White tailed Hawk - PP with NIK Extraction

I have posted a version of this image here

http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...ead.php/109477


but was unhappy with the details on the white feathers, so decided to get my hand on a copy of NIK Extraction software and give it a try. Appreciate your comemnts and feedback.

1DX
500f4 II + 2X III
1/2000
F8
ISO-800
Handheld

I wish I had used an F10 or so to improve the sharpness. Handholding a 1000-mm on a static subject up high was tough and I had to kneel to keep the lens stable, thus a relatively steep shooting angle.
Image almost full frmae, cropped for compostion and rotation.
Cloned out some distracting branches

Thank you

Loi

Looks good Loi, the detail in the whites is very good.

Loi:

The whites on the original were ok on my best monitor, but just a little too bright on the laptop. This post shows a bit more detail at the risk of a little tan creeping in. I would probably shoot for something in between.

For most mere mortals like me, shooting at 1000mm can be a challenge. A tripod can be your friend in these situations.

Cheers

Randy

Nice Pose Loi! At 1000mm handheld this is good stuff!

You did well handholding at 1000mm. When shooting with a 2x TC, you want to try at one stop less than wide open. So with a 2x you are at F8, and I would try to shoot at F10 or F11 depending on how far I am from my subject. This lens works very nicely with a 2x and I use one quite often. Whites look good. I am wishing for a little more space, esp on top, to make this raptor look a little lower in the frame. Too bad you had to kneel to photograph it b/c that's what would have made the difference in a better angle.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Marina Scarr

You did well handholding at 1000mm. When shooting with a 2x TC, you want to try at one stop less than wide open. So with a 2x you are at F8, and I would try to shoot at F10 or F11 depending on how far I am from my subject. This lens works very nicely with a 2x and I use one quite often. Whites look good. I am wishing for a little more space, esp on top, to make this raptor look a little lower in the frame. Too bad you had to kneel to photograph it b/c that's what would have made the difference in a better angle.

---

Thank you Marina. I wish I had remembered to stop down with the 2X. I normally shoot with a tripod when I use a 2X, but I didn't carry a tripod on this trip, fully expecting that I would be shooting from a boat, but that plan got foiled by the weather :(.

Loi