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Wow, time flies... now that there's a Lightroom 4 beta out, I'm really ramping up the work to upgrade my Lightroom plugins appropriately, and have barely had time to come up for air, and so I was a bit surprised when I noticed today that it's been five days since my previous post. So, here's the part-two follow-on to “Traditional Japanese Archery: More Ladies, Part 1”.
I'll start out with the original photo from which the previous post's “Tall Tale” lead photo was derived...
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 300mm f/2 — 1/2500 sec, f/2, ISO 1250 — map & image data — nearby photos
The Original
( sort of )
In that “Tall Tale” photo I had fun stitching together two unrelated shots, but in the end, even after all that work, I think I like the original better... the bow somehow seems even larger and more impressive. I did go ahead and remove a rope from the background, though, as I did for the “Tall Tale” the other day.
More images of the ladies...
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 300mm f/2 + 1.4X TC @ 420mm — 1/2500 sec, f/2, ISO 2500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 300mm f/2 + 1.4X TC @ 420mm — 1/2500 sec, f/2, ISO 1600 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 300mm f/2 + 1.4X TC @ 420mm — 1/2500 sec, f/2, ISO 1600 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 300mm f/2 + 1.4X TC @ 420mm — 1/2500 sec, f/2, ISO 1800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 300mm f/2 + 1.4X TC @ 420mm — 1/2500 sec, f/2.8, ISO 2200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 300mm f/2 + 1.4X TC @ 420mm — 1/2500 sec, f/2.8, ISO 2200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 300mm f/2 + 1.4X TC @ 420mm — 1/2500 sec, f/2.8, ISO 1800 — map & image data — nearby photos
#2132
the final archer
( I've got to learn that focusing on something other than the eyes doesn't usually work out well )
As I explained earlier in “Total Discipline: Anatomy of a Japanese Archer’s Shot”, the main event of the day was for ranked archers who had become legal adults (20 years old) in the previous year, and the lady above was the 2,132nd and final among them. This was followed by some archery instructors, then the playoffs for each the men and women.
The photos below are from the women's playoffs.
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 300mm f/2 — 1/2500 sec, f/2, ISO 1800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Awaiting Their Turn
In the shot above, we see an appearance of the archer featured earlier in “Badass Japanese Archery: Now It's The Ladies' Turn”, as well as another example of how focusing on the tip of the arrow just doesn't work well.
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 300mm f/2 — 1/2500 sec, f/2, ISO 2500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Awaiting the Results
As I explained in earlier posts, I had a difficult time following the playoff rounds, but I think the three ladies in the shot above placed second, third, and fourth, with the winner having been decided in the previous round. I'm sure the winner is seen in one of the photos above, but unfortunately, I couldn't guess which she is.
I am very enjoy your photo with the amazing 300mm f/2. Is any reason not using the Sigma 50-500mm instead of 300mm plus 1.4x TC ?
A number of reasons for the 300/2 over the Sigma: 1) because I can. 2) the thin depth of field is so very important to these shots; at f/5.6 with these backgrounds, there’s not much point. 3) I was thrilled with the Sigma when I first got it, but after exchanging it twice for lens-CPU issues, I just don’t feel the copy I have now is in the same league, optically, as the first one I had. 4) I didn’t have it with me. —Jeffrey
Another amazingly good set of photos, Jeffrey. I looked at them all, and cannot pick a favorite, because there are so many great ones.
That’s what I think too. So many great shots, so interesting. My favourite “group” though is still the Badass Queen of your first set of ladies shots.
That gal has some focus!
Jeffrey, I may have missed the answer to the following question in one of your previous posts. I’m interested to know by whom is the competition organised? For example colleges, or simply if you’re under 20 yrs you can participate. Judging by the training I would guess colleges. Tks Chris (Hong Kong)
I would assume that this particular event is organized by the All Nippon Kyudo Federation. The yellow jackets of the staff had the name of the Kyoto Prefectural chapter. I would assume that participation is limited to those who are federation members, are ranked high enough (whatever that level may be), and who are 20 years old. But this is a lot of assumptions on my part. —Jeffrey
Hi Jeffrey,
I notice that a lot of these shots were at high ISO speeds, some 1600 plus. How do you manage to keep the noise down with such a high ISO?
Richard; Queensland – Australia
By using a Nikon D700. There’s essentially no noise at 1600. There’s plenty by 6400, but Lightroom 3’s noise reduction is very good. —Jeffrey