Eastern Meadowlark

[Steven Kersting]

Took this earlier this year. Not sure how I feel about it. I think it might benefit from less space overall, or maybe landscape layout.
I'm also not sure about the setting. It's a mowed field. I'm not sure if it's "natural" enough, but it is where they were nesting....I'm kind of weird about that as I tend to refuse to take pics of birds that aren't "wild" and in their natural settings..I need to get over that as I've passed up some nice opportunities.

I've done very little post, could probably stand some sharpening and noise reduction...I'm still not sure it's a "keeper".

So, what would you do with it?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3032/5787711812_892de5eab1_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/skersting/5787711812/)


D3/Sigma 300-800 @ 800mm, f/5.6, ISO 800, 1/1000, P(?!), Spot, Dynamic 51pt, +0, No flash, Handheld, Distance about 100ft

[Roman Kurywczak]

Hey Steven,
I like the pose and the environs....but yep....a bit of NR on the BG will help. I would also tweak the brighness down a few points....to get the grass/straw a little less bright. I don't know if you are Ok with such things....but the blades of grass sticking up...aminly the one coming out the back and in front of the bird.....would get evicted. I would then finesse some of the other blades and the whish orbs in the 9 o'clock area. If not ok with such things.....then just toning down the brightness and running some more NR on the BG would still make this a keeper in my book!

[Grace Scalzo]

Steve, I'm confused. If a mowed field is where they nest, why is that not natural enough for you? I think it's really a lovely image of this beautiful bird and with the tweaks suggested by Roman, plus maybe a re-visit of the crop, it would absolutely be a keeper in my book.

[jack williamson]

Steven I would keep it. The bird will probably look excellent with some sharpening (it looks good now)

I think a different crop would work, some off the bottom for sure. That looks to be an unusual amount

of noise for a D3 at iso 800.

[Steven Kersting]

Hey Steven,
I like the pose and the environs....but yep....a bit of NR on the BG will help. I would also tweak the brighness down a few points....to get the grass/straw a little less bright. I don't know if you are Ok with such things....but the blades of grass sticking up...aminly the one coming out the back and in front of the bird.....would get evicted. I would then finesse some of the other blades and the whish orbs in the 9 o'clock area. If not ok with such things.....then just toning down the brightness and running some more NR on the BG would still make this a keeper in my book!

I have no problem with heavy editing....
I have low morals. :w3

[Steven Kersting]

Steve, I'm confused. If a mowed field is where they nest, why is that not natural enough for you? I think it's really a lovely image of this beautiful bird and with the tweaks suggested by Roman, plus maybe a re-visit of the crop, it would absolutely be a keeper in my book.

Well, it's because they also populate wild plains type areas, pastures, etc.. (but you'll never get one posing on the ground)
We have Yellow crowned Night Herons which nest in a neighborhood not too far away....seems a little too "easy", they are more used to people etc. (But I have taken their pictures.
Like I said, I need to get over that.

[Steven Kersting]

Steven I would keep it. The bird will probably look excellent with some sharpening (it looks good now)

I think a different crop would work, some off the bottom for sure. That looks to be an unusual amount

of noise for a D3 at iso 800.

Thanks, it does seem like a lot of noise. Possible the LR "export to Flickr" auto sharpening/resize caused it.

[Arthur Morris]

Heck, I have made a living looking for and photographing birds that like people; you need a check-up from the neck up :).

I like the image; Especially the bird. Lots of crops would work as would a bit of image clean-up.

The yellow looks a bit over-SAT.... And detail-less. See several threads in the ER dealing with hot bright yellows and reds, or try adding a Blue Photo Filter at about 15%.

[Steven Kersting]

Ok, here's an edit.

Crop, Cloning in BG, Light gaussian blur in BG, Cloning straws in tail, High pass sharpening, desaturated and increased luminance slightly in Yellows,Catchlight enhancement, levels set w/ white set to 243.

Issues: Not 100% fond of cloning in BG. Looks like I created a little color banding in the BG and not sure why (no resizing). Can't tell if it's sharp enough or oversharp (man my eye's are starting to be a problem).
Can be viewed larger on Flickr.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6012/5966365337_c1f6358a02_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/skersting/5966365337/)
Eastern Meadowlark (http://www.flickr.com/photos/skersting/5966365337/) by skersting66 (http://www.flickr.com/people/skersting/), on Flickr