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Re: Post your best bird shots!
Rich
I assume these were with the 1D so I will share this.
I use DPP, and with the 1D IV it seems my normal process from standard picture style. starts at +2 Contrast, with the black on the Goose a minus on highlights, then almost always +1 on Saturation, Sometimes saturation goes to 0 and looks right, but anything below 0 or above 1 just doesn
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
Yes, they were all with the 1D MKIV. I have not been using DPP. I use Aperture. I checked and I didn't use any saturation adjustments on any of these.
No, I have Highlight Tone Priority off, but I have the blown-out highlight alert on.
Do you think I should turn on HTP and if I do when should I turn it off?
Thanks about the comments!
I won't be around my computer until tonight.
TTYL,
Rich
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Lane
Do you think I should turn on HTP and if I do when should I turn it off?
Rich
I went to a Canon seminar put on by Canon a while back. One of the things they mentioned was that birders use highlight tone enabled because of Black and White birds. I had always disabled it.
I asked the question in this thread a while back if any one else enabled highlight tone priority when birding and several did. So I started using it.
It does seem to make a diffrence when you have a black headed goose like the one you took a pic of. It is easier to get the detail on the feathers.
So now I usualy have Highlight Tone Priority Enabled when birding.
Rick
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
Rich....the "floating" goose is a Canada goose. Though the 2 are similar looking; note the white marking. The Brant's is located on it's neck while the Canada is located on it's cheek and the Brant is smaller.
To add to the confusion I have heard of hybrids; Canada/Brant, but I don't believe I have ever seen one.
HTP; I used it w/my 40D, but I read something somewhere that it wasn't very good and having it on took way from the pic. I've never tried it on my 7D, but I do have the high light alert on.
Here's an example of me trying to expose for the eye of a Red wing black bird.....
[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/750x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/5468.RWBB-reflection.jpg[/img]
....the background reeds were over exposed, but I was able to bring them back in LR and further in CS3.
I can't explain the eyeball detail in the water....
Bill
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill W
HTP; I used it w/my 40D, but I read something somewhere that it wasn't very good and having it on took way from the pic. I've never tried it on my 7D, but I do have the high light alert on.
Bill
I had read the same, that you loose some sharpness. I do know that when I started using HTP that I could get more detail out ofbirds with blackand white as well. I really noticed the diffrence with my Duck Dog, a black lab.
Thats a good pic of the black bird, nice composition, I think the eye diffrence is the angle of the catch light in the eye reflecting on the water. Its more in the middle of the eye in the reflection.
Rick
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Lane
. Maybe, I should stop trying to fix my images? [img]/emoticons/emotion-1.gif[/img]
Rich,
No way ..... "Great photographs are made not taken" (Ansel Adams I believe)
PHotoshop is a tool that you should consider using to make the most of your images but probably a good idea to disclose what you've done if it's anything more than adjusting brightness, color saturation or contrast (ie basic stuff)
Joel
PS For BIF use manual mode and meter off your subject, ignoring the background. I do not use HTP but I use the alert function (blinkies on the LCD) and I take test shots to check the histogram for proper exposure without blowing out the whites or clipping the shadows.
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
Tern in flight
1DMKIII
500mm f/4L
1/2000
iso400
f/8
Manual mode, exposure determined by the Sunny 16 rule and test shots
Evaluative metering
[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/3036.343V1570.jpg[/img]
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill W
I'll try HTP on the 7D and see what I get Rick, but it doesn't sound promising after reading your statement concerning the 5D & 7D. But hey, you never know until you try.
Bill
It could be that I started using HTP at almost the same time I got my 1D IV, so really the statement I made may be in error.
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joel Eade
I do not use HTP but I use the alert function (blinkies on the LCD) and I take test shots to check the histogram for proper exposure without blowing out the whites or clipping the shadows.
Joel
Adjusting for the blacks and whites and using HTP really aren't similar. Or are they?
According to Canon using HTP expands the dynamic range. From what I have read, and I am talking from a layman's perspective that has read alot of articles on it, Canon modifies the processing program in the camera. The camera is supposedly programed at the optimum for dynamic range, when Canon does this they take away from the mid range to do the expansion. This causes a loss in IQ. There is alot of debateand rants I have read on how Canon does this, but it seems to be a consensus that they "rob Peter to Pay Paul".
