Kestrels in flight - Problems with sharpness!
Aug 17, 2023 09:30:50 #
prcb1949
Loc: Ex Zimbabwe - Now UK
Took the following shots this morning against very grey skies. I have done some PP on each of the originals. I am also including some image info as per windows 10 photo editor.
F8, 1/2000sec,iso800, exp Bias 0 step and spot metering.
(Download)
(Download)
F8, 1/2500 sec,iso800, exp Bias 0 step and spot metering.
(Download)
(Download)
Aug 17, 2023 12:10:16 #
If they were my shots, and they are not, I would crop them much tighter and use something like the enhance function or Gigapixel to increase the size of the image
Aug 17, 2023 12:27:54 #
prcb1949 wrote:
Took the following shots this morning against very grey skies. I have done some PP on each of the originals. I am also including some image info as per windows 10 photo editor.
Congratulations on capturing the Kestrel in flight, it’s no easy task.
Now to your concerns Was the focus point locked onto the bird or was the bird near but not in the focus box? When I have experienced similar results with fast eratic flyers, it’s normally because the bird is no longer in a focus box. It’s near enough to look good but not a locked in focus. Also with small birds I try to go closer to 1/3200-1/4000 depending on lens and light.
Aug 17, 2023 12:52:19 #
prcb1949
Loc: Ex Zimbabwe - Now UK
clickety wrote:
Congratulations on capturing the Kestrel in flight, it’s no easy task.
Now to your concerns Was the focus point locked onto the bird or was the bird near but not in the focus box? When I have experienced similar results with fast eratic flyers, it’s normally because the bird is no longer in a focus box. It’s near enough to look good but not a locked in focus. Also with small birds I try to go closer to 1/3200-1/4000 depending on lens and light.
Now to your concerns Was the focus point locked onto the bird or was the bird near but not in the focus box? When I have experienced similar results with fast eratic flyers, it’s normally because the bird is no longer in a focus box. It’s near enough to look good but not a locked in focus. Also with small birds I try to go closer to 1/3200-1/4000 depending on lens and light.
I was using a tripod and back button focus and the kestrels were in the hover so a relatively easy task keeping the head/eye in the focus box.
Aug 17, 2023 12:53:55 #
prcb1949
Loc: Ex Zimbabwe - Now UK
Curmudgeon wrote:
If they were my shots, and they are not, I would crop them much tighter and use something like the enhance function or Gigapixel to increase the size of the image
Thanks for your reply I have a very basic editor which does not have any of the applications you mention but worth noting for the future.
Aug 17, 2023 13:15:36 #
terrys1943
Loc: Illinois
For a subject like this, I would suggest using a wide area focus setting and continuous autofocus and +1 meter biasing with aperture priority metering. I'm sure there will be lots of disagreement with this, it's just how I do it.
Aug 17, 2023 13:51:48 #
Curmudgeon wrote:
If they were my shots, and they are not, I would crop them much tighter and use something like the enhance function or Gigapixel to increase the size of the image
You might get better responses in the Birds section as that is for avid birders.
Aug 17, 2023 13:53:03 #
prcb1949 wrote:
Took the following shots this morning against very grey skies. I have done some PP on each of the originals. I am also including some image info as per windows 10 photo editor.
Do not rule out atmospherics. Causes our AF to miss focus rendering our images as soft at best. Longer the distance to subject the more atmosphere the light must pass through.
Aug 17, 2023 14:05:20 #
prcb1949
Loc: Ex Zimbabwe - Now UK
Sinewsworn wrote:
Do not rule out atmospherics. Causes our AF to miss focus rendering our images as soft at best. Longer the distance to subject the more atmosphere the light must pass through.
Thanks as it happens there had been some misty conditions about earlier in the day. I may well have had better conditions if I had hung on till afternoon!
Aug 17, 2023 14:06:16 #
prcb1949
Loc: Ex Zimbabwe - Now UK
Architect1776 wrote:
You might get better responses in the Birds section as that is for avid birders.
You may be right but its all good!
Aug 17, 2023 14:49:54 #
prcb1949 wrote:
Thanks as it happens there had been some misty conditions about earlier in the day. I may well have had better conditions if I had hung on till afternoon!
I find that BIFs are hard near/over water except early morning late afternoon.
Aug 17, 2023 14:59:35 #
prcb1949 wrote:
Took the following shots this morning against very grey skies. I have done some PP on each of the originals. I am also including some image info as per windows 10 photo editor.
Really love number four, which just POPs 4️⃣4️⃣4️⃣4️⃣4️⃣
Aug 17, 2023 17:23:54 #
Although ISO 800 shouldn't be noisy, adjusting the exposure in post processing is bringing it out. The Noise is impacting sharpness.
I recommend using a program like Topaz AI to sharpen and remove noise before adjusting the exposure. Here is a quick example of what I mean.
I recommend using a program like Topaz AI to sharpen and remove noise before adjusting the exposure. Here is a quick example of what I mean.
Aug 17, 2023 17:35:49 #
prcb1949 wrote:
Took the following shots this morning against very grey skies. I have done some PP on each of the originals. I am also including some image info as per windows 10 photo editor.
Your biggest problem is under exposure and the other problem is you are too far away for your focal length. As mentioned, expensive softwares application can help. If you shot raw, that can also help.
.
Aug 17, 2023 21:15:04 #
If they were my shots, I would not even dare to post them in the bird gallery, where they belong.
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