"Regal" Loon

[Sandy Witvoet]

OK....deep breath.... I am in total AWE of our Loon photographers here.... so, my FIRST image post!
I believe the "reds" on the water are reflections from an American flag behind me!.... ...Shot in Raw... Adjustments: Temp: As shot.... Blacks +2, Clarity: +13, Vibrance: +1..... That was the Raw stuff.
Exp: +/- :0

Shooting info: Canon 60D w/300 F4 and 1.4 TC III...f 5.6, ss: 1600, ISO 640

A bit of "clean up" (NR and tried to sharpen a bit) after converted.

Would like comments and critique on composition, color, "feel" .... oh, and everything else! Would love your ideas about the "reds" here (did tone them down a bit) Yeah, I choose probably one of the more difficult birds (photographically!) to make my main subject..... I am really fortunate to be able to see and study these incredible birds on a daily basis.
Will LOVE some input!

[Grady Weed]

Sandy, First; Thanks for posting! 2) Do you know how far away you were from the loon. 3) How much of a crop is this? 4) The time of day it was when imaging the loon? 5) Where was the sun in relation to you and the loon. I think the choice of the loon to make your first image to post is a good one. They are very photogenic, attractive and hauntingly beautiful. As is it looks a bit soft and a touch bright. Hence the questions I asked for additional information. Please respond and keep shooting. I will give more of a comment when you post the additional info.

[dankearl]

Sandy,
Glad you jumped in, you have been a nice contributor here and look forward to more images.
To me, it does not appear a big crop, just not quite in focus (maybe too close with the equipment you have?).
You say you get to view them a lot, I would choose some better light.
The BG is nice and different.
I would also choose a Loon if you have the opportunity, that is a bit "cleaner".
Keep shooting and keep posting!

[LinzRiverBalmer]

Newbie here too but feel confident in this species to give you some feedback.

ive never had the opportunity to shoot these birds, however my father is from the boundary waters area in Minnesota so I've been gladly subjected to hundreds of photos of them.

my one big critique and this is actually a direct quote that gets drilled in here locally by an avian photo pro...

with wildlife, especially birds, the eye has to be tack sharp. Without that is this type of image its a lost cause.

now for the good, I actually really like the colors in the background... Maybe smoothed a tad more in the reflection black white area.

the bird, I think is great other than the eye.

Great color, placement in composition.

nicely done, its just one of those shots where you have to say "oh darn I love this, why couldn't the eye be sharp"

very frustrating I know, I have a hummingbird shot of a lifetime.... From the beak back, I moved and the photo was of a hummer without a beak.... Ugh move on.

or perfect horse pictures, except oops an eye was closed.

hope this helps, have fun, you are braver than me, I haven't tried RAW at all.

[Sandy Witvoet]

Thank you SO much Grady, Dan and Linz! WOOT!

Grady.... Thank you so much....this was shot at 3:00 PM... certainly not the best time of day...sun was over my right shoulder... I was laying on my neighbor's dock, trying to hide behind his boat....Loon was maybe 100 feet from me. Now have figured out that the red refections came from a CANOE that is on a boat rack directly (about 150+ feet away) behind the Loon... go figure! They seldom visit this "bayou" of the lake.... baby Loon was nearby too. (So, basically, just tried to take advantage of the opportunity.)

Dan.... yep, agree with all your comments. Loon had lots of water on his bill, which I tried to tone down a bit... probably just ended up messing it up! Since there are only two Loons (plus baby) on the lake.... they are all lookin' a bit "yanky" sometimes! Thanks so much for your help!
Linz..... Absolutely! After I posted, I looked at the image and thought: "Geez, the head (and eye) and bill really suck. Thanks so much for your advice and insights. And, Linz.... just found a GREAT upgrade to PSE..... PSE11 does a great job in working with RAW... saves and converts TONS better than the Canon DPP... easier too. (I'm not into LR yet, but this has really helped me work with RAW at this point.)

As a novice..... I think I'm tending to "over-process" (over-think?) .... Which I've learned here on BPN is not the best route!

I would LOVE to share my RAW image.... if anyone is interested in reworking it! Let me know!

Thanks again!!!

[Randy Stout]

Sandy:

I was up north, shooting loons of course, so haven't had internet access until just now. Sorry for joining the party so late.

Good advice from the folks all ready. The rather scruffy look around the bill is from the start of molting, always starts there and then gradually spreads rearward. The adults I saw this weekend varied from about this level to much more advanced molting.

Your shooting angle was good, the head angle pretty good, could be a sliver more our way.

Yes, the focus point clearly wasn't on the eye. You had plenty of shutter speed to freeze any normal swimming motion, so that isn't the problem.

I have had a lot of shots with colors from boats, buildings, etc. in the water. Not an easy thing to make work, while still looking natural.

I would be happy to take a look at your raw file.

