Loten's Sunbird

[hirandesilva]

Photographed this sunbird just after some rain in dull light. In earlier images it has been difficult to get the exposure correct as the bird is dark, specially with a bright BG or sunlight .

D800 500mm F4 + 1.4 TC F6.3 1/!000 ISO400 hand held. Cropped, levels, curves adjusted NR on the BG and bird sharpened.

Would appreciate your comments,

Thanks

Hiran

[Jeff Cashdollar]

Hiran,

I love the composition, very well balance consider removing a layer from the top (where the brach splits). The vertical framing works great with the long perch. The opportunity here is the subject is too dark (blacks are blocked) as you mentioned,..the bright background skewed the meter as you noted in the narrative. Spot metering can help in situations like these for example meter a bright spot and set the exposure accordingly (like zone metering) assume you used Nikons matrix metering - which is fine.

In this case use, post processing to lighten the subject considering: (1) shadows & highlights, (2) dodge/burning in the head area for sure but the subject is basically blocked out (3) more levels/curves working thru the blocked darks.

Just curious, why are you hand holding 500 + 1.4,..that offsets some of the detail gained with a 1/1000 shutter? Tripods can be a pain but produce great results with long focal lengths. As I stated above, love the mood, feel and composition of the picture - well done - please keep em coming.

[Bob Miller]

Hi Hiran....Love the composition and the touch of pink. Jeff gave you some good ideas to try to bring out more detail in that face and eye. I would like to add that the D-800 has tons of detail( even in the shadows) that can often be brought back with post processing. I often just use the adjustment brush with increased shadow detail, and a little clarity. Another possiblity is creating another copy layer and giving it a screen blend mode followed with a black mask to just paint in the eye. One final thought would be for you to consider a vignette to darken the edges and bring the attention to your subject.

[hirandesilva]

As suggested by Jeff, have adjusted shadow/highlights, levels and assume this RP is an improvement. Did not see a change for the better with dodge and burn so did not apply it. I have sharpened the eye. Thank you Jeff, I spent some time on the original and did not think I could have improved but this RP says it was possible.

I do accept that the tripod would have given me a better image and noted what you've said regarding spot metering. Had to follow the bird around the tree as they keep moving so pulled it out of the tripod.

Bob, thank you for your advice I have to master what you have mentioned so did not try this on the RP as I was in PS and assume would have to go back to Lightroom.

Hiran

[Bob Miller]

Hiran....I like the repost! What a difference the eye makes

[Kerry Perkins]

Hello Hiran, nice job on the repost, incorporating the good advice given. What I love most about this shot (other than the amazing bird) is the colors - iridescent blue, lovely green background, and the perfectly pink flowers. Very nice!