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Just barely made the cut
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Feb 8, 2024 22:39:50   #
bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur
 
My "bar" for pictures that I have taken has changed over the years. A shot that I would have been very happy with 5 years ago, no longer pleases me. The bird may be just as beautiful, the pose may be great, the image may be technically good, but if the background or perch that is in the image is not good, the picture often is immediately deleted. This image just barely made the cut. This is a Tufted Antshrike from Brazil. A neat bird, with a great crest and an active personality. The shot was taken early in morning, so there was not a lot of light to work with. To try to get the black bird properly exposed, I had to over expose the white rocks it was standing on. While this can be altered in processing, it still never will be pleasing. Shot with a Canon R5, 600 f/4.0, handheld. SS 1/320, ISO 8000, f/4.0. Processed in PS with bird slightly brightened and background slightly darkened. Topaz De Noise was used.


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Feb 8, 2024 23:11:33   #
kpmac Loc: Ragley, La
 
Very nice. I'm harder to please now, too.

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Feb 9, 2024 06:00:52   #
Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis
 
bajadreamer wrote:
My "bar" for pictures that I have taken has changed over the years. A shot that I would have been very happy with 5 years ago, no longer pleases me. The bird may be just as beautiful, the pose may be great, the image may be technically good, but if the background or perch that is in the image is not good, the picture often is immediately deleted. This image just barely made the cut. This is a Tufted Antshrike from Brazil. A neat bird, with a great crest and an active personality. The shot was taken early in morning, so there was not a lot of light to work with. To try to get the black bird properly exposed, I had to over expose the white rocks it was standing on. While this can be altered in processing, it still never will be pleasing. Shot with a Canon R5, 600 f/4.0, handheld. SS 1/320, ISO 8000, f/4.0. Processed in PS with bird slightly brightened and background slightly darkened. Topaz De Noise was used.
My "bar" for pictures that I have taken ... (show quote)



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Feb 9, 2024 08:33:31   #
tcthome Loc: NJ
 
Wish I could be that disciplined! Nice

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Feb 9, 2024 09:42:14   #
Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona
 
Pretty bird and good image quality for the bird. My sentiments about a good image have changed over time, as yours. In this image, the separation of the bird from the background is nice, a 600 prime can give you that and probably the main reason people buy a prime compared to equivalent focal length zooms. But, today, I would have chosen to delete this photo considering the vertical band of light "behind" the subject. I would also ask, how low were you? I am not a big fan of horizons bisecting the subject. In this case, having the camera at ground level would have helped eliminate this issue. It's interesting how our perspectives change the more we seek to acquire the "perfect" image.

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Feb 9, 2024 12:00:30   #
Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV
 
bajadreamer wrote:
My "bar" for pictures that I have taken has changed over the years. A shot that I would have been very happy with 5 years ago, no longer pleases me. The bird may be just as beautiful, the pose may be great, the image may be technically good, but if the background or perch that is in the image is not good, the picture often is immediately deleted. This image just barely made the cut. This is a Tufted Antshrike from Brazil. A neat bird, with a great crest and an active personality. The shot was taken early in morning, so there was not a lot of light to work with. To try to get the black bird properly exposed, I had to over expose the white rocks it was standing on. While this can be altered in processing, it still never will be pleasing. Shot with a Canon R5, 600 f/4.0, handheld. SS 1/320, ISO 8000, f/4.0. Processed in PS with bird slightly brightened and background slightly darkened. Topaz De Noise was used.
My "bar" for pictures that I have taken ... (show quote)


I think that's a natural progression for a wildlife photographer, or any photographer I guess. But, in my case, when I get a marginal photograph of a rarely photographed animal, I keep it until I can get a better one. Whether I post it or not is another subject. But I'm glad you posted this one. The stones are not objectionably over exposed IMHO.