I put mine on the favorites list on the camera so I can put it on or take it off whenever I like.
Also: The "Jay" you posted a few pages back I thought was really good.
Rick
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
Quote:
Originally Posted by HDNitehawk
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joel Eade
I do not use HTP but I use the alert function (blinkies on the LCD) and I take test shots to check the histogram for proper exposure without blowing out the whites or clipping the shadows.
Joel
Adjusting for the blacks and whites and using HTP really aren't similar. Or are they?
Also: The "Jay" you posted a few pages back I thought was really good.
Rick
Rick,
I don't really know the answer to your question, I just never have seen the need to use HTP ... I can usually get proper exposure without it , I could see using it maybe for shooting primarily white objects or very brightly lit scenes but for birds I haven't needed it. So I have no experience or detailed knowledge about HTP, I was just saying I don't use it. It may work perfectly well.
Thanks for the kind words on the BlueJay
Joel
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill W
Rich....the "floating" goose is a Canada goose. Though the 2 are similar looking; note the white marking. The Brant's is located on it's neck while the Canada is located on it's cheek and the Brant is smaller.
To add to the confusion I have heard of hybrids; Canada/Brant, but I don't believe I have ever seen one.
Thanks Bill, duly noted. I thought they looked different, thanks for clarifying.
Rich
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joel Eade
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Lane
. Maybe, I should stop trying to fix my images? [img]/emoticons/emotion-1.gif[/img]
Rich,
No way ..... "Great photographs are made not taken" (Ansel Adams I believe)
PHotoshop is a tool that you should consider using to make the most of your images but probably a good idea to disclose what you've done if it's anything more than adjusting brightness, color saturation or contrast (ie basic stuff)
Joel
I absolutely agree Joel, as long as I can improve them and not ruin them. I love what you do with layers and the fact that your images still look natural and not overly done. My goal would be to learn layers, and your images certainly represent the final look that I would like to strive for.
Nice Tern capture by the way!
Rich
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
Rick,
I will certainly read more about the highlight tone purity. I remember when I first looked into it, there were some instances where you would want to turn it off. I do think it
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
Male Downy Woodpecker
1DMKIII 300mm 2.8L 1.4 TCII 580EXII + Better Beamer -21/3 stops 1/500 f/5.6 ISO 1000
[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/2781.343V9309.jpg[/img]
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
Haven't shot in a while do to the high winds the last couple of weeks, but dealt with the breeze this afternoon and shot some backyard birds:
All shot with the 7D, 500L+1.4 EX
House Finch
[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/2376.IMG_5F00_3851.jpg[/img]
[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/5037.IMG_5F00_3857.jpg[/img]
[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/4478.IMG_5F00_3671.jpg[/img]
Mourning Dove in----Sorry for the chopped tail, but was to close to get the whole bird----
[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/2350.IMG_5F00_3607.jpg[/img]
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
those are very good shots, Bob
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Williams
Sorry for the chopped tail, but was to close to get the whole bird----
Do you know if you shoot your 500mm with a tripod, you can easily change you camera direction from landscape to portrait or any other angle by loosen your tripod ring, try that, Bob.
edit, assume you use a wimbely head.
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
Bob,
very nice shots .... especially the dove ... great light, exposure and sharpness ... kudos
Joel
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
Quote:
Originally Posted by JJphoto
Do you know if you shoot your 500mm with a tripod, you can easily change you camera direction from landscape to portrait or any other angle by loosen your tripod ring, try that, Bob.
Yes, I knew that and often use it---I even had some of the dove in landscape, but I really liked the lighting on this shot even though the comp was lacking---it was also a full frame shot, so no room to crop and adjust.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JJphoto
edit, assume you use a wimbely head.
Yep, But I am using the Wimberly Sidekick and love it. I went with the Sidekick instead of the full Wimberly head because I only have one tripod and didn't want to bother with switching heads. I was a little concerned that I might regret the decision, but not after using the sidekick. It is so easy to mount and dismount from the RRS ballhead and provides great support for the 500/7D combo. It is very stable, smooth as silk under friction and tracking birds or other animals is a breeze. it also stores very easily. I am really pleased withthe decision to go with this head.
