Galapagos Tortoise

On the recent Zoo trips I've tried to do some new things.  As I've said before, when you experiment, sometimes things work out, sometimes not.  A few people will love a more unconventional look, and many will think it's just strange and you're off your 'noggin.  It's the price you pay for learning and trying to move your craft forward. 

I took a quick trip back this morning and decided to go super telephoto.  For me that combination is the Sony A77 with the Sigma 120-400mm lens, and to take it to the extreme, a 1.4 teleconverter.  So that adds up to 400mm plus the APS-C crop factor of 1.5, plus the teleconverter 1.4 magnification factor.  It all works out to 840mm in full frame equivalent.  That's a lot of glass, with all the compromises that come with the package.  The big compromise is that you just are not going to get the super fine detail and resolution you would get with a shorter prime lens.  Hopefully the trade off that you get a different point of view that can't be had at a cost a normal person can afford. There are other compromises: aperture is limited to f/8.0 and it's a big heavy package that requires a big heavy tripod.  

This Galapagos Tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra) is one of the first of today's shoot that I've processed.  Kind of symbolic of the pace of progress in advancing my photographic skill level.  But moving forward, which is what counts.  I liked that even with the super long focal length and the depth compression that is built in, his head still pops and separates from the body.  And I had just enough shutter speed (1/100) to freeze his opening mouth. 

I could have managed a more technically perfect shot by getting closer with a fast prime lens.  It's not like the tortoise was going to catch and eat me.  In this case an unconventional gear combination and an awesome subject to shoot got me an interesting shot.