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Hennie, that's a lovely image.
Like you I have tried many times to capture this but it is surprisingly tough to get the exposure right on these ox peckers. There's still some loss of detail on the beaks of centre and LH bird but the overall image is sweet. So very well done.
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Lifetime Member
Hi Hennie, sweet light, and great that all three oxpeckers are looking the same way. Good OOF BG. I like that you have shown the hide of the rhino as their perch, but having said that, maybe a tad too much. I feel taking a bit off the bottom wont harm the image.
With regards to the reds, its not a deal breaker that you had to desaturate them. You could also experiment with using a 0 EC.
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Wildlife Moderator
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After I posted this Steve's correction showed up -- when I first saw the post no replies showed. Steve's correction is what I had in mind for color, but what I've said below still applies for reds.
The first step in handling blown reds and yellows is a combination of the best WB in the RAW converter (the camera can only guess at it) and looking at the various choices for camera profiles in the Camera Calibration tab in LR / ACR. (This should be somewhere in any decent RAW converter.) The default Adobe Standard is usually overdoes reds and yellows. And some of the choices, specific to the camera, will be awful. But one or two will solve the red issue enough that you can then tweak it and the other colors in HSL.
There is a reason WB is at the top of the adjustment panel! Too bad they hide the camera profiles, but they aren't always needed.
Then go to the HSL panel and tweak any remaining problem. It shouldn't be necessary to desaturate in this case and it should be the last resort.
Get it right in RAW conversion -- that's where you have the control.
There is also a less than optimum WB in this image. We are all seduced by warm images, but when that warmth is a color cast the image looses contrast and the depth of color separation.
I'd bet by going back to LR with the RAW file and trying some tweaks you can come up with a very different image.
Last edited by Diane Miller; 09-24-2013 at 09:41 AM.
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Looking at the original post and Steve's re-working there is quite a transformation.
My first reaction was that Steve's version was too cold, but the more I look at it the better I like it. What is undeniable though is how much sharper Steve's image looks with the detail on the plumage showing off much more clearly.
If only i could remember all this stuff when I need it. 
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Hi Steve - Thank you for the excellent repost. I do agree, the WB setting made a huge difference for the better! I will ahve to go and read on how to expand the midtones...
Diane - Thank you for having a look and for the advice. I will take the RAW back to LR and see what I can achieve with the advice recieved. You are 100% right - I am often guilty of falling into the trap of a warmer iamge. Thanks again.
Stu - I will change the comp a bit, thanks for looking.
I will repost when I am done and would appreciate a follow-up crit.
Cheers
Hennie
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Wildlife Moderator
Hennie, LR & ACR are styled IMHO in such a way to tackle a RAW file, in a simple & methodical way, get the Exposure & WB looking right and you will almost be there. Remember any other tweaks like HSL are GLOBAL and will effect the whole image, adjusting the finer points, then leave that to PS where you can target specific areas easily & quickly if required. Just leave you WB set to auto in camera, you can always change it in the conversion stage.
If only i could remember all this stuff when I need it.
Martin, less is more, if you don't believe me ask Loi, he will tell you how much I might do to an image & the time I spend having just help him last weekend with Workflow. I just brought out a bit more detail through the steps I mentioned above, but added no sharpening, everything is done direct from the OP. As and when budget allows, ditch Elements and by PS, it will make life so much easier, but no need to buy into CC.
Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.
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Wildlife Moderator
Looks better Hennie, but WDYT? Just watch the highlights, you can perhaps pull that back selectively in LR with no problem.
calibration to " Camera Faithfull"
I would ignore that, just ensure that under Calibration where it says Process it's set to 2012 Current and leave it at Adobe Standard. Canon will push the Yellows & Reds, Nikon the Blues & Greens, easily adjusted. Also ensure if you are using PS that under Edit > Colour settings and Convert to Profile are correctly set-up.
Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.
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I have to disagree about Adobe Standard. It is apparently different for Nikon cameras, but I'm a Canon user (currently 5D3) and I process RAW files in LR. Strong reds in bright light are almost always completely blown out by Adobe Standard (the top of an acorn woodpecker's head, for example). I use the linear curve for the default so it's not a matter of contrast.
The issue with reds and yellows is one of lost detail. Some people think they want to push reds to get a bright, saturated color, but they fail to see that detail isn't there. When the problem is fixed so detail is returned, then the color can be tweaked to make it rich and pleasing and still keep the detail. There is almost never a need to resort to desaturation unless it is as an artistic choice.
The best approach is to fix this problem as closely as possible is in the camera calibration, where the problem occurs, then go to the other adjustments in the Basic panel and HSL to tweak further. It wasn't your sensor that blew out the reds, it was Adobe Standard.
But of course this is necessary only if you have a problem with certain colors. If things are good, no need to try to fix anything.
And of course, a properly calibrated and profiled monitor is the first step to seeing colors and tonalities accurately, as is paying attention to the histogram -- it is telling you about what is actually in the image, as opposed to what you think you are seeing.
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Steve - Thank you. I also prefer the repost, my nits are the feather detail and the reds on the beaks. My LR is 2012 Current and the Edit>Colour sttints, etc is setup according to the sticky on the BPN forums.
Regards
Hennie
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Wildlife Moderator
OK Hennie.
Each to their own Diane.
Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.
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Diane - Thanks for coming back to me. I did notice an improvement in the red as I played around with the RAW image in LR. Noticed a vast diff between the default and faithful setting.
This is exactly why I am so hook on this forum - the amount and depth of the knowledge is just immense! And as the saying goes, there is more than 1 way to kill a cat! I am just lucky to be learn the different approaches and eventually find a tailored way that works for me.
Thanks again for all the input and feedback!
Cheers
Hennie
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This is a wonderful line-up, Hennie. I really like the warm colors of the OP, but I see what the others mean. I wonder if there might be a version that is a bit more in between the two. But of course you were there so if you feel the latest post really captures it well, that is the way to go. can't beat the counsel that you've been given here. It's really what makes BPN the best of its kind.
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You're welcome, Hennie! This has been a great place for me, too!
I'm glad you tried the camera calibration settings -- they correct the "red problem" at its source instead of trying to put on a band-aid.
The WB is a separate choice. I don't know these birds, but it isn't always necessary to neutralize every image. I could go with something in between your two versions, to give a look of warm light. I usually neutralize just to let my eyes adjust to what is there -- our brains correct color casts too well sometimes.
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Excellent capture of three of them together in good DOF.
Regards,
Satish.
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excellent details & DOF! love the perch & the warm tones in the OP. great HA on all the birds.
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