Cheers

Randy

[Sandy Witvoet]

Hi Randy, Thank you for your gracious offer to look at my raw file! I've sent you the file.
As you mentioned, the Loons are likely starting to get a bit scruffy... add that to the slime/water highlights and also the sun was hitting right on it with that HA. I so appreciate you taking time to look and comment.
Looks like I have "LTL" (Lot to Learn) yet.... but I'll keep trying here periodically, if you all don't mind!

[Grady Weed]

Thank you SO much Grady, Dan and Linz! WOOT!

Grady.... Thank you so much....this was shot at 3:00 PM... certainly not the best time of day...sun was over my right shoulder... I was laying on my neighbor's dock, trying to hide behind his boat....Loon was maybe 100 feet from me. Now have figured out that the red refections came from a CANOE that is on a boat rack directly (about 150+ feet away) behind the Loon... go figure! They seldom visit this "bayou" of the lake.... baby Loon was nearby too. (So, basically, just tried to take advantage of the opportunity.)

Dan.... yep, agree with all your comments. Loon had lots of water on his bill, which I tried to tone down a bit... probably just ended up messing it up! Since there are only two Loons (plus baby) on the lake.... they are all lookin' a bit "yanky" sometimes! Thanks so much for your help!
Linz..... Absolutely! After I posted, I looked at the image and thought: "Geez, the head (and eye) and bill really suck. Thanks so much for your advice and insights. And, Linz.... just found a GREAT upgrade to PSE..... PSE11 does a great job in working with RAW... saves and converts TONS better than the Canon DPP... easier too. (I'm not into LR yet, but this has really helped me work with RAW at this point.)

As a novice..... I think I'm tending to "over-process" (over-think?) .... Which I've learned here on BPN is not the best route!

I would LOVE to share my RAW image.... if anyone is interested in reworking it! Let me know!

Thanks again!!!

Sandy, First things first; Big congrats for taking the time and having the courage to post! 2) We all here are more than ready to help you with knowledge, experience and to encourage you. 3) All we ask is you keep trying. :) 4) I to have found that laying down to approach a curious loon can be effective. You just need it to come a touch closer! At 100 feet it can be hard to get a good image without a heavy crop. A rule of thumb for me has been, if I can't get a loon to come to within 50 feet, I move on to another loon. If I am in a kayak and the loons dives or swims away more than 3 times, I find another loon. A more curious and friendly loon is key to getting great images. Don't despair over that. With time and frequent access to loons, as you say you do, you will see your images improve dramatically with each click of the camera. Try not to get too excited about a loon who seems to be "working with you" only to realize it is a bit too far away or the only one of the day to photograph. Then we rush home and post the first one we process and post it. Patience! 5) The light was bright for you. However, I have had great success imaging loons in 12 noon hot sun! You just have to expose properly and shoot "dead on the eye" to get a sharp one and superior image. Practice makes perfect here again. Personally, I could care or less about the beat up look to the loon you presented. You tried your best to get a sharp image and good HA and a nice pose. Your determination is what counts with me here. And you tried! That is a plus. Just keep trying and you will get better with each encounter. The when the good looking momma and baby come swimming by, you will be ready. 6) Photographers like Randy Stout, Dan Kearl, and others, got that way by practice, patience and a lot of encouragement. Try to be a bit more picky in your choice of times, places to shoot and how you shoot your subjects. By kayak, canoe, or laying down on the dock, keep in mind the background that might show up in frame. A great image can be ruined or detracted from the objects showing up in the waters reflection. That does not mean your image here is a loser. It just needs a few adjustments. It is always better however to get it cleaner and properly exposed in camera. So...keep shooting!!! And posting!!!

[Sandy Witvoet]

Thanks, Grady, for your encouragement! (I have literally hundreds of Loon images).... most/all are just to record development of the family. I primarily observe them, hang out and track their behaviors, sans camera.... they are SUPER skittish this year... and always seem to be in the wrong place at the golden hours..... 250 acres of lake, two Loons (plus baby sometimes).... keeps ya lookin'!
(BTW... Randy has heard from me "a bit"!)
SOMEDAY.... I may capture an image that gets a "stunning" comment! Till then, I will certainly keep trying. Bird photography is my hobby... but I'm still dang serious about learning it!
Just wait till I try to post some Trumpeter Swans! EEK!

[Iain Barker]

Hi Sandy

I am sure one day you will capture a stunning image as I don't think this is too far off. It is really just the eye not being sharp.
This also looks like it has been cropped quite a lot. If you had space to leave more room on the left and top of the image it think you would still have had a nice composition with higher IQ.

Iain

[Sandy Witvoet]

Thanks Iain! Yes... reviewing the original.... focal point was under the eye, on the neck, piece of bill and "stuff" beyond. Also, yes... was "over-ambitious"...bigger is not ALWAYS better when it comes to the crop! Would a 6.3 (rather than 5.6 helped at all?)