First Post

[Sachin Saraf]

http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.flickr.com/photos/sn_saraf/5668005670/%22%20title=%22Scissor%20Tailed%20Flycatcher%20%28 Tyrannus%20forficatus%29%20by%20Sachin%20N%20Saraf ,%20on%20Flickr%22%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5143/5668005670_54bef08457.jpg%22%20width=%22500%22%20h eight=%22363%22%20alt=%22Scissor%20Tailed%20Flycat cher%20%28Tyrannus%20forficatus%29%22%3E%3C/a%3EHi All,

I am introduced to the Forum by Ann (http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/member.php/9421-annmpacheco). Thanks to her.

Sharing by far one of my best captures (I am sure it has many problems to this one).

It is pleasure to be a part of this community.

This image was taken at Cape May in Apr-2011. On a cloudy and windy morning with clouds letting few rays on ground intermittently.

Added some Vibrance and removed noise from BG (using surface Blur filter).

Critic and comments are welcome.


<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr class="lookatme"><th>Camera</th><td>Canon EOS-1D Mark III (http://www.flickr.com/cameras/canon/eos_1d_mark_iii/)</td></tr><tr class="lookatme"><th>Exposure</th><td>1/4000 sec</td></tr><tr class="lookatme"><th>Aperture</th><td>f/5.6</td></tr><tr class="lookatme"><th>Focal Length</th><td>700 mm</td></tr><tr><th>ISO Speed</th><td>1250</td></tr><tr><th>Exposure Bias</th><td>0 EV</td></tr><tr><th>Flash</th><td>No Flash</td></tr></tbody></table> Subject Distance 17.5 m

http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.flickr.com/photos/sn_saraf/5668005670/%22%20title=%22Scissor%20Tailed%20Flycatcher%20%28 Tyrannus%20forficatus%29%20by%20Sachin%20N%20Saraf ,%20on%20Flickr%22%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5143/5668005670_54bef08457.jpg%22%20width=%22500%22%20h eight=%22363%22%20alt=%22Scissor%20Tailed%20Flycat cher%20%28Tyrannus%20forficatus%29%22%3E%3C/a%3E
http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.flickr.com/photos/sn_saraf/5668005670/%22%20title=%22Scissor%20Tailed%20Flycatcher%20%28 Tyrannus%20forficatus%29%20by%20Sachin%20N%20Saraf ,%20on%20Flickr%22%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5143/5668005670_54bef08457_b.jpg%22%20width=%221024%22% 20height=%22743%22%20alt=%22Scissor%20Tailed%20Fly catcher%20%28Tyrannus%20forficatus%29%22%3E%3C/a%3E<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sn_saraf/5668005670/" title="Scissor Tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus) by Sachin N Saraf, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5143/5668005670_54bef08457_b.jpg" width="1024" height="743" alt="Scissor Tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus)"></a>
http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.flickr.com/photos/sn_saraf/5668005670/%22%20title=%22Scissor%20Tailed%20Flycatcher%20%28 Tyrannus%20forficatus%29%20by%20Sachin%20N%20Saraf ,%20on%20Flickr%22%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5143/5668005670_54bef08457.jpg%22%20width=%22500%22%20h eight=%22363%22%20alt=%22Scissor%20Tailed%20Flycat cher%20%28Tyrannus%20forficatus%29%22%3E%3C/a%3E

[arash_hazeghi]

Hi Scahin, welcome
Your image is too small for critique, we post at 1024 pixels wide on this site

looking forward to your work.

[Sachin Saraf]

Hi Scahin, welcome
Your image is too small for critique, we post at 1024 pixels wide on this site

looking forward to your work.
Thanks Asash Changed the Image to larger size. hope it works.

[Sidharth Kodikal]

Big welcome to BPN, Sachin.
Excellent first post. This is one of my favorite flycatchers, but it's almost always perched on ugly barbed wire. You got one in a very nice setting. Lovely lovely background, superb vegetation and I love how the scissor tail is all over the place indicating wind.
A little bit of fill flash to open up the shadows and to create some light in that eye and a bit more DOF since you had ample SS to burn would have been nice.
Very nice image!

[Allen Sparks]

Very nice capture...love the setting. Agree with Sidharth's suggestions for fill flash.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Sachin, welcome to BPN. You got some nice vegetation here. I absolutely love the perches...very unique. Nice shooting angle as well.

As presented, the image needs brightening and a white balance adjustment. Bird can take a round of sharpening as well. Good suggestion of fill flash.

[Sachin Saraf]

Thanks Everyone. I will try to apply suggested changes and reload the same image.

[Arthur Morris]

KD nailed the main problem, too dark (and thus muddy and dingy) overall. I lightened it by pulling up the curve and then reduced the noise. (Forgot to erase the NR on the bird; sorry, but you should get the idea :).

I do like the way that you got that tail in the frame and look forward to you joining us here on a regular basis.

[arash_hazeghi]

nice BG and perch, I like the composition too, agree original was a bit dark, after brightening the only remaining issue is noise.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Welcome to BPN Sachin!! A lovely scene you present us here, I just love the pose and perches...as well as the warm tones. Artie's repost addresses the main concerns, but I also feel that the reflection in the eye would also benefit from some enhancement to give it a bit more life.

Looking forward to more from you!!:S3:

[Randy Stout]

Sachin:

Big welcome to BPN. Nice starting image, which looks even better with the tweaks applied by Artie.

Look forward to more!

Cheers

Randy

[Sachin Saraf]

This is amazing forum....

I am overwhelmed to see some of best wildlife photographers along with Artie (who is Idol for Bird Photographers) offering guidance.

For the first time I am receiving constructive criticism to my Picture and now there is no looking back..

We are here to stay :-)

Thank you everyone!

[Stu Bowie]

Sachin, great first post, and I like the angle of the bird, together with colour of the BG. Artie's repost has covered the issues of your OP.

[Sachin Saraf]

Thanks Stuart.