Bokeh Stripes
by Candace Clark
(Kure Beach, NC USA)
Fish Eagle with bokeh striping in the backround
I have been coming from the US to SA twice a year for a few years now and have become interested in wildlife photography, especially of birds. I started out with a Panasonic Lumix and graduated to a Canon Rebel xsi. At first, I had a 100 to 300 mm Canon lens, then I got a 400 mm Canon zoom lens (the heaviest I can lift).
With all these lenses and cameras, I have noticed stripes instead of crisp shots or bokeh on sunny mornings during the winter months. I assumed that the angle of the sun and the quality of light created this effect.
From your comments on striping, it could be that I still do not have the right equipment. Or I am doing something else wrong?
Answer
I don't think it's something you are doing wrong Candice, but it is in all likelihood it is a problem with your camera equipment, specifically the filter, which is probably why it's been duplicated across cameras and lenses.
If you're using a UV or some other kind of filter that is probably what is causing the stripey bokeh when there are light conditions like the ones depicted in your photo above.
Next time you encounter these light conditions, take some shots with the filter off and then a few with it back on. You should be able to see the difference immediately and you can then either buy a new filter or just remove it when the conditions arise.
Hope that helps.
Bruce
