Would you have known if I hadn't told you?

[StuartR]

I was sorting through some "almost" shots from my recent visit to Hedingham Castle when I thought I'd try to improve this image of a barn owl.

Although I'm reasonably happy with my Canon 70-300mm IS lens I feel it's let down by its fairly naff bokeh. This shot was taken at 300mm and wide open (f/5.6) but I found the background distracting.




I decided to crop the image further (the image above was already a crop of the original) and then selectively blur the background using a number of layers and selections to avoid the bird's colour "bleeding" into the green background. Questions is; did I get away with it? Would you have known if I hadn't told you?



Now, if I'd bought that 100-400mm Canon when I was going to I wouldn't have had to crop the image so much and the bokeh would have been sublime.....

[Ian]

Re: Would you have known if I hadn't told you?

I was sorting through some "almost" shots from my recent visit to Hedingham Castle when I thought I'd try to improve this image of a barn owl.

Although I'm reasonably happy with my Canon 70-300mm IS lens I feel it's let down by its fairly naff bokeh. This shot was taken at 300mm and wide open (f/5.6) but I found the background distracting.




I decided to crop the image further (the image above was already a crop of the original) and then selectively blur the background using a number of layers and selections to avoid the bird's colour "bleeding" into the green background. Questions is; did I get away with it? Would you have known if I hadn't told you?



Now, if I'd bought that 100-400mm Canon when I was going to I wouldn't have had to crop the image so much and the bokeh would have been sublime.....

I think you did get away with it

Yes that 'bokeh' was rather busy! The problem is that the lens only has six iris leaves. A more up market lens would probably have at least 8 and possibly 9, for more circular defocussed specular highlights. It's a shame the polygonal shapes show at all with full aperture as you'd hope at least that full aperture would have round speckles!

Then again, even with perfectly round speckles - it would still be quite distracting. Could you have got closer to the owl?

Has to be said - this is the critique board - but is the owl's face a bit burned out in terms of highlights?

Otherwise - a rather nice study of this bird of prey.

Ian

[Pol]

Re: Would you have known if I hadn't told you?

I'd never have guessed. I also reckon you did a very good job, having seen the original. Well worth the effort imho.

I'd have to agree there's some burn-out on some parts of the bird's face but, hey, you can't always have everything, eh.

Pol

[Stephen]

Re: Would you have known if I hadn't told you?

I think you are beginning to realise the value of a more expensive lens, in photographic terms that is the second version is much better IMO and I think you have done a pretty good job using your layers method. That 100-400 really does produce great bokeh, you only have to look at some of Pops bird shots to see it

[StuartR]

Re: Would you have known if I hadn't told you?

You're right about the blown highlights on the face, even with a full 2 stop exposure adjustment on the original RAW it's still there, although to a lesser degree.

[Stephen]

Re: Would you have known if I hadn't told you?

If I'm honest Stuart, it really doesn't bother me that much. The alternative would no doubt be not to take it in sunny conditions, which of course is a nonsense

[StuartR]

Re: Would you have known if I hadn't told you?

I think you are beginning to realise the value of a more expensive lens, in photographic terms that is the second version is much better IMO and I think you have done a pretty good job using your layers method. That 100-400 really does produce great bokeh, you only have to look at some of Pops bird shots to see it

I always look at Pops shots when they come up and, as you say, the lens serves him well and provides excellent bokeh.

I think I'd get a fair bit of use out of the 100-400mm but I'm also considering the 70-200mm f/2.8 IS + the 1.4 extender which would probably give me a more useful range and that f/2.8 maximum aperture would also be useful.

Big decision for me because I have the opportunity to spend some money on some L glass thanks to a legacy but this will be a one-off (no more aged relatives left!). Not sure what lens to go for at the short end yet although ideally I'd like something with IS, which limits the options.

I've committed to APS-C for the moment (40D on order) but as I'll no doubt go full-frame one day, I don't intend to buy any more EF-S lenses.

[Stephen]

Re: Would you have known if I hadn't told you?

I always look at Pops shots when they come up and, as you say, the lens serves him well and provides excellent bokeh.

I think I'd get a fair bit of use out of the 100-400mm but I'm also considering the 70-200mm f/2.8 IS + the 1.4 extender which would probably give me a more useful range and that f/2.8 maximum aperture would also be useful.

Big decision for me because I have the opportunity to spend some money on some L glass thanks to a legacy but this will be a one-off (no more aged relatives left!). Not sure what lens to go for at the short end yet although ideally I'd like something with IS, which limits the options.

I've committed to APS-C for the moment (40D on order) but as I'll no doubt go full-frame one day, I don't intend to buy any more EF-S lenses.

I believe your reasoning is sound Stuart. I have the non IS version of the 70-200 f2.8L plus a 1.4x extender. Its a great combination but the lens at 2.8 is still brilliant. Also the lens is a lot lighter than the 100-400

[Jocelyn Walker]

Re: Would you have known if I hadn't told you?

Now that you have cropped again & blurred, its a belter IMHO! Pity the owl has leather straps or thongs on its legs tho'!

[Pol]

Re: Would you have known if I hadn't told you?

Pity the owl has leather straps or thongs on its legs tho'!

Interesting you should mention those straps.

I've always felt the same way and got into a brief discussion with bigbob about it a few days ago. He said that leaving the strap(s) showing was at least honest - rather than cloning them out and trying to make out it was a wildlife picture of a bird in the wild. I thought that was a good and valid point there.

I must admit I dislike seeing birds tethered - but we sometimes need it for conservation purposes. The birds on such programmes are well cared for so I suppose I can live with it.

Pol

[StuartR]

Re: Would you have known if I hadn't told you?

Interesting you should mention those straps.

I've always felt the same way and got into a brief discussion with bigbob about it a few days ago. He said that leaving the strap(s) showing was at least honest - rather than cloning them out and trying to make out it was a wildlife picture of a bird in the wild. I thought that was a good and valid point there.

I must admit I dislike seeing birds tethered - but we sometimes need it for conservation purposes. The birds on such programmes are well cared for so I suppose I can live with it.

Pol

I'd agree Pol, I'm not a lover of tethered birds or birds in cages or zoos but I tip my hat to the conservation angle. The guy flying these was so obviously on their side - I think this photo shows his admiration for his charges (shame the bird was looking the other way!).

[coupekid]

Re: Would you have known if I hadn't told you?

Interesting you should mention those straps.

I've always felt the same way and got into a brief discussion with bigbob about it a few days ago. He said that leaving the strap(s) showing was at least honest - rather than cloning them out and trying to make out it was a wildlife picture of a bird in the wild. I thought that was a good and valid point there.

I must admit I dislike seeing birds tethered - but we sometimes need it for conservation purposes. The birds on such programmes are well cared for so I suppose I can live with it.

Pol

I dont like seeing the straps, and usually clone them out myself.

As for 'being honest' I dont really agree with that, I spend a lot of time with my pictures of captive animals ensuring they look as natural as possible, and this includes eliminating any wire fences etc......in my opinion, this is the correct thing to do, so as your not distracted by them.

Of course, being honest about where they are taken is always a good thing in the description, and being careful not to mislead people.

[coupekid]

Re: Would you have known if I hadn't told you?

Nice bit of work there Stuart.

I see what people mean about the blown face, and i think the 'tweaked' version is a little better, but to be honest, looking at the last photo of the chap, the light conditions look a nightmare! getting a white owl correctly exposed is nigh on impossible in those conditions, the only thing you maybe could have done is meter for the side facing the sun, and then bought up the brightness on the rest of the picture selectively.

Personally though, I think the cropped, and tweaked version is super the way it is.