Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/03/06
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Alastair Firkin wrote: >>> could I ask here about focusing a long lens at the Grand Prix, > through a wire fence. I "failed" at that only a few days ago. I tried > to focus the 70-180 on the white stripe on the track's surface, but > it was a bit hard with the interfering wire. I ended up using the > shimmering microprism, but the results were sadly "off", and since I > was at f2.8, the results are "unforgiving". Not that images of > colourful cars through wire fences is anything I'd want to brag > about, but I did have to have a record of my "day"<<<<<< Hi Alastair, It's a piece of cake mate. And not a wire to be seen. Actually the colour shot that made FOM2 of my grandson with dirt on his face while pitching at a baseball game and wearing a yellow shirt was taken with the following method. 1/ aperture wide open, that's a must for any lens using this method. Use the shutter speeds for correcting exposure. 2/ When shooting, the lens must be right on the wire fence. No not the glass touching, but certainly the outer ring of the lens. And keep it there while shooting! It doesn't matter even if there are cross wires right in front of the glass you will not see them, nor will they show any distortion or distraction to image quality. And whatever you do..........Don't back away or the fence will show-up in your frame and spoil your photograph. You must stay right at the fence, lens touching! And you should come away with good pictures. I use this method from a 100 macro to an 800 and not lost a frame yet due to the fence across the front of the lens. Perfect frames after frames and you have absolutely no idea there's fence between you and the action. Shooting this fashion two years ago while my grandson was pitching in a championship baseball game, one of the slides submitted to the stock agency that represents my work, was sold for a major commercial, $8000.00 USD! :-) My grandson and I have a deal............ every picture sold of him it's a 50-50 split and his goes to a university education fund. At the moment I'd say he's doing just fine! ;-) Actually he's had a few more cheques besides this one. :-) So Alastair shooting through the fence, lens wide open, can bring fine photos and nice monetary rewards! ;-) ted Ted Grant Photography Limited www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html