Thanks,
Bob
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
Bob....very nice BYBs. I really like the stone perches, especially the dove
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
Yesterday afternoon was mostly sunny in New England, and the 55 °F temperature was enticing...but the 20 mph wind with gusts to 35 mph made it a bit of a blustury day. Still, it was the first free aftenoon I've had in quite a while, so I spent it at a nearby GBH rookery (a monopod and IS on the lens helped to counteract the shivering).
"Welcome home, Dear!"
[url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dr_brain/5643703197/in/photostream/lightbox/]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5021/...7936e65a_b.jpg[/url]
EOS 7D, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6<span style="color: #ff0000;"]L IS USM @ 400mm, 1/1600 s, f/6.3, ISO 250
"Lift"
[url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dr_brain/5643702887/in/photostream/lightbox/]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5021/...c4c5ee8f_b.jpg[/url]
EOS 7D, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6<span style="color: #ff0000;"]LIS USM @ 400mm, 1/1600 s, f/6.3, ISO 200
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Lane
Even rarer is to catch this Great Headless Egret.., in flight!
I'll see your Great Headless Egret in flight, and raise you a Great Headless Heron in flight. [:P]
[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Components-UserFiles/00-00-00-35-15/Headless-GBH.jpg[/img]
EOS 7D, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6<span style="color: #ff0000;"]LIS USM @ 400mm, 1/1600 s, f/6.3, ISO 1250
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
John....I'm surprised you only had to use 1/1600 to stop the trees from moving....the winds were howling. Where's your rookery located?
Some distractions while I wait in the swamp for the appearance of an owlet.
Belted Kingfisher
[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/700x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/8272.BK-perched-2-copy.jpg[/img]
and a good standby; Mallard
[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/700x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/0160.mallard-looking-at-me.jpg[/img]
and finally in this game of headless; are headless snowys wild?
[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/700x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/7024.headless-SO.jpg[/img]
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
@thekingb - Positively AWESOME shot!!
@Bill W - You make me want to move where I'd have much more variety of birds to photograph! Love the Kingfisher! As far as headless birds go, I have a few that hang out in my backyard! Nice thing about them is they are really cheap to feed!!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5022/...4dbb47328a.jpg
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
Nice shots everyone, afraid I haven't ant headless birds to share but I did some experimenting with an extreme close in set up from about 3-4 feet and this was taken with the 1DMKIII and 70-200mm f/2.8 at 200mm iso 200 f/5.6 1/300 sec and with 430EXII fill flash set to 1/16 power manually
[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/6431.343V9622.jpg[/img]
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
I really like your Chickadee, nice clean background and composition. But I think it's a little dull. Some levels and tone curve would help a lot.
Here I edited it for you, this time a tried to keep a light hand on the saturation!
[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/8270.Chichadee_5F00_DxO.jpg[/img]
How do ya like it?
Cheers,
John.
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
Brian....that shot is amazing...and almost a mirror image to Canon's shot for the 70-300L on their webpage.[Y]
Bill and John, great shots and you have me looking up every rookery I can find in the area.
Denise...that one looks a little too real. Nice shot.
Joel....somehow, you improved on your previous shots.....I am still trying to figure out how. [:P]I had no idea chickadees were so colorful.
Now if the rain will just let up, I am headed to a rookery!
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
Bob, Love the bird shots on the rocks. It
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
I posted this earlier, but the photo was currently unavailable, so I must of messed up the Flickr Address.
So.., I thought I would try to re-post it again:
Mk IV: 300mm f/2.8L IS + 2X @600mm f/7.1 1/1000sec ISO 800 CPL
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5022/...c1be4021_b.jpg
Rich
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
I'm enjoying the headless bird shots, especially the ones in flight. I would have liked to get one of these in flight, but I might have been waiting a while:
Adelie penguins on an iceberg in the Weddell Sea
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5302/...38d75286_b.jpg
5D Mark II, EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM @400mm, f/8, 1/1000s, ISO 100
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
The Slavonian Grebe is quite rare in the UK. Only about 40 pairs breed here each spring. Fortunately, they always choose the same place to breed each year and it's just a two-hour drive away, so I was able to observe them last weekend.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5068/...212214b1_b.jpg
1D Mark IV,EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM +1.4x @ 560mm, f/8, 1/500s, ISO 320
The black-headed gull (which has a chocolate brown head, not black) is much more common. This one was at a country park closer to home.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5189/...723dd52a_b.jpg
1D Mark IV, EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM @ 400mm, f/8, 1/640s, ISO 800
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Glass
Here I edited it for you, this time a tried to keep a light hand on the saturation!
