White Tailed Kite in First Light - Need Advice

[Loi Nguyen]

I found another pair of WTK close to home this time. It was very early morning, so I decided to shot in AV mode with 1 1/3 EV bias compensation to start. Before I got a chance to do any test shot, this WTK appeared out of nowhere, so I raised the lens and shot.

1DX
500f4II + 1.4X III
1/4000
f5.6
ISO-1250
AV Moe
Evaluative Metering 1 1/3EV compensation.
Handheld, cropped for vertical.

The image was under-exposed by about 1EV, so the noise in the shadow area is bad. I will need to learn how to apply NR to different layers. I just bought Photoshop CS6 and will start learning how to use it. Appreciate a few simple tips on this image to get started.

Thank you as always.

Loi

[arash_hazeghi]

Hi Loi,

bummer about the clipped wing, maybe you can clip the other one for symmetry and go to a tight crop.


The underwings are quite dark and the whites have turned into yellowish grey...

IMO your problem is using AV mode. if you want to expose a white-tailed kite correctly you need to set your exposure manually, these birds are tricky for the camera's meter and as you have discovered you get either under or over exposed images.


here is an example, the whites should look white and not grey, eye is red.



Good luck

Arash

[Loi Nguyen]

Well, Arash, your picture is really quite stunning. You have set a standard here. I have been trying to learn to shoot in Manual mode as well, but decided to go with AV this morning since I knew the light would be changing rapidly right after sunrise. Loi

[arash_hazeghi]

you have to watch for changing light and adjust accordingly, in the evening before sunset light changes rapidly too but getting used to adjusting exposure is better than relying on camera's meter :)

[Barry Ekstrand]

Arash,

I am in the same shape as Loi, I have been shooting in Av but am just starting to try to use Manual mode. Do you have any tips or references to help speed up the learning curve of getting the feel for quickly determining the right settings for different light? I use the camera's choices in Av mode as a baseline to adjust from but don't assume it is necessarily the best approach.

Barry

[arash_hazeghi]

Hi Barry,
I would start with auto first as a baseline then take a few test shots and use the histogram to make adjustment, once you get used to it you will be able tell exposure on the spot.

best

[Roman Kurywczak]

Good advice above! My biggest issue beyond that is the clipped wing. One thing to keep in mind when using manual exposure even when the light changes.....after you take your test image and check the histogram......check where the exposure scale is. Let's just say it is a plus 2/3. Then as the light changes.....you just keep the needle lined up at plus 2/3 as long as your light or subject doesn't change drastically. You will have to make usually 1 click about every 10-15 minutes or so at sunrise or sunset.....sunrise gaining speed.....sunset losing. Once you get used to it it is pretty easy. Make sense?