Trying my hand at birds
Nov 9, 2023 14:53:17 #
I'm not really much of a wildlife photographer; but I happened to be at this wildlife refuge on the New Jersey Shore, and decided that I would see what I could come up with.
Nov 9, 2023 15:35:52 #
#1 looks technically fine but if it was mine I'd brighten the bird a bit. You did well to keep the bird from being blown.
#2 looks like it might be on the verge of suffering from motion blur, but that's the problem with critters - they don't play ball when it comes to keeping their movement smooth and predictable.
#2 looks like it might be on the verge of suffering from motion blur, but that's the problem with critters - they don't play ball when it comes to keeping their movement smooth and predictable.
Nov 9, 2023 15:38:31 #
I might brighten up the first one a bit. As you mentioned, my major concern, other than sharpness, was to avoid blowing out the white highlights of the bird. That is why the water is so underexposed; but then, the water is not what people want to see in these photos. Thanks for the input.
Erich
Erich
Nov 9, 2023 15:44:23 #
ebrunner wrote:
I might brighten up the first one a bit. As you mentioned, my major concern, other than sharpness, was to avoid blowing out the white highlights of the bird. That is why the water is so underexposed; but then, the water is not what people want to see in these photos. Thanks for the input.
Erich
Erich
If you'd exposed for the whole scene you'd have lost the brightest feathers. So what did you use - spot metering? Matrix plus exposure compensation?
Nov 9, 2023 15:48:26 #
R.G. wrote:
If you'd exposed for the whole scene you'd have lost the brightest feathers. So what did you use - spot metering? Matrix plus exposure compensation?
I was shooting a mirrorless camera using the EVF. So you can see what the exposure is. I let it measure with the Matrix and then I manually underexposed about a stop or a stop and a third. It is easier to do with birds that are standing around; but I think the whole trick is to get the birds doing what they do best....fly!
Erich
Nov 9, 2023 15:53:42 #
ebrunner wrote:
I was shooting a mirrorless camera using the EVF. So you can see what the exposure is.....
As easy as that? Your technique could put an end to the whole metering debate - do it by eye
.Nov 9, 2023 16:00:10 #
R.G. wrote:
#1 looks technically fine but if it was mine I'd brighten the bird a bit. You did well to keep the bird from being blown.
#2 looks like it might be on the verge of suffering from motion blur, but that's the problem with critters - they don't play ball when it comes to keeping their movement smooth and predictable.
#2 looks like it might be on the verge of suffering from motion blur, but that's the problem with critters - they don't play ball when it comes to keeping their movement smooth and predictable.
I decided to brighten the first bird. Here I took the highlights right up to the point of clipping and then backed off until you could see some detail. Better? Too bright? Not sure.
Erich
Nov 9, 2023 16:03:15 #
Nov 9, 2023 16:03:19 #
R.G. wrote:
As easy as that? Your technique could put an end to the whole metering debate - do it by eye .
.That does not work with DSLR cameras because you don't see the results of the adjustments in the viewfinder, just in the screen after the shot.
Erich
Nov 9, 2023 16:04:30 #
Nov 9, 2023 16:04:54 #
ebrunner wrote:
That does not work with DSLR cameras because you don't see the results of the adjustments in the viewfinder, just in the screen after the shot.
Erich
Erich
Oh OK. It's only a matter of time before we all go mirrorless anyway
.Nov 9, 2023 16:24:05 #
R.G. wrote:
Oh OK. It's only a matter of time before we all go mirrorless anyway .
.Funny how that started. I bought the mirrorless mainly because I wanted to be able to adapt all those funky old lenses that I have. Then, I started really liking the camera and now it has become my go to camera for everything digital. I only take out the D750 when I know that I'm only going to be using Nikkor F mount lenses so that I don't have to fuddle with the adapters. I guess that's progress.
Erich
Nov 9, 2023 16:41:33 #
Wonderful work, Erich, but be careful - bird shooting can be addictive.
Nov 9, 2023 18:04:09 #
This is a national wildlife refuge. They usually charge a fee; but I have senior Citizen National Park card so I can get into any national park or refuge and not have to pay. So,yes, it could become addictive.
Erich
Erich
Nov 9, 2023 21:30:11 #
Nice stop action shot Erich
I added some texture to your bird using PS. I reduced the Hightlights a bit more then added a Find Edges layer, set it to COLOR BURN with opacity 11%
Jim
I added some texture to your bird using PS. I reduced the Hightlights a bit more then added a Find Edges layer, set it to COLOR BURN with opacity 11%
Jim
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