Another bird shot

[Pops]

just to see if I have learnt anything

[Ian]

Re: Another bird shot

Hi Pops - that's really good. You're making me itchy to get out there with my new tele zoom

How much of a crop was it? I think you may have got as near to exploiting the limits if the capabilities of your camera with this. If there is some nit-picking, a pro might want more dynamic range to preserve the highlights in the white feathers and a bit more sharpness, but that would require a longer, faster and much more expensive lens. Maybe bird photographer expert extraordinaire, Andy Bright, might be able to add some comment?

Ian

[Pops]

Re: Another bird shot

Thanks for your comments Ian. Very much appreciated.
Now I know I am moving in the right direction. I changed the Tamron lens for a Canon 70-300 is usm and there is a marked difference at full focal.
This shot was one from a burst of 6. There was a slight tweak with the histogram and USM was added with a value of 1. I did try a value of 2 but it looked to artificial.
Not quite sure that I understand the term 'Dynamic Range'

[Ian]

Re: Another bird shot

Thanks for your comments Ian. Very much appreciated.
Now I know I am moving in the right direction. I changed the Tamron lens for a Canon 70-300 is usm and there is a marked difference at full focal.
This shot was one from a burst of 6. There was a slight tweak with the histogram and USM was added with a value of 1. I did try a value of 2 but it looked to artificial.
Not quite sure that I understand the term 'Dynamic Range'

Basically the dynamic range is the ability of the camera to record densities between full black (darkness) and full white (brightness). With limited dynamic range you are forced to use the intermediate tones available to preserve shadow detail at the expense of highlighth detail or vice-versa. In your shot, there isn't much detail in the light plumage. To preserve dynamic range you need good lighting and a low ISO and a camera that has a good dynamic range sensor. The higher the megapixels and smaller the pixel size on the sensor, the less dynamic range is available.

Ian

[Pops]

Re: Another bird shot

Basically the dynamic range is the ability of the camera to record densities between full black (darkness) and full white (brightness). With limited dynamic range you are forced to use the intermediate tones available to preserve shadow detail at the expense of highlighth detail or vice-versa. In your shot, there isn't much detail in the light plumage. To preserve dynamic range you need good lighting and a low ISO and a camera that has a good dynamic range sensor. The higher the megapixels and smaller the pixel size on the sensor, the less dynamic range is available.

Ian

Thanks again. Just printed that out to absorb fully.

[Andy]

Re: Another bird shot

An attractive shot, the background is superb and is ideal for this type of shot. There's very good eye contact with the bird, and this is always a winner... nice cathclight in the eye, which is absolutely crucial.
From a compositional aspect, I'm not sure about the bird situated in that part of the frame with that particular head position.
The image does look a little pixellated, so it may be cropping gone a bit too far.

Good work though.

cheers,
Andy

[Pops]

Re: Another bird shot

An attractive shot, the background is superb and is ideal for this type of shot. There's very good eye contact with the bird, and this is always a winner... nice cathclight in the eye, which is absolutely crucial.
From a compositional aspect, I'm not sure about the bird situated in that part of the frame with that particular head position.
The image does look a little pixellated, so it may be cropping gone a bit too far.

Good work though.

cheers,
Andy

Thanks Andy.
The compositional position of the bird was forced upon me by the full frame shot and I did like the branch running diagonally across the frame.
I just searched for the original but it looks like I saved over it, however, I have retrieved one from the recycle bin which was from the same burst. As you can see he was rather active in this one hence the recycle bin. The original was 3888 x 2592 pixels.
(maybe I should relocate the feeders)

[coupekid]

Re: Another bird shot

just to see if I have learnt anything

Hi Pops,

Do you have the camera on a tripod, with a cable release, as this would certainly help.

If you want to get a superb shot of a blue tit, I would advise getting a peanut feeder, together with some fat balls strategically placed, they love those!

Then its a case of letting the birds get used to you. I have spent a few mornings, without my camera, just sitting outside and watching the birds, moving my chair closer and closer to the tree on which I have my feeders. I can now get within a few feet of them, providing I am perfectly still.

I have recently purchased a monopod, which I am hoping will enable better shots than handheld, but be easier to cope with than a tripod in my little garden.

[Pops]

Re: Another bird shot

Hi Pops,

Do you have the camera on a tripod, with a cable release, as this would certainly help.

If you want to get a superb shot of a blue tit, I would advise getting a peanut feeder, together with some fat balls strategically placed, they love those!

Then its a case of letting the birds get used to you. I have spent a few mornings, without my camera, just sitting outside and watching the birds, moving my chair closer and closer to the tree on which I have my feeders. I can now get within a few feet of them, providing I am perfectly still.

I have recently purchased a monopod, which I am hoping will enable better shots than handheld, but be easier to cope with than a tripod in my little garden.

Hi coupekid,
Yes I have both tripod and cable release. The tripod is setup just inside my garden shed and about 12/15' from the feeders. My situ at the moment is getting used to my first slr-only had prosumer's before. Also recently moved house? back at my old house the birds really knew me and I could sit within 4/6 feet of them. Now I am having to start all over again. Come spring when my garden is all finished I hope to start gaining their trust again. I spend hours sitting with them. Domestic reasons prevent me from getting out much apart from short local walks.

p.s. I buy my bird food in bulk apart from the fat balls, I make those up myself.

[coupekid]

Re: Another bird shot

Hi coupekid,
Yes I have both tripod and cable release. The tripod is setup just inside my garden shed and about 12/15' from the feeders. My situ at the moment is getting used to my first slr-only had prosumer's before. Also recently moved house? back at my old house the birds really knew me and I could sit within 4/6 feet of them. Now I am having to start all over again. Come spring when my garden is all finished I hope to start gaining their trust again. I spend hours sitting with them. Domestic reasons prevent me from getting out much apart from short local walks.

p.s. I buy my bird food in bulk apart from the fat balls, I make those up myself.

Well, you sound like you know your stuff then Pops, and I apologise for teaching you to suck eggs!

I was fairly excited the other day, as we saw, not one, but two green woodpeckers just round the corner, so I am keeping a good look out for those lil fellas, I would LOVE to get a shot of them!

[Danny Chau]

Re: Another bird shot

Hi Pops, great photo as usual, but I feel the image just a tad magenta, here is my interpretation version.

Danny

[Danny Chau]

Re: Another bird shot

Forgot to upload........

[Pops]

Re: Another bird shot

Well, you sound like you know your stuff then Pops, and I apologise for teaching you to suck eggs!

I was fairly excited the other day, as we saw, not one, but two green woodpeckers just round the corner, so I am keeping a good look out for those lil fellas, I would LOVE to get a shot of them!

Now those I would love to see.

[lumix]

Re: Another bird shot

May have posted this before but if you like Woody's how about this one?

[coupekid]

Re: Another bird shot

May have posted this before but if you like Woody's how about this one?

Thats the little fellas I saw!
Superb! When was this taken?