How do ya like it?
Cheers,
John.
It's pretty with extra boost but the background looks funky and the feet are too purple .... maybe the changes you made if applied just to the bird's plumage would be cool.
Here's one from today....Red Bellied Woodpecker 1DMKIII 300mm 2.8L 1.4 TC II ISO 1000 1/640 f/4.5 580EXII/Better Beamer -1 1/3 stops
[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/3733.343V1435.jpg[/img]
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
Here are a couple from Lake Louisa State Park outside Orlando, FL. There's great bird photography almost everywhere you turn down there. These were taken with my 7D and EF 70-300L. This trip was the first real test for that lens, and I am very happy with its performance. It's still too short for serious birding, but it was amazing at Sea World and the like.
ISO 1000, f/5.6, 1/500s at 300mm.
[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/1024x1024/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/5710.IMG_5F00_3745.jpg[/img]
ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/1000s at 300mm, with some serious PP to lighten the shadows.
[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/1024x1024/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/5123.IMG_5F00_3760.jpg[/img]
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
While I'm having a clean up of my Lightroom catalogue, here's some from the end of last year.
New Zealand Dotterel (I think) trying to get some breakfast.
40D; 300mm f/2.8 + 1.4x @ 420 mm; 1/1000 sec; f/4.0; ISO 100
[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/800x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/4188._5F00_MG_5F00_9676.jpg[/img]
Neither was prepared to give up without a fight, the worm however
proved difficult to dislodge and it's elastic properties proved stronger
than the little bird. (Annoyingly I missed focus on the shot a fraction of a second earlier.)
[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/800x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/0334._5F00_MG_5F00_9679.jpg[/img]
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill W
John....I'm surprised you only had to use 1/1600 to stop the trees from moving....the winds were howling. Where's your rookery located?
The trees weren't just waving around - several smaller ones actually fell right over into the marsh!
There are a couple rookeries nearby - the shots here were from one in Concord, MA, and there's another accessible one in Sudbury, MA.
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
Here is a 'cheat" shot in my back backyard with our Hummingbird feeder....
1D4 and 70-200 2.8ll....f4@1/500th
[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/800x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/7737.AI6C7768_2D00_Edit-_2800_Large_2900_.jpg[/img]
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
http://www.rnmphotography.com/Nature..._zbU95-L-1.jpg
http://www.rnmphotography.com/Nature..._4M5qE-L-1.jpg
http://www.rnmphotography.com/Nature..._NcDsz-L-1.jpg
http://www.rnmphotography.com/Nature..._Zuz9d-L-1.jpg
http://www.rnmphotography.com/Nature..._TxtV4-L-1.jpg
http://www.rnmphotography.com/Nature..._vvtMi-L-1.jpg
http://www.rnmphotography.com/Nature..._G82kE-L-1.jpg
While Im not primarily a birder I went to shoot a soccer tournament and when I parked there was a pond with Canadian Geese doing their spring fling thing and I had awhile before the first game started so I took a bit to get some captures.
All shot with Canon 1D MKIV and 400 2.8L IS not handheld. I hear plenty of BS stories of people handholding these and while Im no body builder Im no wimp either and the best I can do is one or two clicks at a time. Well if you are trying to get a bird in flight that isnt cutting it so these were on a monopod with IS mode II.
f5.6
ISO 400
1/2000
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
1dMKIII
300mm 2.8L +1.4 TCII
1/320
iso 800
f/7.1
fill flash with 580 EXII + Better Beamer -2 1/3 stops
I attempted to process this one to make it look sort of "painterly" using CS5
[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/3162.343V1371.jpg[/img]
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Re: Post your best bird shots!
A mating pair of Headless GBHs!
[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/800x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/6371.Rook-IMG_5F00_8293-pp_2B00_3.JPG[/img]