28 DigitalSLR PhotographyMay 2019
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CHECKEXPOSURESBright whitelambs, especiallyonsunnydays, can
playhavocwithmeteringsystemsandcancauseunderexposure.
Whileshooting, periodicallycheckyourexposures.Ifyoufindthatthe
imagesareunderexposed,dialin positiveexposurecompensationand
keepaneye onthehistogram,especiallyin changinglight,toensure
that you aren’tblowingoutthehighlights.In overcastlight, managing
exposuresisfar easier than they are in bright sunlight.4
FOCUSINGSelectburstmodeandcontinuousautofocus,ratherthan
one-shotAF.Dependingonhowmuchtheanimalfills theframe,
youcanusesingle-pointAF,butyoumayfindit easiertousegroupAF
instead,asI havehere.Trainyourfocuspoint,orpoints,ontheanimal’s
eye andfireoffa burstof frames.Bepatient;oncein positionwatchfor
interactionsbetweenlambsorforuniquebehaviours– ifthelambsare
active and playful you might capture one springing up into theair.2
MOVEINTOPOSITIONFindsomesuitable subjectsandtakeinto
accounttheangleof thelight.On anovercastdaythelightis
diffused,butyoushouldstilltrytoworkwiththelight’sdirectionto
providegoodilluminationandtopreventthesky(if included)from
blowingout.Approachslowly andavoidmakingsuddenmovements
or noise.Shooting from thecreature’seyelevelis moreengagingthan
from your head-height, so don’t be afraid to get low and mucky.1
KITUPKeepa distancetoavoidspookingthelambs,bothoutof
considerationandsothat youcancaptureimageswithoutthem
runningoff!Lambsat a publicfarmorcountrycentreareoften
ccustomedtohumans,soyoumaybeabletouseshorterfocal
ngths,butoutin openlanda telephotozoomis recommended.
70-200mmlensworkswell,althoughthelongerthebetter;longer
lensescompressperspectiveandcanbe usedtoblurbackgrounds.3
SETTINGSSelectaperture-prioritymodeanda wideaperture– f/2.8
orf/4is ideal.Thiswillletmorelightreachthesensorandshould
generatea fastenough shutterspeedtofreezecameraandsubject-
motion.Keepthe reciprocalrulein mind– generally, the shutterspeed
shouldbeat leastequaltothefocallength.Forexample,at 200 mm
keepyourshutterabove1/200sec.If yourshutterspeedis tooslow,
increasetheISOtoraiseit. Turnonimagestabilisation, if available.C
UTEAREN’TTHEY? Fewannualeventssymbolisethearrivalof
springliketheadditionoflambstofarmers’fieldsaroundthe
country.Theseactive,playfulcreaturesmakeforexcellent
photographicsubjectsat thistimeofyearand,ifyou’re wantingtotry
yourhandat wildlifephotography,they’re theidealcandidate.All
aroundthecountrytherearepublicfarmsandcountry centres that
youcanpaytoenter,whichputyouin closeproximitytolambsand
othercreatures.Alternatively,theycanoftenbefoundwandering
freelyin openfarmland,onmoorsorin countryparks.Ifyouseecattle
gridsonthewayin thenit’slikelytherearelambsabout.Sograbyour
cameraandtelephotolens,donsomeclothesthatyou don’t mind
gettingmuckyandheaddowntothefarm...KIT:CHOOSINGA SUPPORT
You’llprobablyfinda tripodormonopodtoocumbersom
here.What’smore,theyoftenwon’tallowyoutogetlow
enough forsmallsubjectssuchaslambs.Theidealsolution
is tousea beanbagtosupportthelens– it’s solidenoughto
help eliminatecamerashake,yet pliable enoughtomould
intopositiononunevensurfaces.Bestofall,they’re relatively
inexpensivefor howuseful theyare!Spring lambs