Shamu Believe Show and Backstage Area

[ukcatfan]

I visited Sea World last Thursday with my work as part of a training program known as "Whale Done" by the Ken Blanchard Companies. It basically relates how the lessons learned from training killer whales can be applied to human relationships. It is a great program. If anyone has any questions about it, feel free to reply here or PM me.

We had a backstage tour of Shamu Stadium and saw the believe show. Here are a handful of my favorite shots. Unfortunately, I had a memory card go bad about half way through the show and have yet to recover anything from it. I was given plenty of shots from the moments I lost from co-workers, but they are not out on a hosting site to my knowledge. I hope you enjoy!

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b309/kmhobs/Whale%20Done%20Trip/IMGP1615.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b309/kmhobs/Whale%20Done%20Trip/IMGP1627.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b309/kmhobs/Whale%20Done%20Trip/IMGP1685.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b309/kmhobs/Whale%20Done%20Trip/IMGP1696-cr.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b309/kmhobs/Whale%20Done%20Trip/IMGP1708.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b309/kmhobs/Whale%20Done%20Trip/IMGP1724.jpg

Here is a link to all of them on my Photobucket: http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b309/kmhobs/Whale%20Done%20Trip/?start=all

Kevin

[MicMin]

Great photos!

[Master Mason]

I looks like the FL one is exactly like the San Diego version

good pics

[ukcatfan]

I looks like the FL one is exactly like the San Diego version

good pics

That was actually part of the presentation to us. They went over how they had to work together to debut the exact same show at three different locations on the same day. That can be tough when working with animals.

Kevin

[ukcatfan]

Great photos!

Thank you.

Kevin

[Shifletjl]

Great photos. Thanks for sharing them with us. Since we are visiting San Diego soon, I am especially interested in how you exposed your shots, so I was browsing your exif data a little. If you don't mind, this "newbie" has a few questions.

I noticed your data indicated an exposure bias of .70. Is this your exposure compensation setting?

Why did you choose to use auto bracketing exposure?

Did you use AF-C or AF-S mode? Something is not clicking for me here. Is there a guideline to help me choose the best AF mode to use?

TIA, Jen

[ukcatfan]

Great photos. Thanks for sharing them with us. Since we are visiting San Diego soon, I am especially interested in how you exposed your shots, so I was browsing your exif data a little. If you don't mind, this "newbie" has a few questions.

I noticed your data indicated an exposure bias of .70. Is this your exposure compensation setting?

Why did you choose to use auto bracketing exposure?

Did you use AF-C or AF-S mode? Something is not clicking for me here. Is there a guideline to help me choose the best AF mode to use?

TIA, Jen


Thank you.

I generally shoot with exposure metering on center weighted, but sometimes go to spot and full frame metering. I believe I was using center weighted for these. I used compensation b/c I personally feel like the kit lens for the K100D under exposes from between 1/3 - 2/3 stops. It seems to do this more in the shade than any other time.

I was sitting there for about five minutes before the show started evaluating what settings to use b/c this was my first time going to the show. I knew I would not have much time to do much changing of settings that day, so I went with ISO 400 for pretty much all of the day. I also generally go with f/10 when I am shooting that way. That is the aperture where that lens seems to be the sharpest at ~35mm. It ends up a little off of the sharpest at wide and tele, but not by much and it gives me a little more DOF over say f/8. If it had not been a work thing and I had more time to think about each shot, I am sure that I would have varied the aperture more.

I did not do any bracketing that day, so I am not sure what you mean there.

I always use AF-S, but it is more of a personal preference. The AF response is fast enough on pretty much any DSLR in good lighting. I did not miss any shots due to that at least. I probably should have set the focus on center b/c it picked up other audience member's heads instead of the whale a few times.

The number one piece of advice... Do not sit in the splash zone with a digital camera unless you have a waterproof housing!!! Those people got soaked.

Kevin

[Shifletjl]

Thanks Kevin. Your information is a big help. I think I will try using AF-S a bit to see what happens. I had be told once to always use the AF-C mode and not sure why.

I will be sure to sit clear of the splash zone! I like the angle of view you had.
Thanks again.

[ukcatfan]

Thanks Kevin. Your information is a big help. I think I will try using AF-S a bit to see what happens. I had be told once to always use the AF-C mode and not sure why.

I will be sure to sit clear of the splash zone! I like the angle of view you had.
Thanks again.

Your questions got me thinking of something else I have been contemplating. By default the camera does not lock the exposure until the shutter is pressed all the way. You can press the exposure lock button to lock it, but that is an extra step. I typically pre-focus on my subject and then re-frame when I am not shooting action like the shamu show. That is typically what I also want to be properly exposed. I am going to experiment with linking the exposure lock with the half press and see if that better suits my shooting style. I may be able to get away from the exposure compensation that way.

FYI... There is a little annoyance with the K110D and K100D related to this; when using exposure compensation, the ISO cannot be in auto. If it is, it defaults to 200. This is usually not a big deal to me as I usually set the ISO specific to a situation, but there have been a few times where I would have liked to use it. Hopefully we will get another firmware update to correct this.

Kevin

[Shifletjl]

..... By default the camera does not lock the exposure until the shutter is pressed all the way.....

FYI... There is a little annoyance with the K110D and K100D related to this; when using exposure compensation, the ISO cannot be in auto. If it is, it defaults to 200. This is usually not a big deal to me as I usually set the ISO specific to a situation, but there have been a few times where I would have liked to use it. Hopefully we will get another firmware update to correct this.

Kevin

When you focus and recompose with your shutter button half way pressed, the camera continues to evaluate the exposure....is that what the beeping and red dots in the viewfinder are doing? Sorry if that seems like a silly question, but something just hasn't "clicked" yet I and know it is something really simple.

What is a "firmware update" and how will I receive it?

TIA

[ukcatfan]

When you focus and recompose with your shutter button half way pressed, the camera continues to evaluate the exposure....is that what the beeping and red dots in the viewfinder are doing? Sorry if that seems like a silly question, but something just hasn't "clicked" yet I and know it is something really simple.

What is a "firmware update" and how will I receive it?

TIA

The beeping and red dots are the focus locks. When you have it in AF-C, a half press of the shutter does not really do anything. With AF-S, it will lock on to a spot for focus and there will be no more beeps or red flashes. The exposure metering makes no noise, but you should notice the shutter speed and/or aperture value changing based on the composition. If you like the exposure to a half press then it will lock with the half press regardless of focus mode.

Firmware is the software that runs the camera. It is like Windows, Linux, or MAC OS for a pc. Sometimes bugs in it are found or new functionality becomes available and the company will release updates. DPReview is pretty good at announcing these, but camera brand specific messages boards are also good. For Pentax, http://www.pentaxforums.com is good.

Kevin

[Shifletjl]

Got it! Thanks so much for your time. Jen