Noise on the bird

seeking advice: hypothetical pic of dark/black bird with noise on the bird. should you reduce noise on the bird realizing might lose some detail. What is the best way to do that? Also open to suggestions to avoid the problem particularly involving birds that are both dark and white.

Thanks for your help/ advice.
Ray

Ray,
Noise and noise reduction is a personal thing. I can say what I do, but it may not be the same as another and each may be valid to different viewers.

I will reduce noise, but I select regions that have little detail then reduce noise on those regions only. Or I'll use the blur tool with an appropriate sized brush to smooth out some noise in between perceived detail. On a bird (or other main subject), I'll do little noise reduction.

To minimize the effects of noise, I'll try and use a low ISO (but not compromise shutter speed to freeze action), and I'll try and expose to the right to maximize signal (and get the best signal-to-noise ratio),
but again not be obsessive about it.

Finally, if you have a choice of camera, cameras with larger pixels and larger sensor generally have higher signals and higher signal-to-noise ratios.

Roger

Underexposing dark subjects is a sure recipe for noise. Expose to the right. In the case of a black and white bird, look for early or late light, and push your whites to the limits, so you can use the recovery slider and the less noise possible in you blacks. That is called sacrificing the whites.

Thanks very much for the advice /suggestions. Learning never ends.

Ray

Roger what program do you use or recommend for noise reduction?

Eric Virkler
Faces of Nature Photography
www.ericjvirkler.com

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ray Rozema

seeking advice: hypothetical pic of dark/black bird with noise on the bird. should you reduce noise on the bird realizing might lose some detail. What is the best way to do that?

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It depends on the image. In some cases, there are sneaky ways to remove noise without using NR filters and without losing detail. But, again, it always depends on the image.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by David Thomasson

It depends on the image. In some cases, there are sneaky ways to remove noise without using NR filters and without losing detail. But, again, it always depends on the image.

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Hi David

If you don't mind the next time this comes up I will send you an image to see what you suggest

Thanks Ray

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ray Rozema

Hi David

If you don't mind the next time this comes up I will send you an image to see what you suggest

Thanks Ray

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Sure, that's fine. Or you could post it so everyone can take a crack at it.

I'd be interested in seeing the image, if you don't mind posting it.

Ray,

As Fab's mentioned proper exposure is key. Thereafter, use an edge mask for sharpening and a surface mask (inverse of edge mask) for noise reduction and you will not sacrifce the detail.

Chas