This morning in Guilin the participants in my photo tour and I left the hotel at 3:50am to drive an hour to the Li River so we could photograph one of the iconic images of China: a fisherman using a lantern to attract fish to the surface and then a trained cormorant grabs the fish. This unique method of fishing originated about 1000 years ago. At dawn, when there was just enough light to focus, we had to use a high ISO in order to keep the shutter speed fast enough to freeze any movement of the boat, the fisherman, and the bird. I used a tripod and a 24-105mm lens, so I felt I could get away with a slower shutter than if I were hand holding the camera. Still, I took a lot of shots because I expected that some would show unwanted movement. My settings for this image were 1/25, f/4.5, 4000 ISO, and I used daylight white balance. If I raised the shutter speed, that would force the ISO higher than I wanted to go. I took this with the new Canon 1Dx Mark II, and I am very impressed with how this camera handles noise at high ISO settings.
7 Comments
Sep 28, 2016, 1:31:30 PM
Jim - Thank you kindly, Vera.
Sep 28, 2016, 9:25:50 AM
Vera - How uplifting is to wake up and see this image. Thank you Jim.
Sep 28, 2016, 8:37:59 AM
Jim - Thank you very much, Winslow.
Sep 28, 2016, 7:19:46 AM
Winslow Townson - Stunning Jim!!
Sep 28, 2016, 1:51:50 AM
Jim - Hi Carlton, Getting up early for me is like stepping out of an airplane in flight -- the first step is the worst! I sleep when I can, but great pictures always comes first.
Thank you, Linda. I appreciate your compliment.
Sep 28, 2016, 1:31:18 AM
Linda Purdom - This is definitely iconic but also one of the most beautiful photos of your tour. It seems it was well worth getting up in the wee hours when you get a prize shot like this one. Just gorgeous.
Sep 28, 2016, 12:27:14 AM
Carlton McEachern - So nice. Wish I were there too. Was just watching one of your training videos on New England's fall colours and the Portland Head Light. You were up early on that also. Have to ask, when do you sleep.