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7D with 100-400IS
1/500 @ 6.3, ISO640
Haven't been here for a few months, been mostly doing underwater photography lately.
Personally I'm really happy with this shot but would like some harsh critique or suggestions on how to better it.
Thanks in advance and cheers.
Great calling pose, Martin. The tui looks nice and sharp and your've caught the iridescence of the plumage. The bird looks a bit underexposed - I think with the bright BG a bit of +EC may have been needed depending on your metering/exposure mode. A bit of fill flash is also an option to throw a bit more light into that dark plumage. The surrounds are a bit busy and a crop can help reduce that aspect - a bit of patching and cloning would also be an option if so inclined. I have tried a cropped version with an aggressive shadow/highlight adjustment to try and illustrate how it would look with more detail in the darks. I'm looking forward to the Tuis firing up in my Kowhai shortly - hope the weather co-operates:)
Great colors and I like the reepost -- my major concern is there is a lot going in the background around the head -- might try to desat yellows to take some color out of the leaves and take some attention away from the busy background -- I do like the vertical crop
Thanks Tony. Looking at it now, I agree. Fill flash would have been very helpful. I was using manual exposure and trying to keep the ISO as low as possible with a minimum SS of 1/500. After a bit of experimentation on the weekend, I'd now be quite comfortable boosting the ISO to 800 on the 7D. I definately need to do something about the busy BG as you and Scott both mentioned. Good luck with the Tuis this coming season.
Hi Martin
Tuis are tricky with their dark colours and iridescence.
I have also found it desirable to crop out details behind them to clear up the BG but the main thing is to get the image in the first place.
Nice pose.
I like Tony's repost but could possibly darken highlights a smidgin.
Have found fill flash rather difficult so might be an idea to get both even using up to 1600 ISO for non flash with extra ev like plus one.
Cheers: Ian Mc
Thanks Ian, I would be worried about noise going to ISO 1600. It might be alright with the 1D mkIV but I'm not confident that the 7D would handle it. Funny thing is I had my flash with me on the weekend but didn't take it out with me when shooting.:confused:
BTW condolences about the big earthquake down there.
Thanks Martin
Fortunately we are all well but a 5.1 aftershock @ 7.52 am this morning indicated still a bit of action underground.
Anything over 4 ( 6 so far this morning) is quite noticeable but nothing like the big 7.1 on Saturday morning !!!
Still to get out and get a few pix of the sludge volcanoes in the park LOL.
Cheers: Ian Mc
