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Thread: Great Blue Heron

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    Default Great Blue Heron

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    I took this one a couple of years ago. Canon 7d, hand held from a boat, ISO 160, EF 400mm f/5.6 lens @ f/5.6, 1/640 sec. This was cropped. Lightroom adjustments in: highlights, shadows, whites, blacks, clarity, tone curve, and NR luminance. Then sent to PS cc to smart sharpen. Back then I was shooting with the ISO set in the automatic setting. Since joining this group I think I would have shot this the same way except I would have probably had my ISO set to 400 or higher. I am also trying to get more familiar with PS. It has been something that I have always shied away from because I just don't know that much about it.

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    A dramatic and artistic shot with lovely color, and the small in the frame approach works to minimize any issues with the capture or processing. There is a lighter OOF diagonal above the bird that I would clone out -- use a large soft brush at maybe 50% opacity. I really like the subtle reflection of the bird's color in the water, but again would do a little touchup on the slightly darker area there -- since it is a strong vertical it grabs attention.

    The old 7D needs to be handled carefully to avoid noise issues. Underexposing will bring up noise to different degrees with any camera, but none are immune to it. Keeping the ISO low was probably a good idea. I have often seen the caution to avoid intermediate ISOs for the cleanest files, but to stay with 100, 200, 400 etc.

    Not knowing what the original file was like, I would just caution to watch the effect on noise and detail with every slider move in LR. The appearance here is that a lot of noise reduction has been done, with detail lacking in the near wing. Sometimes a little fine-grained noise is preferable to a plastic look. Only you can decide where the best balance is, by watching the file at 100%. Keep in mind that NR and sharpening work against one another to degrade a file.

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    BPN Member Jim Keener's Avatar
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    Hello, Jack. I like the warm light on the deep colors of your bird, especially against the cool background. Beautiful. Ditto Diane's comment about detail on the near wing. I wish I had been with you to capture this bird.

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    Jack, A lovely, serene image as the heron glided past the boat. (A lot of us seem to like photographing from boats, or water craft) I love the warm colours and the composition could not be better, IMO. I agree with Diane about the vertical darkish areas. I didn't notice until "Grasshopper" pointed it out. ("Grasshopper" is my new nick name for Diane.."When will my eyes be like yours, Grasshopper?") Diane doesn't miss a trick.

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    I'll do my best!

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    Thanks everyone. I always like to hear cc. I wish I could afford to upgrade my camera and glass but this year I have opted to spend what extra money I have on taking some trips. Maybe next year I will have a chance to do some equipment upgrades. I was able to clone the top line out pretty easily, the bottom one I was not so lucky with. I decided to take the reflection of the wing out altogether as it was the only way to make it look natural, at least for my expertise. And I too wish to one day have an eye as trained as Diane"s. And I guess I made a mistake putting this in my dropbox so I will have to add the finished image tomorrow.

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    BPN Member Jim Keener's Avatar
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    Grasshopper? Yes. Indeed.

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    Take the trips Jack! Time waits for no one. The upgraded equipment will be waiting for you. I sometimes know, it's not about the equipment. "A better camera won't do a thing for you if you don't have anything in your head or in your heart". - Arnold Newman And Jack, from what of seen of your images, you have plenty in your head and heart.

    I am so looking forward to your finished image!

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    BPN Member Jim Keener's Avatar
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    Hmm. This is a good group.

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    I agree with you both. :)

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    Oh my! The difference is subtle, but it makes this image zing! Well done!

    Thank you for posting it.

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    Jack, awesome RP!

    This is a **** Good Group!! Hope no matter where everyone soon winds up, they'll stop in here occasionally, just for comments even if no need for image critique!

    I'm going to bounce this Grasshopper thing off our younger son-in-law, who is a Aikido black belt (heavy on the formality and respect stuff, with a year of study in Japan), for instruction on my future path of enlightenment!!

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    Clarification -- I didn't mean the enlightenment path comment to be facetious. I've never really been into martial arts, but was very impressed by an Aikido match between Jeremy and a much-respected master. It began and ended with bows and body language of truly-felt respect, and in between they tried to seriously injure one another. I think it takes enlightenment to get to that stage.

    Every time I pick up a camera, or see an image that impresses me, I am looking to make another baby step toward growth and enlightenment. There are no "experts" or "masters" at this game except maybe by posthumous acclaim. There are those who are a few baby steps further along, and then usually only in some specialized way.

    And I'm now more aware that it is necessary to be enlightened about the path to enlightenment!

    Thanks to all of you great folks here!!

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    I agree 100% Diane and I never thought that you were being facetious. :)

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    Jack, I'd have been proud to own the first iteration. I liked the second version too. And "good catch" for Diane. i spent 40 minutes looking for that @#$% diagonal.

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