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| Group |
Round |
C/R |
Comment |
Date |
Image |
| 67 |
Mar 23 |
Reply |
PS Yes, I noticed the lower bill was too glary (overexposed?), will consider that today's PS lesson. |
Mar 13th |
| 67 |
Mar 23 |
Reply |
Thank you! Really, thank you very much to everyone! I needed that push to enter "the dark side" (Photoshop), and now I see that I am in control of the program, and the program isn't in control of me. I did much the same as I would in Camera Raw, except it was easier :-)
I still haven't figured out how to change the white balance (although I can do that in CR) nor have I learned how to control glare in either program. But I will continue working on it.
Thanks again, to everyone whose kind comments have steered me in the right direction, and thanks to Cindy for showing me how it was possible to save this image (I really like it). |
Mar 13th |
| 67 |
Mar 23 |
Reply |
That's beautiful! (are you sure it's my shot??) Thank you so much!
I spent the last two days studying Photoshop through YouTube videos. I re-tweaked the photo, too. I did the levels and also brightened the background a bit with Autocontrast. Mine came out a bit darker than yours, probably because I left the white balance alone (or maybe I darkened it when I drew in the white slider a bit too much). I don't have Topaz DeNoise yet (learning PS is still ongoing), but I did de-noise it a bit in ACR. Not too much, though, because I could see increased blur as I decreased the grain. So, it's still grainy. :-( But Better? I hope so!
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Mar 12th |
 |
| 67 |
Mar 23 |
Reply |
I agree, the 300 f4 PF is SHARP, even in my hands :-) I do have the 1.4x, but I was reluctant to use it since I was sure to lose 1 stop of light -- and light was at a premium that day.
I am going to Florida at the end of the month and hoping for nice warm SUNNY weather. And lots of wildlife who will stay still long enough for me to get my settings right. :-)
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Mar 10th |
| 67 |
Mar 23 |
Reply |
Ha ha, Michael, I can do rank amateur all by myself! Thank you for the suggestions -- I just might overcome my FOPS (fear of photoshop) and try some of what you suggest on the original raw file.
I do want to improve this image, it's a fun shot, and it's unlikely I can get back to Costa Rica in the foreseeable future. |
Mar 10th |
| 67 |
Mar 23 |
Reply |
Thank you for all the suggestions! Unfortunately, I am a rank amateur and have not yet mastered my camera, much less postprocessing software. I am going to have to go one step at a time here.
Right now I am using Adobe Camera Raw. I can dp the basics -- lighten, darken, tweak colors -- stuff like that. I do have the Photoshop program but know absolutely nothing about using it. I will have to find an online "PS for Dummies" or some such to get to know it (before I mess up another photo!).
It was absolutely pouring. I do have a flash and a Better Beamer kit, but again, it's way down on my to-do list. I just HAVE to get comfortable withe gear and settings.
As for settings, I included them in my blurb about this photo. Given the abyssmal light, I thought I should shoot wide open, hence the f/4 prime. I set my shutter speed well over 1000 but not too well over (it was dark). That's why I bumped up the ISO. I would have preferred a much lower ISO, but at f/4 and little light, I would have had to use a slow shutter, maybe too slow for me to get a crisp shot.
How could I have improved this shot in-camera?
Thanks again for the comments, they really help!
|
Mar 10th |
| 67 |
Mar 23 |
Reply |
I was thinking of trying Topaz DeNoise, so yuor suggestion might just convince me to download it. Getting close to the birds is difficult, and all I had was the 300 PF -- my long lens (200-500 f5/6) was at the Nikon shop recovering from a sand grain that became lodged inside. Still, the 300 did very well, considering all the challenges. Thanks again for your suggestions. |
Mar 9th |
| 67 |
Mar 23 |
Reply |
You brought out what was there beautifully.
|
Mar 6th |
| 67 |
Mar 23 |
Comment |
I think the heron on the right is checking to see if his shoes are tied while big brother (or sister) watches out for danger :-) It's a lovely setting with the green background nicely OOF and providing great contrast for these white birds. The crop is perfect -- it removes the distraction and balances the subject. I like it! |
Mar 6th |
| 67 |
Mar 23 |
Comment |
Well, thank goodness I'm a newbie because I can't possibly choose between these two powerful images! They both capture the intensity of the catch and the colors of the heron. That the "invisible" prey would lower the score of either photo is disappointing since, as you say, it's the unique strategy these birds apply to the hunt that is the story you tell -- and it comes across perfectly. |
Mar 6th |
| 67 |
Mar 23 |
Comment |
I don't see the original image, so I can't compare the two, but this final product is really nice. I can understand how necessary it was, though to postprocess carefully given the low contrast (pretty much heavily mid-toned). Looks like an intense conversation is going on in addition to nibbling on seeds :-) The sparkly raindrops is a really nice touch. |
Mar 6th |
| 67 |
Mar 23 |
Comment |
I think it works nicely, David. Getting that glare-y look off the rocks was a perfect touch to an already great photo.
Your photo reminds me to go tripod-shopping. When I shot with Olympus I could hand-hold many of my "silky water" shots, but not so with Nikon DSLRs.
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Mar 1st |
| 67 |
Mar 23 |
Comment |
Cindy, that's beautiful. Considering the number of wing beats per second, the motion blur helps us appreciate that.
Costa Rica has got to be my favorite place, despite all the rain. Hope you had some sunny times as well.
PS I'm sorry I missed the deadline for the February comments (newbie here, still learning!), but I did want to say that, like the other, smaller ducks in the photo, I was looking at the duck consuming the fish with amazement! No matter how the photo was cropped, it was a stunning image, black line nothwithstanding.
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Mar 1st |
5 comments - 8 replies for Group 67
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5 comments - 8 replies Total
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