Snowy Egret
Caught this little guy coming in for an landing at Bombay Hook NWR, Smyrna Delaware. Pleased with the results, but I'd like to hear comments.
Canon 7D; 400mm F/5.6L USM (new to me as of 9/15/2012)
F/7.1, 1/2500, ISO 400
LR4: reduce highlights, warm the white balance on the bird
...Jerry
I really like the sun shining through the wings. The bird looks nice and sharp. He looks like he is floating effortlessly.
Hi Jerry. I like the pose and he looks good in that BG. Very sharp. I think the whites on the neck might be a bit hot.
Welcome to the 7D/400mm owner's club :)
Thanks for the comments. I see what you mean on the neck - the whites don't register as "hot", but there certainly is some lack of feather detail there. So, your comments got me to poking around in LR4 and now I'm wondering if I'm my own worst enemy (i.e. fiddling with those sliders may have actually made the image worse). Attached is the original image with the only adjustment being crop (and reduced image size to comply with forum requirements). Comments on the original?Originally Posted by Ian Cassell
btw, I'm loving the 7D/400mm. If focuses so quickly and is dynamite for BIFs. I'm not going ot abandon my Panny GH2 as it's so nice and portable. I think they make a great pair.
...Jerry
Jerry,
IMO - based on your shooting data, the exposure should be fine.
F/7.1, 1/2500, ISO 400 is the correct sunny 16 exposure for a white subject.
The image is nice a sharp - well done.
The sun is too high and behind the subject for my tastes. This sun position will introduce heavy shadows.
2 tips, photograph the first and last 2.5 hours of the day +/- (overcast is another story).
Check the wind direction, birds roost, take off and land into the wind.
With the wind and sun (in a low position) at your back you get the subject flying towards you with beautiful light.
Hi Jerry, nice flight capture and composition. Good comments above, I am going to add that the image would be stronger if the head did not intersect with the wing. You might not have had a chance to get a better angle, but a lower shot from the front would have moved the head and neck away from the wing in the background. Also feels a bit cramped in the frame, I would crop a little looser. Exposure was made difficult by the mixed light, as you have dark shadows and bright highlights. Overall quite nice, just some things to think about. Compare the quality of light in this image to that of your night heron shot.
"It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera... they are made with the eye, heart, and head." - Henri Cartier Bresson
Please visit me on the web at http://kerryperkinsphotography.com
Hi Jerry...good advise given already. Personally I like shooting white birds on a cloudy overcast day...the even light makes exposure easier but you do have to keep your shutter speed up in the dimmer light. I usually will raise my ISO to 1000 and use noise reducing software if necessary. ( Topaz denoise or Nik Define 2.0). I do love the sharpness and that gorgeous light coming through the wings!
Thanks to all for the advice / comments. These white birds can, indeed, be a challenge.
...Jerry
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