Bird at Sunset: Comments and opinions please. This was taken near sunset with 6D, 150-500 Sigma at 500, f6.3, 1/60, ISO 800, handheld (well kinda, was leaned and braced against my car...

jteee Loc: Montana

Comments and opinions please. This was taken near sunset with 6D, 150-500 Sigma at 500, f6.3, 1/60, ISO 800, handheld (well kinda, was leaned and braced against my car door pretty solidly).

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Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I think barbed wire always makes an interesting perch for bird photos. The light is very rich, and the background pleasing. It's an interesting pose because it looks like you caught the bird just before it took off. I also like the amount of space you gave around the bird, not cropping too tightly. I love the image.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

This has great subject separation and a nicely smoothed background. If this is SOOC, I think the camera was a bit too enthusiastic in capturing the orange light from the setting sun. It almost looks like the bird and wire have been painted.

photoninja1 Loc: Tampa Florida

Bird on barbed wire is interesting. Light is great. Focus on bird is a little soft and noise in the background. Sharpening of this type of shot should be restricted to the subject and masked from the background to minimize sharpening artifacts.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

jteee wrote:

Comments and opinions please. This was taken near sunset with 6D, 150-500 Sigma at 500, f6.3, 1/60, ISO 800, handheld (well kinda, was leaned and braced against my car door pretty solidly).

hey, jtee,
great pose, exposure spot on. Late sun's colors captured well.
focus seems a touch soft, but you got a good eye highlight.
The pose and colors are the impact!
I'd suggest a square format with a crop from the right side so he is leaning and looking into the frame, rather than out of it!
Impact:4
tech:3.5
cpmp.2.5
10/15

good job

Dave in SD

jteee Loc: Montana

Linda From Maine wrote:

I think barbed wire always makes an interesting perch for bird photos. The light is very rich, and the background pleasing. It's an interesting pose because it looks like you caught the bird just before it took off. I also like the amount of space you gave around the bird, not cropping too tightly. I love the image.

Thanks Linda.

jteee Loc: Montana

R.G. wrote:

This has great subject separation and a nicely smoothed background. If this is SOOC, I think the camera was a bit too enthusiastic in capturing the orange light from the setting sun. It almost looks like the bird and wire have been painted.

R.G. I shoot in Raw, so some basic processing was involved. The light was really quite orange, so is pretty close. Thanks for commenting.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

I like this shot despite its having a few minor technical problems. It is a little too noisy for my taste. Fixing this will soften the focus more than it already is. Try selecting the background and reduce its noise only. I would have thought the 6D would have less noise unless this was underexposed or cropped heavily. I know this was taken at sunset so the natural color will be on the warm side. However, I think this is a bit too warm. I would assume that the breast feathers under the wing is white and would try setting the white balance there. I think the focus is off a little or the lens may be soft here. It was at it limits. Finally, I would crop a little off the right.

Overall, this is a very pleasing shot. I like the absence of extraneous, distracting elements.

jteee Loc: Montana

photoninja1 wrote:

Bird on barbed wire is interesting. Light is great. Focus on bird is a little soft and noise in the background. Sharpening of this type of shot should be restricted to the subject and masked from the background to minimize sharpening artifacts.

Thanks for your comments. I agree that focus is ever-so-slightly soft. I have to learn more about sharpening, particularly what you have proposed, as that is above my current pay grade, but I have made a note of it, thanks again.

jteee Loc: Montana

Uuglypher wrote:

hey, jtee, br great pose, exposure spot on. Late s... (show quote)

jteee Loc: Montana

abc1234 wrote:

I like this shot despite its having a few minor te... (show quote)

Thanks for your comments. You're right about the softness. Maybe handheld, maybe slow shutter, maybe focus (or probably a little of all three). Will have to look at the white balance for color.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

jteee wrote:

Thanks for your comments. I agree that focus is ever-so-slightly soft. I have to learn more about sharpening, particularly what you have proposed, as that is above my current pay grade, but I have made a note of it, thanks again.

Rather than post-processing sharpening, how about taking a sharper picture? I know I questioned the sharpness of the lens but I would check that out. If you sharpen in post-processing, you will increase the background noise. As they say, no free lunch. The other thing I would suggest is to switch to spot focus if you have not done so. Combine that with back button focusing and you will probably nail the focus and, hence, the sharpness. Also, consider a monopod or tripod for that lens.

I think this is an excellent shot to use when teaching bird photography. Thanks for posting.

jteee Loc: Montana

abc1234 wrote:

Rather than post-processing sharpening, how about ... (show quote)

ABC, I agree with you completely regarding the sharpness. Since I don't know how to do it in PP, I usually don't even try. I did have spot focus, as well as back button focusing selected (which I really like by the way). I think the lack of sharp focus was more due to the conditions (sitting in my truck watching for deer when this guy landed on the fence a few feet away and I happened to have my camera in my lap with the Big Sig mounted). No chance for tripod or mono. But you are spot on, I have much better success with focus with this lens mounted on a tripod. Thanks again.