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Feb 9, 2024 15:22:17   #
taffspride Loc: Originally Wales, now the Sunshine State
 
bajadreamer wrote:
My "bar" for pictures that I have taken has changed over the years. A shot that I would have been very happy with 5 years ago, no longer pleases me. The bird may be just as beautiful, the pose may be great, the image may be technically good, but if the background or perch that is in the image is not good, the picture often is immediately deleted. This image just barely made the cut. This is a Tufted Antshrike from Brazil. A neat bird, with a great crest and an active personality. The shot was taken early in morning, so there was not a lot of light to work with. To try to get the black bird properly exposed, I had to over expose the white rocks it was standing on. While this can be altered in processing, it still never will be pleasing. Shot with a Canon R5, 600 f/4.0, handheld. SS 1/320, ISO 8000, f/4.0. Processed in PS with bird slightly brightened and background slightly darkened. Topaz De Noise was used.
My "bar" for pictures that I have taken ... (show quote)


Good shot, you caught the catchlight in its eye. Glad it made the cut. I am doing the same, much more discriminating these days.

Iechyd da

Ann

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Feb 9, 2024 17:27:46   #
joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA
 
bajadreamer wrote:
My "bar" for pictures that I have taken has changed over the years. A shot that I would have been very happy with 5 years ago, no longer pleases me. The bird may be just as beautiful, the pose may be great, the image may be technically good, but if the background or perch that is in the image is not good, the picture often is immediately deleted. This image just barely made the cut. This is a Tufted Antshrike from Brazil. A neat bird, with a great crest and an active personality. The shot was taken early in morning, so there was not a lot of light to work with. To try to get the black bird properly exposed, I had to over expose the white rocks it was standing on. While this can be altered in processing, it still never will be pleasing. Shot with a Canon R5, 600 f/4.0, handheld. SS 1/320, ISO 8000, f/4.0. Processed in PS with bird slightly brightened and background slightly darkened. Topaz De Noise was used.
My "bar" for pictures that I have taken ... (show quote)


WOW I'll be more than happy to take your rejects, Baja

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Feb 9, 2024 18:25:03   #
bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur
 
kpmac wrote:
Very nice. I'm harder to please now, too.


I guess the price of "getting better" (or at least watching too many You Tube videos).

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Feb 9, 2024 18:25:14   #
bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur
 
Manglesphoto wrote:



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Feb 9, 2024 18:27:01   #
bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur
 
tcthome wrote:
Wish I could be that disciplined! Nice


My wife loves to photograph the birds too, so when we go on a trip, it is not unusual for me to have to review and cull 10,000 images a day. To survive, I have to be more ruthless with my culling than I used to be.

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Feb 9, 2024 18:30:27   #
bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur
 
Nalu wrote:
Pretty bird and good image quality for the bird. My sentiments about a good image have changed over time, as yours. In this image, the separation of the bird from the background is nice, a 600 prime can give you that and probably the main reason people buy a prime compared to equivalent focal length zooms. But, today, I would have chosen to delete this photo considering the vertical band of light "behind" the subject. I would also ask, how low were you? I am not a big fan of horizons bisecting the subject. In this case, having the camera at ground level would have helped eliminate this issue. It's interesting how our perspectives change the more we seek to acquire the "perfect" image.
Pretty bird and good image quality for the bird. ... (show quote)


You are absolutely correct. When I took this image I was sitting on my butt with the lens braced on my knees. This bird was originally up and to the left of the image, approximately eye level with me. All of those shots were caca; he then jumped down onto a gravel pathway and was gone in 3 seconds. Having the camera 6-12" lower would have improved this image a lot.

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Feb 9, 2024 18:31:46   #
bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur
 
Retired CPO wrote:
I think that's a natural progression for a wildlife photographer, or any photographer I guess. But, in my case, when I get a marginal photograph of a rarely photographed animal, I keep it until I can get a better one. Whether I post it or not is another subject. But I'm glad you posted this one. The stones are not objectionably over exposed IMHO.


Thank you for your thoughts. I agree with you-I am much more inclined to keep a marginal shot of a bird that I likely will never see again than a marginal shot of a sparrow in my back yard.

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Feb 9, 2024 18:32:53   #
bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur
 
taffspride wrote:
Good shot, you caught the catchlight in its eye. Glad it made the cut. I am doing the same, much more discriminating these days.

Iechyd da

Ann


As was stated earlier, "natural progression". I like to think I am improving, but sometimes I wonder when I see some of the spectacular images posted on line.

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Feb 9, 2024 18:33:12   #
bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur
 
joecichjr wrote:
WOW I'll be more than happy to take your rejects, Baja
WOW img src="https://static.uglyhedgehog.com/imag... (show quote)


You are too kind. Thanks for looking.

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