10 http://www.digitalcameraworld.com

theApprentice

top geAr #

Calibrate your lens

To ensure pin-sharp shots Guy

uses the Lens Align MKII Focus

Calibration System to check how

sharp his focus is. Focusing on the

scale with his Canon 100-400mm

on his 5D Mark IV he can see that it

back focuses slightly. To fix this he

uses the AF Microadjustment menu

to dial in a value of -10 and this

stops it from back focusing, so he

gets absolute precision.

hot

shot

e Xpert insight

get the bird’s Attention

You’ll often get much more striking pictures if the bird is

looking directly down the barrel of the lens than looking away

as it creates stronger eye contact. One way you can do this is to get a

friend to whistle or jingle a set of keys to get them to momentarily look

in the desired direction. You’ll have to be quick though as birds usually

don’t pose for very long!

lens Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6l I s II usm

exposure 1/250 sec, f/10, Iso 800

iAn’s comment

With Guy’s advice I zoomed all the way in on my lens to

400mm to get some tight portrait shots of the wonderful

Pharaoh Eagle-Owl and the Yellow-Billed Kite. The bird handler placed

them on a perch so I got down low with the bird for better eye

contact. I also framed up in such a way that the background behind

was much darker, meaning it would be dark and free from distractions. I focused on

their fantastic eyes as they’re undoubtedly the main focal point.