As camera technology improves, the amount of noise we get in pictures decreases. This is a tremendous advantage to photographers because we can use faster shutter speeds and smaller lens apertures for more depth of field without the fear of degrading our pictures. In addition, noise reducing software like Neat Image eliminates existing noise and in many cases makes the need for a tripod unnecessary because we can simply increase the speed of the shutter and hand hold the camera. For this picture in Kenya of a mother cheetah and her five offspring, I needed enough depth of field so all of the cats were sharp plus a shutter speed fast enough to freeze the frolicking cubs as they climbed all over the mom. Low-noise cameras and sophisticated software like Neat provide the security in knowing that we can now have top quality images plus the camera settings to take the kind of pictures we want. I shot this from a safari vehicle at sunrise with a Canon 500mm f/4 telephoto resting on a bean bag, and the settings were 1/800, f/11, 1000 ISO.
2 Comments
May 9, 2017, 12:18:53 PM
Jim - Hi Daniel, Thank you. I set the ISO in this case. Neat Image can be used either as a plugin or a stand alone program. I use it as a plugin.
May 9, 2017, 10:52:15 AM
Daniel A Reynaud - Hi Jim, very nice shot. I didn't know cheetahs could have such a large litter. Did you set your ISO or was it on auto ? Also, is Neat Image a Plug-In or a Stand Alone ? Thank you.