I agree with the manual flash, especially since that tree is not going
to move so you can set the exposure very accurately. Another thing to do
is check out your setup before the critter shows up. Do some test
exposures and get them developed. If the feeder and tree are properly
exposed the coon should be when he arrives. Sort of like setting up for
a portrait session before the sitter arrives.
Oh yes, that coon may not run off just because the flash went off. Even
if he does the first few times he probably won't after he finds out it
does no harm; raccoons are very persistent critters.
graywolf
http://www.graywolfphoto.com
http://webpages.charter.net/graywolf
"Idiot Proof" <==> "Expert Proof"
-----------------------------------
Don Sanderson wrote:
I'd use the flash in manual mode with the camera set to X sync speed and
the aperture set according to the distance.
Perhaps 1/3-1/2 stop under to assure good saturation.
This way you'd be assured of correct exposure with no P-TTL preflash to
spook the critter. (Yep, coons are fast!)
Either flash should allow decent DOF at that distance.
Don
-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Reese [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2006 6:55 AM
To: discussion Pentax
Subject: flash photography at night
This is a repeat message. The first one apparently didn't go through.
I have an interesting photographic situation and I'd to get some
opinions on the best way to proceed.
I hang a suet feeder in a tree that's about 12' from the bathroom
window. The feeder brings in woodpeckers and other birds that I
photograph from inside the bathroom. Lately, a raccoon has been
emptying the feeder every night. I want to try to get a shot of
him if I can.
It will be very dark and impossible to focus so I plan on
pre-focusing the lens. I'd like to stop it down to about f/5.6 or
f/8 to give me some room for error. I plan on using something
between a 50 and 100mm focal length to include the context of the
raccoon, the feeder and the tree. I'll obviously have to use a
flash to get the shot.
I have an AF-360 FGZ and an AF-500 FTZ that I can use with my
MZ-S. I'll be shooting with slide film so exposure is critical. I
figure I'll only get one shot before he hauls ringedtail for the woods.
Do you think I'd have better luck using the flash on the manual
setting, the P-TTL in the AF360 or the TTL if the AF500? I'm
thinking I might need the power of the AF500. I'm also wondering
about whether the P-TTL or TTL would overexpose the tree and
raccoon trying to light the darkness beyond.
Does anyone have any experience with night time shooting?
Does anyone have any ideas or am I missing anything?
thanks for your thoughts.
