NikonGear'23

Images => Nature, Flora, Fauna & Landscapes => Topic started by: jgould2 on March 23, 2018, 20:32:32

Title: more venice rookery
Post by: jgould2 on March 23, 2018, 20:32:32

Hi all.

Here is another shot from my recent trip to the Venice Rookery in Venice, FL.

Looks to me like he is going to crash!

Shot with my D500 and 400 f/2.8

ISO 100 f/2.8 1/1600 sec early in the morning.

Any comments,advice or criticism very welcome.

JIM

Title: Re: more venice rookery
Post by: Randy Stout on March 24, 2018, 11:37:33

Jim:

Dynamic pose, spread wings, open bill, like the angle of the bird in the frame.

The whites of the bird are sig. underexposed. Always a challenge to meter against a backlit image like this.   Because there is so much action usually at the rookery, try and do a few test shots as you go along to be sure the subject is going to be as well exposed as possible. Shooting in manual exposure mode can work well there. I know, things change fast, so that strategy doesn't always work,  but it can be very helpful.

The bulk of the birds body seems a bit too centered in the frame, although the head is on the right rule of thirds line.  I might try some different crops, starting with a bit off the left.

Cheers

Randy

Title: Re: more venice rookery
Post by: jgould2 on April 08, 2018, 18:48:30

Hi Randy.

Thanks for your comments and the advice. Much appreciated. I reworked the photo until any more increase in exposure or whites would yield a blown out condition. This was shot very early in the morning with only the bird's head and part of it's neck receiving the pink light.

Please let me know if this is an improvement.

JIM

Title: Re: more venice rookery
Post by: Airy on April 08, 2018, 20:20:14

great rework. Congrats to both :)

Title: Re: more venice rookery
Post by: Frank Fremerey on April 08, 2018, 21:40:44

exceptional moment, well taken in great light. What is the exact species?

Title: Re: more venice rookery
Post by: Randy Stout on April 08, 2018, 22:38:58

Jim:

I think the repost is certainly an improvement, but if desired, there is a lot of room to bring up the whites without blowing them.

This was a quick pass with a screen blend mode.  I intentionally overdid it a bit, but the whites are still OK.  With your original file, you will have more flexibility to tweak it if you desire.

It all depends on the mood you are after. 

Cheers

Randy

Title: Re: more venice rookery
Post by: jgould2 on April 09, 2018, 01:08:52

Hi Airy and Frank.

Thanks. I think this is a run of the mill egret (a type of heron). It is not a Snowy Egret since they have black bills.

JIM

Title: Re: more venice rookery
Post by: jgould2 on April 09, 2018, 01:10:49

Thanks Randy.

By increasing the exposure instead of increasing the whites I was able to get much closer to your example.  I appreciate all your help.

JIM