I regularly see many photographers posting their birding images on social media, websites etc, in the typical ID pose – full body, cleanish background, head turned slightly sideways to show off the profile of the head and bill, feather detail and colours, and legs with claws. Whilst there is nothing wrong with this, I do it too, there is more to bird photography than just the typical poses. The detail in facial features and bills of birds are just waiting to be captured. Over the years I have done just… read more →
After using a 150-600mm Contemporary Sigma lens for most of my time as a wildlife photographer I thought it would be quite difficult to find something not only on performance wise for the price of the lens but the durability and all-around performance from image quality to the specs based on a lens which copes quite well in different conditions such as rain and dust which I have experienced while up in the Kalahari. This lens is a little heavier than the 150-600mm Contemporary however it is made from a… read more →
CANON EOS R5 | SIGMA FIELD TEST Text and photo’s by Sigma Ambassador Simon Du Plessis, Actionimage. I was invited by Canon South Africa to do a field review on their new Canon EOS R5 mirrorless body. This kept me quite busy, testing the R5 out in the field using various Canon RF and EF lenses, as well as my Sigma lenses, namely the 120-300 f2.8 Sport, 100-400 f5-6.3 Contemporary and my EX 150 f2.8 Macro. When I collected the R5 from Canon SA, there was concern that the AF… read more →
The continuation of a new series of blog posts that are here and available for your reading pleasure, I have decided to not only tell you about the amazing Sigma brand, but to teach you about how to use your camera along with your Sigma lens to capture photographic content that you’ve always wanted to have. Welcome back all, and I hope everyone is doing all well and keeping going as we continue with the national Lockdown in South Africa, but mostly I hope you advancing your photographic knowledge and… read more →
The continuation of a new series of blog posts that are here and available for your reading pleasure, I have decided to not only tell you about the amazing Sigma brand, but to teach you about how to use your camera along with your Sigma lens to capture photographic content that you’ve always wanted to have. In this 10-blog series we have just reached half way (blog post number 5) and have already covered many topics, namely, the adjustment/interaction with normal light, understanding your camera based on your photographic needs… read more →
Capturing images in low light and shooting wide open can be challenging, so here are some Tips & Techniques to help you overcome these obstacles. Firstly, my Sigma 85mm Art communicates perfectly with all my camera systems and this gives me super fast AF controls, especially in low light conditions. I achieve this my manually taking control over my camera. I always shoot Spot Metering/Single Shot and deactivate all focus tracking functions, thus giving me full control on where I wish to focus. Shooting wide open ( f1.4 – f2.8… read more →
The continuation of a new series of blog posts that are here and available for your reading pleasure, I have decided to not only tell you about the amazing Sigma brand, but to teach you about how to use your camera along with your Sigma lens to capture photographic content that you’ve always wanted to have. In our last blog we discussed using Aperture and Depth of Field when photographic certain scenes and wildlife. Each blog we are going to advance on the previous blog in developing your skills of… read more →
Ask any three nature photographers how to do birds in flight, and you’ll probably get three different responses. Everyone who do this has developed a method that works for them. Usually it is dependent on type and model of camera body, same for the lens in use and their own personal skills level. So to cut to the chase – the best way to do birds in flight: buy the most top of the line camera body from one of the major brands, buy the fastest focussing, fastest aperture lens… read more →
The continuation of a new series of blog posts that are here and available for your reading pleasure, I have decided to not only tell you about the amazing Sigma brand, but to teach you about how to use your camera along with your Sigma lens to capture photographic content that you’ve always wanted to have. In our last blog we discussed composition of a shot using the ‘Rule of Thirds” along with the utilisation of negative space and I showed an image of a bird of prey that I… read more →
A journey through my equipment upgrade career Text and photo’s by Sigma Ambassador Simon Du Plessis, Actionimage. A question I am asked often, and I just know a lot of other professional and experienced photographers are asked quite often, is what lens or camera is best for any specific application. Over the past 35 years or so that I’ve been active in photography, starting out as a real beginner with very basic entry level kit and upgrading, building up my experience , learning from two mentors back in the 80’s… read more →