Camera Labs

BOO! Missed a picture of a Black Bear that was only 20-feet from me My unit was on a mountain road doing a hill run and i was taking pictures. After everyone went through the turn around point I changed my camera settings to get some mountains on the horizon, so my camera was in full manual. A saw some thing from the corner of my eye and this black bear crossed the road behind me with a care in the world. I turned and started shooting and just as he dipped into the wood line i realised the camera was still set for the horizon so the pics came out so dark u can hardly tell there is a bear i play with the pics tonight and see if i can get something. Oh, and i had just turned RAW off to get more burst speed of the runners CRAP!!

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Mike "The Squirrel"
Canon 550D | Canon EF 35mm 1:2 | Canon 50 f/1.8 II | Sigma 18-125mm DC OS | Tamron SP 70-300mm Di VC USD | Canon 430EX II
Military Issued Canon 40D | Canon 55-250mm IS

bugger, have done something similar before.
Sometimes it works out, I got some shots of the kids that were taken when I bumped the dial and switched from av to manual without realising I had done it.
Pics were way too bright, but made for a good photo. Something I would never have done otherwise.

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Canon Powershot S95, Canon 7D, 15-85, Canon 85 1.8 USM, Sigma 30 1.4, 50mm 1.8, Canon 100 2.8L IS Macro, Canon 70-300L IS USM+Kenko 1.4 Pro 300DGX, Canon 430EX II and RS 4 Classic

Here he is, added heavy brighting and contrast to get it to this point

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Mike "The Squirrel"
Canon 550D | Canon EF 35mm 1:2 | Canon 50 f/1.8 II | Sigma 18-125mm DC OS | Tamron SP 70-300mm Di VC USD | Canon 430EX II
Military Issued Canon 40D | Canon 55-250mm IS

Bad luck Mike, but it does at least validate my comment at the end of all of my DSLR Tips videos where I recommend people ALWAYS set their cameras back to Program or Auto after using other modes. Yes, it isn't hardcore, but it does mean your camera will be ready for spontaneous opportunities.

You wouldn't believe the constant grief I get on youtube for suggesting it from people who think you must exclusively shoot in manual to be a proper photographer.

Anyway, now that rant's off my chest, I can once again wish you my condolences - it really is frustrating when that happens. I've been there myself, which is why I make the reocmmendations above.

I Second Gordon, I've got in to the habit of going back to programme mode after shooting other modes.

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"I'm playing all the right notes but not necessarily in the right order" - Eric Morecambe
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D7000 and too many lenses.

If you up the brightness, that only affects the midtones (so, not the bear). If you up the contrast, the bear, which is very dark, will just get darker. I would try lowering the brightness and using the fill light to get back detail in the bear's fur, and use the clarity slider (not the contrast slider) to get more contrast.

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Body: Canon Rebel XS, Canon EOS 7D
Lenses: Sigma 17-70mm f2.8-4.0 OS HSM DC Macro, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS II, Canon EF 50mm f1.8 II, Canon EF-S 10-22mm f3.5-4.5 USM, Canon EF 85mm f1.8 II USM

Yeah Gordon, I always try and do that when I'm finished, I learned that from you but I really was clicking pics at the mountain when it happened. Oh well, I've been told this bear is a regular here I my slip back out early on morning and try again

theorigamist I asume you mean in Photoshop? I'm still learning there so I did this quick in GIMP, might give what you suggested a shot, thanks a bunch!

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Mike "The Squirrel"
Canon 550D | Canon EF 35mm 1:2 | Canon 50 f/1.8 II | Sigma 18-125mm DC OS | Tamron SP 70-300mm Di VC USD | Canon 430EX II
Military Issued Canon 40D | Canon 55-250mm IS