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Thread: Snipe.

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    Default Snipe.

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    Nikon D4
    Nikon 300mm 2.8
    1/1000@f5.6
    Iso1000.

    Would like a bit of advice and critique on this picture. I well over exposed shots of this bird have tried to rectify but not sure about the result, should I give up and start again? Any help much appreciated.

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    Lifetime Member Mike Poole's Avatar
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    To me Keith it's a good shot in very nice light. I wouldn't have known it was overexposed if you hadn't mentioned it.

    Did you blow the highlights or was it just ettr?

    Might be best to let us see it sooc if you're after specific technical advice.

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    Thanks Mike, have lots of shots of this bird and am really annoyed with myself for blowing the highlights, was in the process of deleting them but then wondered about the views of others." let us see it sooc "?sorry don't understand this.

    Keith.

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    Lifetime Member Mike Poole's Avatar
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    Sorry Keith - Straight Out Of Camera.

    The left side of the perch is a bit bright, but nothing to make me delete the shot, and I don't see any significant hot spots on the Snipe. I'd say you've either processed the shot very well, or it's not as bad as you think as shot.

    If you could show a screenshot of the original RAW, in whatever converter you use, along with the histogram, then I reckon the better teachers on the site will be able to give you some specific advise.

    Mike

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Keith, fantastic light, a real killer, you are - 'Mr Snipe', these images are cool.

    - Flip the image left to right
    - Level the post
    - You can reduce Highlights & Whites to help on the post, I forgot!!!
    - Reduce Blue, Purple Magenta,
    - Reduce Contrast, Shadows
    - I think a bit more selective sharpening
    - I think you could afford to go tighter, less above and on the LHS

    SOC - 'Straight out of Camera' I think or similar?

    Nice one

    Steve

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    Stunning catch! You've just gone too high with Contrast, which is probably what pumped up saturation. What raw converter? In LR/ACR you have a lot of room to lower highlights. First set overall exposure, then bring down highlights as needed and open up shadows. Re-tweak each as one changes, till you have the right mix. If it gets flat use a little Clarity and maybe a touch of Vibrance.

    Agree on leveling the post, but I would "level" the verticals and let and slope on the top fall where it will.

    Post a re-try!

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    If it gets flat use a little Clarity.
    Diane, you are then bringing more Contrast/Black back in, however I'm staggered to see people ramping up Clarity to 20-30+, but I guess we all see things differently, plus it depends on what version of PS people are using.

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    I said A LITTLE clarity. That is midtone contrast, not at all the sledgehammer that the Contrast slider is. Before 20-30+ there is 2-3+. And I'm talking about Clarity used on the raw file in LR/ACR. It is remarkably similar to the widely-used LCE. It can sometimes be a nice touch when adjusting Shadows and Highlights brings down midtone contrast.

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    Keith, I wish this was mine! It wouldn't be delteted.

    Another interesting thread! Steve, why flip the image? I'm with Diane on the vertical shadows in the post.

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    BPN Member Jim Keener's Avatar
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    A lot of views on this beautiful photograph. If photography is light writing, there is a whole chapter in this image. A question about the focus, and I'm likely wrong as no one else mentioned it, but is the focus on the post or the bird? It looks to me as if it might be the former. Beautiful background. As to leveling? For me, none is needed. The post is far enough off vertical to not even suggest a missed level. I also don't understand the flip, Steve. And Glennie, what about the second leg?

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    It can sometimes be a nice touch when adjusting Shadows and Highlights brings down midtone contrast.
    Indeed, but I won't use it on the RAW via LR especially with Canon files, different if it was a NEFF, (if Canon delivered a NEFF file that would be the ultimate IMHO, however...) but after PS I then may apply some locally to specific/target areas 'if required', it all comes down to the file and the 'look & feel' I want to give the final output.

    I also don't understand the flip, Steve.
    Why flip, in this instance it's more from my background in Corporate Design & Advertising, RH pages always commanded a higher premium, therefore an image always look better facing into a page - 'looking in' rather than into the gutter of a magazine, looking out. Also images can often, what I call, 'sit better', more appealing to the eye. Flick through a few magazines when you have time and look to see.

    9 out of 10 times it doesn't matter and perhaps isn't so crucial these days, but occasionally it just 'looks right', the eye is a fantastic tool. You DO NOT need to present an image just because you shot it that way, you can change it, that's the beauty and is not like a manipulation of 'cloning'. Just one point of note, make sure there are no signs or writing in the BKG, bit of a giveaway if you flip an image. Have fun try it, you may find occasionally it does work.

    what about the second leg?
    Not a problem, these birds often stand with just one leg, I have truck loads of owls standing on one leg, the other retracted back into the body.

    Sorry Keith didn't mean to hijack the thread, but if questions are asked...

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    Thanks everyone ,Mike maybe being a bit critical on myself and looking at what Steve as done to it pleased I did not delete the whole series(did very little to it before posting), thanks Steve that looks a lot better but that bit of white at the top of the leg still bugs me, to critical?Glennie it's great to read the different points of view I learn a lot from it.Thanks Diane will look into the interesting points you have raised, sometimes the old sledgehammer comes into play with me and have to draw back. Jim the focus was certainly on the head of the bird ,do think most of my problem was down to me over exposing the whole scene, will go back and have a look at them again.
    Keith

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Steve that looks a lot better but that bit of white at the top of the leg still bugs me, to critical?
    Keith, is it blown on the RAW, if so, move on, nothing you can do unfortunately. You could do some retouching with colour replacement etc, but I know you now know to watch for this so lets look ahead.

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    BPN Member Jim Keener's Avatar
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    . . . these birds often stand with just one leg, I have truck loads of owls standing on one leg, the other retracted back into the body.
    Steve, the appendages issue is a bit of a running joke between Glennie and me.

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    Jim - Missing appendages!
    Steve - Yep, I get the flip. Does it make a difference if you're right or left handed
    Keith - You are way too much a perfectionist. I think this would be an easy fix if it is within your ethics to do so. Would that little bit of blown white even shown up as a "blinkie" and are you going to check whilst you're firing off shots while the bird is posed for you?

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Steve - Yep, I get the flip. Does it make a difference if you're right or left handed
    Is this April 1st??????

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    Thanks a lot Jim and Steve.Glennie thank you are so right(You are way too much a perfectionist)think sometimes spend more time looking for faults and ignoring the good bits.

    Keith.

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    Keith, for me it's a stunning image. I prefer the original version. I must disagree with the flipper faction and the post-leveler crowd. This post has character!
    Regards...

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    Thanks Jess much appreciated.

    Keith.

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