compensate for the occasions where I don't have a spot meter, though. Usually dialing in -1 stop EC and if I'm still unsure, shooting RAW, will do the trick. Shot an event 3 months ago with a 350D and I needed a spot meter for spotlit subjects against a BLACK background, didn't have one. Made do with -1 EC, and almost all of the exposures needed no more than 1/3 to 1/2 stop of correction in RAW. Most of the time -1 worked fine and they didn't need correction. Good enough for me. :)

[Ferco]

wow awsome shot of Red squirrels!!! i love the soo much!!!

[stoneylonesome]

They look darn good to me Damian. I have the same problem at times with contrasting light. Seems when the sun is out, I'm always forced to shot into.