My 400 2.8 IS tries surfing

The San Juan surfers were riding the waves nearer to my favorite spot this weekend. The closer shooting distance allowed me the opportunity to use my 400 2.8 IS + 1.4x TC (560 mm) instead of my usual 500 f4 IS + 1.4x TC (700 mm).

Shooting info - San Juan beach, La Union, Philippines, November 13, 2011, Canon 1D Mark IV + EF 400 2.8 L IS + 1.4x TC II, 560 mm, 1/2500 sec, f/5.6, ISO 400, 475B/516 support, manual exposure in available light, uncropped full frame.

Shooting info - San Juan beach, La Union, Philippines, November 13, 2011, Canon 1D Mark IV + EF 400 2.8 L IS + 1.4x TC II, 560 mm, 1/2000 sec, f/5.6, ISO 400, 475B/516 support, manual exposure in available light, uncropped full frame.

Shooting info - San Juan beach, La Union, Philippines, November 13, 2011, Canon 1D Mark IV + EF 400 2.8 L IS + 1.4x TC II, 560 mm, 1/15 sec, f/6.3, ISO 200, 475B/516 support, manual exposure in available light, uncropped full frame.

Shooting info - San Juan beach, La Union, Philippines, November 13, 2011, Canon 1D Mark IV + EF 400 2.8 L IS + 1.4x TC II, 560 mm, 1/2500 sec, f/5.6, ISO 400, 475B/516 support, manual exposure in available light, near full frame.

Shooting info - San Juan beach, La Union, Philippines, November 13, 2011, Canon 1D Mark IV + EF 400 2.8 L IS + 1.4x TC II, 560 mm, 1/2500 sec, f/5.6, ISO 800, 475B/516 support, manual exposure in available light, near full frame.

Surfing in sweet, late afternoon light

My favorite time to shoot the San Juan beach surfers is late in the afternoon, in the last couple of hours before the sun sets. The golden light comes in from behind me, a bit on the left side, casting some shadow and giving the subject a 3D'ish look.

Shooting info - San Juan, La Union, Philippines, February 19, 2011, 1D4 + 500 f4 IS + 1.4x TC, f/6.3, 1/1600 sec, ISO 400, manual exposure, 475B/516 support.

Beauty and the beach

Tiny waves and a rainy afternoon with flat lighting don't necessarily make San Juan beach a boring place to be in yesterday.

Shooting info - San Juan beach, La Union, Philippines, November 7, 2011, Canon 1D4 + EF 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC II, 700 mm, 1/1600 sec, f/6.3, ISO 1600, 475B/516 support, manual exposure in available light, uncropped full frame resized to 1280x853.

Surfing in near darkness

When the setting sun was covered by thick rainclouds this November 7th, it became so dark at San Juan beach that even ISO 12,800 wasn't sensitive enough to freeze the action. I decided not to pack up yet, and continued shooting the surfers at experimental, super slow shutter speeds.

Shooting info - San Juan, La Union, Philippines, November 7, 2011, Canon 1D4 + EF 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC II, 700 mm, 1/5 sec, f/5.6, ISO 3200, manual exposure in available light, 475B/516 support, IS mode 1 on, resized full frame.

Walking on water

This young waverider slid out his surfboard from underneath him into the air to end a longish run.

In the few milliseconds before gravity took over, it would appear that the young man was walking barefooted on the surf.

The surfing beach at San Juan, La Union, is a few minutes drive from my ancestral home. My birds-in-flight shooting gear are perfectly suited to capture surfing action as well. 

Shooting Info - San Juan, La Union, Philippines, February 19, 2011, Canon 1D MIV + EF 500 f4 IS + Canon 1.4x TC II, f/6.3, 1/1600 sec, ISO 400, manual exposure, 475B/516 support.