Turkey Vulture and crop choice (again)?

Sorry for not being as involved; had some issues to deal with at work and home; just now getting back to posting ....

For your C&C, I have a Turkey Vulture that I caught a few weeks ago. The head pose is less than ideal, but I did like the puff-up feathers, and for me I think I finally captured a pleasing OOF background. I took a few different photos, and selected this one to post. But I was torn between what I caught as a full pose, and doing just a chest/head pose. I ended up choosing the chest pose, but will include the full pic for comparison purposes.

Chest pose:

Attachment 162789


The full pose:

Attachment 162790

Details: Sony a77, Tamron 150-600, 600mm a f6.3, 1/1600, ISO 640

In LR CC: Increased Exposure +.83, Contrast +12, Shadows +12, Blacks +33, and Clarity +21

Ran through Nik DFine to reduce noise (took default setting)


I know head angle is less than ideal, but would appreicate any other C&C, and whether or not you would have gone with the full pic as opposed to the chest-pic.


AP

My pick would be the full pose, simply cause the chest pose isn't sharp.

I actually like the background of the full pose also because of mix of
blues and greens.

If I had to keep the full pose, I'd crop some off the right and add to
the left due to him looking toward the left.

Doug

Hi Doug, thanks for your thoughts. I'm having some sharpness issues with some of my latest pics -- pretty sure they are my issues not the camera/lens. With the full pose, does the missing tail feathers detract from the pic?

Hi AP, I hope things are getting better at home & work so you can get back to doing what you love. Like Doug, I am also loving the background. It fits in very nicely with the bird's feather actually: Sort of a juxtaposition between the palm branches and the ruffled feather on the wing. It also goes very nicely with how the head was turned if you know what I mean. I saw that you are aware of the technicalities of the picture but I just want to remind you to give yourself a pat on the back for raising up the ISO. I remember last time you were at ISO200 or something, so seeing this pic at ISO640 to achieve faster shutter speed is a step up on your game. :) Next time, try not to increase exposure on LR, probably go with slower shutter speed, say 1/1000 or 1/1250, or raise it to ISO800 or ISO1000. You will get even less noise as it is more optimal that way. The highlight slider could be used more aggressively here especially with the bright feet and perch.

Now for the composition, I actually like this vertical better and that's also probably why you went with the vertical framing in the field to begin with. Clipping the tail is a pity, but I will still crop this vertically probably up to its lower chest or what not.

Late here -- good advice above. Neither looks sharp -- something to work on asap. The first one, the horizontal frame doesn't fit well with the subject. At least remove some from the right, as Doug said.

Contrast is a little high in both -- work on processing to get detail in lights and darks, which will lower contrast. With the vertical, you could have lowered the camera to have less above the head and included room for the virtual tail, even if it had been hidden behind the stump. You'd want to tone down highlights (contrast) on the stump, too.

I find the BG in both a little too strong, competing with the subject. Less saturation (which goes with contrast) and more OOF would be preferable.

Better to expose a little more in camera and not have to bring it up in post. That shows noise. Bringing it down gives much less noise.

Adhika: I'm a bit of a slow-learner; takes several iterations of someone beating me over the head for things to sink in ..... :Whoa!:

But yeah, I was working on both raising ISO and shutter speed to see if I could get some sharpness back into my photos. I really had high hopes for this one as the bird was sitting fairly still on the perch. I got the chance to take several shots, and while I got the technicals where I wanted them (ISO, SS) I still missed on the sharp focus I think. In this case, I can't really decide where the lens is primarily focused. I'm also finding out that my eyes and maybe my PC monitor aren't as good as I thought, and things that look good enough to post just aren't that razor-sharp.

But this was one of my best OOF backgrounds, so I had to post it. :w3

I just purchased a newer (used) Sony camera; an A77 ii. Camera improvements are supposed to be better AF and better high ISO IQ. Hope to get to use the new-to-me camera this coming weekend ..... and see if things get a little better. Not that better equipment will solve all my woes, but it can't hurt ...
:bg3:


AP

Equipment is very important with this kind of work, as is using it to the fullest extent.

I don't know your cameras but are you using AF to it best? (One point right on the eyes for a still subject.) Tripod or hand-holding? (No time to read back to see how you've answered those points before.)

It doesnt look like motion blur to me, Diane. I think AF is a big issue here. You might be front or back focusing a little bit.

I agree, doesn't have the motion blur look, although if hand held and unsteady relative to the SS, you can get a sort of nondescript blur.

I see now, looking back, you are using LR. I'd go back and not increase contrast, and maybe not so much Clarity, then see what you can do with the shadows and highlights. Maybe pull blacks left if needed.

Balancing the sliders is easy with a little practice. That won't help with sharpness but is good practice here.