Soaring

[Adhika Lie]

This is nothing like Bill Dickson's or Tim Foltz's tern pictures, but I thought I will give it a try here to get some feedback on shooting terns... I guess there is some shadows on the belly that could probably be a problem; I am not sure how it worked out on this one. I understand how harsh shadows (with lines separating light and dark) is a problem but softer ones with gradation is one that I still need to develop my eyes on.

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D750 + Tamron 150-600 @360mm
f/8.0, 1/3200, ISO 500

[arash_hazeghi]

Hi Adhika,

This is a handsome Elegant Tern you captured. I like the diagonal wing positions, looks sharp. the main issue here is the harsh shadows, The harsh shadows are a result of the steep shooting angle and the sun that wasn't low enough yet. Try to shoot later in the evening when the sun is lower in the sky.

The shooting angle is a bit steep too and not ideal. In general the overhead shots aren't as attractive as the ones with the tern at eye level, diving, shaking or flying with a fish or doing something interesting rather than just hovering overhead. I would desaturate the electric blue sky as it competes with the subject

TFS

[Glennie Passier]

I admire your attempts at these terns, and I know you are going to nail them soon.

The bird is sharp and I like the composition. The pose is different...and I see nothing bad about different. I understand Arash's comment about the shadows, but they don't bother me. In fact, here, I think they add to frame. I like the play of light and shade and how well they are placed together. The lighter head and shoulders are well defined against shadows.

[Adhika Lie]

Arash & Glennie, thanks for the inputs. I definitely need to work the light on this white bird.

For this image, I need to work on those blue. It's definitely too saturated in this case.

[arash_hazeghi]

Arash & Glennie, thanks for the inputs. I definitely need to work the light on this white bird.

For this image, I need to work on those blue. It's definitely too saturated in this case.

If you are going to Bolsa for terns, don't waste your time at the bridge shooting hovering shots. Walk all the way to the gate where they dive (trailhead is by the entrance to the lot) , around 6PM is the best time

here are a few examples from that location

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[Daniel Cadieux]

I actually do not mind the shadows because the highlights are in the right spots to make the tern interesting, and I love the streaking wing feathers due to the backlighting. Would it be better without shadows? Without a doubt. But I can live with what you have here. The electric blue sky is the main issue IMO and should definitely be tamed, and perhaps the hue tweaked too.

[Adhika Lie]

If you are going to Bolsa for terns, don't waste your time at the bridge shooting hovering shots. Walk all the way to the gate where they dive (trailhead is by the entrance to the lot) , around 6PM is the best time


Arash, thanks for the great tip. I am still sorting through the photos but I think I got one of the barrel roll from the bridge yesterday. Hopefully it's decent enough to share here.

Dan, thanks for the feedback. I lift up the curve for the image trying to tame some of the shadows and added back some contrast using clarity slider on LR.

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[Daniel Cadieux]

Much, much better!

[arash_hazeghi]

Hu Adhika IMO your repost is overdone. It doesn't look like an elegant tern anymore as the whites look greyish. As I and others have said many times there is no way you can reduce the harshness of shadows in post processing without making the bird look unnatural or a bit awkward. If you want to keep this file I wouldn't touch the shadows just desaturated the sky as Daniel mentioned too. I hope this helps

[Adhika Lie]

Arash, got it.

Hopefully you guys won't be bored by my constant going back and forth. Here is a repost with just the blue HSL channel adjusted in LR: Sat -46, Lum +41.

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[arash_hazeghi]

the last one is the best you can do given the original capture

keep trying you will get there!

[John Hackney]

Lovely capture, the RP is best.

[arash_hazeghi]

Lovely capture, the RP is best.

Hi John,

Please take some time to elaborate why you think this is a lovely capture. We work hard to provide constructive and helpful critique on this site and it helps a lot when folks elaborate the positives and the negatives on an image

best

[Arthur Morris]

While everything that Arash said in Pane #2 is accurate I do think that the original image and the last repost are pretty darned good. Sharp, with a nice diagonal and light on the face... Yeah, it never hurts to aim higher but this image is better than many.

a