Belted Kingfisher

[Raymond Barlow]

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y281/rammy111111/DSC_3950.jpg

Grimsby, Ontario, Canada

Tripod, hide, natural light, 80% of full frame

Nikon D300 (http://www.pbase.com/cameras/nikon/d300) ,Nikkor 200-400mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S VR (http://www.pbase.com/cameras/nikon/200-400_4g_afs_vr) ,1.4 TC
1/50s f/5.6 at 550.0mm iso250

A local family of Kingfishers has been very entertaining, and also quite frustrating as a good capture is hard to come by!

thanks for looking., have a good weekend.

[carole wiley]

I think he didn't do too badly by you here. I like the head turn and he is beautifully exposed. I just find the background a bit busy. I like the crop, feels a bit stout, just like the bird.

[Arthur Morris]

This one is pretty good--nice look-back head angle. I like the way you minimized the big log with either the crop or the framing. The one bright yellowish spot in the BKGR is a bit distracting but could be worked on...

[Doug Brown]

Looks like you did very well with this one! Nice low angle and good sharpness. I'd work on the right side of the BG and tone it down.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the perch and details in this one. I might blur the BG a bit more.

[Grady Weed]

Good head turn, I'll say! As for 80% of frame...........baby..........sweet!

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Hello Raymond, I did some work on your picture on PS. I wonder if it looks too fake?
I hope you don´t mind. Please let me know your thoughts.

[Raymond Barlow]

Hello Raymond, I did some work on your picture on PS. I wonder if it looks too fake?
I hope you don´t mind. Please let me know your thoughts.

Hi Juan

I sure do not mind at all., and thanks for your interest in helping me learn...

I like your blur application, it does improve the image., but me being the semi-purist, I like to leave the image as is most of the time... I tune in the contrast a bit, clone out a dust bunny, or twig maybe, and slightly sharpen when needed., I never use flash, I never change a background, never add a catchlight, and so on... if that makes me less of a photog, so be it., I will just continue to do my best.

Honestly, I think what you have done is cool, and if it works for you, have at er! I am sure not much at the photoshop, I do have a lot to learn, and its all good.

Also, I stayed at a resort near coco beach, in CR., wow, we had a great time... I like your country a lot! I will be visiting Ecuador this November while co-hosting a workshop... can't wait!

take care!

[Arthur Morris]

[quote=Raymond Barlow;116213 ...or twig maybe[/quote]

Hey Raymond, Be careful with those twigs. It's a downhill slippery slope from there... :)

[Raymond Barlow]

Hey Raymond, Be careful with those twigs. It's a downhill slippery slope from there... :)

thanks for the warning Artie., I can well imagine! Some day I hope I can eliminate cloning, and I will keep trying. I do need to upgrade my editing skills, and I soon will have an opportunity to do just that. My photography continues to open doors I never would have imagined, I am at this stuff 18 hours a day, and loving every minute., so I will hang on tight.

take care.

[Arthur Morris]

BTW, I meant to mention that the images that come out of all digital cameras are inherently unsharp, so if you think that you are being a purist by refusing to sharpen your images for final output you are not doing them justice...

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Hi Juan

I sure do not mind at all., and thanks for your interest in helping me learn...

I like your blur application, it does improve the image., but me being the semi-purist, I like to leave the image as is most of the time... I tune in the contrast a bit, clone out a dust bunny, or twig maybe, and slightly sharpen when needed., I never use flash, I never change a background, never add a catchlight, and so on... if that makes me less of a photog, so be it., I will just continue to do my best.

Honestly, I think what you have done is cool, and if it works for you, have at er! I am sure not much at the photoshop, I do have a lot to learn, and its all good.

Also, I stayed at a resort near coco beach, in CR., wow, we had a great time... I like your country a lot! I will be visiting Ecuador this November while co-hosting a workshop... can't wait!

take care!

Hey Raymond, great to hear you had a good time down here! next week I am going there with a family that hired my services!
About been purist is not a problem with me, let me explain to you what happens here.
I am also learning, and PS is a big challenge for me as photography is, but, I have discovered that working on someone else image is more challenge for me than working on my own images, may be because I know more or less how I want it to look. :D
I agree with you about leaving a picture the way it is, I red on a John Shaw´s book that you take a good picture in the field, you don´t want to work on it later on PS, but some times it is inevitable. I also like the 'natural' look that a picture can transmit, and some times very talented photographers, like many in this site, can help us with their tips and explanations. ;)

[Raymond Barlow]

BTW, I meant to mention that the images that come out of all digital cameras are inherently unsharp, so if you think that you are being a purist by refusing to sharpen your images for final output you are not doing them justice...

Thanks Artie

I am not a purist, never will be, I just have a tendency to keep my images as close to what I see through the lens as possible. I am completely committed to the artistic necessity of post digital manipulation., it is simply a necessary evil for me., since I really do not look forward to the whole process.

My D300 is set to Standard mode, with a level 3 sharpening preset., In my work flow, a touch of sharpening is the last step before adding some white and gray canvas., again, I do have a lot to learn.

My basic philosiphy regarding bird photography is "do it right out there" and minimize the efforts at the desk., my top images are ones that took 3 minutes to edit.

[Raymond Barlow]

Hey Raymond, great to hear you had a good time down here! next week I am going there with a family that hired my services!
About been purist is not a problem with me, let me explain to you what happens here.
I am also learning, and PS is a big challenge for me as photography is, but, I have discovered that working on someone else image is more challenge for me than working on my own images, may be because I know more or less how I want it to look. :D
I agree with you about leaving a picture the way it is, I red on a John Shaw´s book that you take a good picture in the field, you don´t want to work on it later on PS, but some times it is inevitable. I also like the 'natural' look that a picture can transmit, and some times very talented photographers, like many in this site, can help us with their tips and explanations. ;)

Wonderful., I hope one day we have a chance to work together., you are a gentleman, and I really appreciate you time and effort to help me. I guess it is a kind of purist attitude, and I do agree with your reference to Mr. Shaws' book., and it is the basis of everything I teach in my workshops.

It is all about what ever turns your crank... What works for me is a touch of levels, resize, a touch of sharpening, add a little canvas, signature, and save to web size., 2 minutes, and its a wrap.

Who knows, in another year I might have a whole new attitude, you never know., but for now, I am happy with this creative process.

This site is a great learning experience, fantastic talents, and creative work., and my source of inspiration.

Unfortunately, the position of my hide could not have been improved, so less dof that would create a better (softer) bg would be difficult to create., If I had a floating blind, and could maintain my height, or go higher, with the same focal length, the creamy bg would have been cool.

I will work on setting up the hide at a better location, and see how well these birds will perform for me soon!

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

I would be a pleasure to work with you!
Very good luck with your blind Raymond. I am on the process of getting one for my self.:D:)