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Thread: First posting - Sanderling

  1. #1
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    Default First posting - Sanderling

    Hi all,
    I recently joined BPN - starting to get serious about my photography. Here's one of a Sanderling taken today in Norfolk, UK. It was a good, sandy, belly-flopping session. Nonetheless it was mostly a failure as I went specifically to target waders apart from Sanderling, and could not get close to any of them despite an incoming tide. They all disappeared onto the coastal lagoons way too early, only the Sanderling stuck around. I took 1500 today, of which my first edit kept 220. This is one of my faves. I've clone-stamped a few shoreline blobs out just so you know. C&C welcomed (it's why I joined after all, to learn from people who are properly good). Also, is there a flight forum? It's a real weakness, I just can't do it full stop.
    Details for below are 1/2000 at f7.1, EV+1/3 - equipment 1d4, 800mm, 3530 with ballhead and sidekick. Second outing for the 800, a very recent rash moment. I like it a lot. Really I need to sell my 500 in order to remain married, but it was my first proper bird lens and I have a sentimental attachement. Anyone move to an 800 and keep their 500 AND their wife?
    Best wishes
    Jonathan




  2. #2
    Super Moderator Daniel Cadieux's Avatar
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    Hey there Jonathan, welcome to BPN!!

    Nice first post, I love shorebirds so you start on the right foot IMO! I like the pose you got here, and check out the perfect head angle subtly angled towards us. Techs look good, as do the details. I would have prefered more room below and less above, but from the looks of it you probably had lots of crud down there and wanted to avoid including it in the image. I would try to clean up that dirty bottom edge, it would make for a stronger finish to the photo.

    P.S. We do not have a forum dedictaed to flight photography, but you will see plenty of amazing images like that here in Avian. Check them out, and ask questions...you may also find some good info in the "Educational Resources" section.

  3. #3
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    Welcome to BPN!

    Another big fan of shorebirds here!
    Lots of good comments and advice from Dan but I will especially reiterate that you did a great job of catching a perfect pose which can be quite a challenge with these guys!
    To my eyes, bird could a bit sharper ... more USM may help.

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Hi Jonathan, a big welcome to BPN, and looking forward to your participation. Good low angle here, and you certainly did capture a lovely pose and HA. I like the softer colours, and agree, another round of sharpening on the Sanderling wont harm the image. With regards to the comp, adding more space below will work, but if the beach down there is a bit messy, taking off the top will give you a good pano crop too.

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    thanks for your comments, I have cleaned some addition blobs out of the foreground and lost some canvas from the top. There is unfortunately no more available below (unless I add it), that's how the RAW came out. I am interested in the sharpness comments as I thought it was pin sharp - I guess it's all relative, certainly this would be one of my sharper shots as I see it. I already did 3 rounds of USM (100, 0.4, 2 then 125, 0.2, 0, and then 125, 0.2, 2 again). I'm aware you can oversharpen images and ruin then. What would be peoples' suggestions for one more round of USM?
    This is exactly the kind of stuff I was hoping for from BPN - critique and advice that will make me look at things in a different way, reevaluate my images. If it is OK with people, I will post another image in this thread. The same equipment was used, the settings were 1/2500s at f5.6, EV +1/3rd. I had to straighten the horizon a tad, not sure I have it dead on still. I cropped some off the right to lose a huge froth bubble, and also took canvas away from the bottom and top.




    Thanks
    Jonathan

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    Hello there and welcome to BPN. This isva wonderful forum and I have learned a lot from the people here.Love the low the low angle, excellent pose and head turn, exposed very well, and I really like the drip on its bill.Well done.

  7. #7
    Randy Rimland
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    #1 looks fine (and plenty sharp) to me on my 2550x1440 27" lcd

    the angle in #2 is superb, it's like you dug a whole and climbed in

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    Like the low angles. Re sharpness, what I do is usually 3-5 rounds of 100%, 0.2, 0, and this works pretty well

    Oscar

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