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Thread: Bee Eater

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    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
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    Default Bee Eater

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    I shot this Bee Eater in South Africa.

    Contrast, levels and a bit sharpening are done. Cropped a bit, not much, just that the bird sits a bit lower in the image. Had a few Highlights at the feet of the bird on the branch. I smoothed the BG a bit more.

    Mark III
    f/8.0
    1/500
    ISO 500
    Lens 300mm f/2.8 & 2x
    Distance 11.3m

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    What a gorgeous bird and a very nice portrait you have here, Anette. Great job on exposure and sharpness. I would suggest lightening the dark areas in the background a little as they are distracting, perhaps by using the clone stamp tool at 20-30% opacity, taking from the lighter color around. and maybe try to darken the lichen(?) at the birds feet a bit.
    As for the comp I think it's fine though it is also pleasing to have the bird have more space that it's looking into than the amount of space it's not looking into, if that makes sense. I do like the leaves on that tree.
    Thanks for sharing, lovely image.

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Hi Anette, I like the way the BE is looking into space, and that the bill follows the line of the perch. The colours on the BE look spot on, and agree you could blend in the darker area in the ULC. If you have more space below, I would move the BE up in the frame a little more.

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    Super Moderator Daniel Cadieux's Avatar
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    I like the crop you've chosen too as the leaves nicely fill the right-hand part of the image. I agree the dark shadows in upper left corner are unfortunate and worth taming. I also would have preferref a better head angle as here it is turned away too much IMO. Great colours, nice perch.

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    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
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    Hi Melissa, Daniel & Stuart,

    thanks so much for your suggestions and help. I will try my best with the dark area of the BG and the lichen (?) I like the comp as well.
    Stuart, I tried to leave more room under the bird's tail, but that just didn't work for me. It looked for me than a bit lost in the frame!

    Thanks a lot

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    Don't have much to add, other than I agree with most of what has been said already.
    Beautiful bird, nice setting, light could be nicer, and to that end, some fill flash might have
    improved an already pleasing image.

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    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
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    Thanks so much Shawn, will see what I can do with your suggestion.

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    Great looking bird on a nice perch. I like the bg too. My first feeling was that the light seemed a little harsh so maybe soften up a little on the contrast? I like the comp you chose but coul also see it with just a little off the right where it is more oof and a tad off the top

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    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
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    I used Melissa's clone stamp, than used fill light on the bird. Added soft light with about 25% Opacity. If I would have gone over 30 there would have been to much Saturation added.
    For the lichen I used the Reverse S Curve, which worked great, might a bit to much, but I like it that way. With the Reverse S Curve I painted the major branches as well.
    Cheryl, just see now your comment with soften the contrast. I will try this tomorrow, when I compare the two images now, it does not look soft enough!
    Thank you very much to all of you, I highly appreciate your comments with your suggestions.
    Have a great day, eve or morning

    Ciao
    Anette

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    As to the repost. Much better on the BKGR. I too like the image design and agree strongly with Dan on the head angle.... You did well with relatively harsh, off-angled light.
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    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
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    Thanks so much Artie for your comment, will try next time to "bewitch" the bird for the head angle. It was shot from a jeep, couldn't move much my position.
    For the light, it was around 6:30am in South Africa.
    Thanks so much have a great day

    Ciao
    Anette

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    Quote Originally Posted by Anette Mossbacher View Post
    Thanks so much Artie for your comment, will try next time to "bewitch" the bird for the head angle. It was shot from a jeep, couldn't move much my position.
    For the light, it was around 6:30am in South Africa. Thanks so much have a great day Ciao Anette
    Getting a good head angle is much more a matter of being aware of what a good head angle is and pressing the shutter button when the good head angle is there rather than bewitching the birds. Believe me, there are times when I beg the bird to turn its head to no avail.... My bad on the harsh light comment--the problems are from light angle--the light is from the left and behind the bird.... When are you headed back?
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

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    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
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    Hi Arthur,

    thanks a lot for your comment. I do have a few more images of this chap with open beak and tiny thin tongue out, just did not get the chance to process them. I head back actually next week for 4 1/2 weeks, but not where I have seen the colony of the bee eaters building their nests. Off to Cape Town for a few days for the penguins and a bit more than to Namibia for the rest of my stay in Africa.
    Would be great if you can let me know the correct head angle of a bird, as it seems that bewitching a bird does not help in most 99,9% cases
    That would help me for my upcoming trip.
    Again thanks so much for all your input and help

    Ciao
    Anette

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    Super Moderator Daniel Cadieux's Avatar
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    Hi Anette,

    Sometimes a small pishing sound with your mouth will work in getting the bird to turn its' head, but it does not always work. Often worth a try. Like Artie, I've often waited and prayed for a better head angle but to no avail!

    Check out this thread for lots of great examples on head angles:
    http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...le-Fine-Points

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    For this image square to the back of the camera. Though the post here has been dormant for some time, it is a fabulous resource for those willing to study it.... The title: Head Angle Fine Points. Have a great trip.

    Do you know Peter Kes of Basil?
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

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    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
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    ps; I missed Dan's link .
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

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    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
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    Many thanks Dan and Arthur. Will study it, I am sure I come across many birds.
    Sorry, I don't know Peter Kes

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    Peter is a Moderator here in our Gear Forum. He lives in Basil, Switzerland, spends a lot of time in Africa including South Africa, and is as nice a guy as you could ever hope to be associated with; he is a dear friend. If you would like to get in touch with him, shoot me an e-mail.
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

    BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.

    Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,

    E-mail me at samandmayasgrandpa@att.net.










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    nice repost. liked the comp. with the bird looking that way. Well done considering where the light was coming from. You'll learn a ton from the head angle thread.

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