Two Ways of Seeing
Vellore, Tamil Nadu
Sometimes practice is not about learning one perfect way to photograph.
It is about discovering how many different ways the same equipment can work for you.
During the same outing, I photographed two very different subjects with the same combination: the Nikon Z9 and NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S.
Spotted Owlet
The familiar way
The Spotted Owlet was photographed in my usual way, allowing me to concentrate on the bird, its behaviour and the moment.
After years of using the Z9 and 800mm together, many things have become instinctive. Framing, tracking, focus and timing come together almost without conscious thought.
Sometimes that familiarity gives you the freedom to simply watch.
Nikon Z9 + NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S
1/1250 sec • f/6.3 • ISO 800
Peninsular Rock Agama
Trying a different way
Then came this Peninsular Rock Agama (Psammophilus dorsalis).
I decided to challenge myself with the same equipment, but differently.
The 800mm was used handheld and with manual focus.
At this focal length, even a small movement can change the point of focus. I had to work carefully to place the focus exactly where I wanted it and bring out the fine details of this beautiful creature.
The result almost feels like a macro photograph.
But there is no macro lens here.
Just an 800mm super telephoto lens, used differently.
Nikon Z9 + NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S
1/1250 sec • f/6.3 • ISO 800
Handheld • Manual Focus
Practice Gives Us More Possibilities
This is one of the things I enjoy most about photography.
The more we practise with our equipment, the more possibilities we begin to see in it.
We don't always need another lens or another piece of equipment to try something new.
Sometimes, we simply need to understand what we already have a little better.
I have been using, practising with and continuously learning the Nikon Z9 and NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S since they were launched.
Even after all these years, this combination still surprises me.
Perhaps that is what practice really gives us.
Not mastery.
More possibilities.
Photographing with Nikon since 1975.
— Sundara Rajan
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