Common Tern

[SeanKP]

This is one from a month or so ago which I've re-processed as a result of reading the excellent 'How White the Whites???' thread in the Educational Resources forum. My original version was very grey and I'd added way too much warming filter. Sadly, I hadn't read Artie's Exposure Simplified article when I took this shot and I under-exposed quite significantly as I was paranoid about blowing out the whites. I did go back to the same spot this last weekend and got significantly better results (albeit without a fish) with a slight positive EC rather than the full one stop negative EC used for this shot. I've got some shots with a slightly better head turn but that is at the cost of the gleam in the eye. Comments appreciated.

EOS 40D + 300mm Sigma 2.8 lens with Kenko 1.4X Converter. ISO 400, F7.1 @ 1/4000 sec. Evaluative metering with -1 EC.

Thanks.

Sean

[Nonda Surratt]

SUPER COLORS! Really like and the fish is added bonus, neat how the orange in the fish is color matched to the orange in the bird.

Could be all wet but I think getting rid of the bit of shadow in the birds brest? And placement in frame maybe a bit to right,more space in front ?

[Gus Cobos]

Nice composition, and exposure. I like the details and the eye contact...:cool:

[Alfred Forns]

I like Nonda's suggestions Particularly like the detail around the eye and feather reproduction Excellent feel !!! btw that is one large fish that bird has in its beak !!!!!

...oh once you get the concept of exposing making images will be fun !!!

[SeanKP]

Thanks for the comments and suggestions. It's all very helpful to me indeed. I realised that I neglected to add the shooting information in the original post. This has now been rectified. Looking at the details, I wonder now what I was doing at ISO 400 with a shutter speed of 1/4000 sec?

Nonda, I did look at doing something about that shadow but I just couldn't get it to look natural. That's another downside with the better head turn shots. That shadow is even bigger.

I think nearly all the shots I've posted have been criticised for not having enough space to the right of the bird. One of the things I've been trying to achieve is to place the eye of the bird on or near an intersection of thirds. I guess I've been placing too much emphasis on this at the expense of the overall composition.

I'll post what I got after reading Artie's Exposure Simplified article for my next shot. It'll be interesting to see whether you all agree with me about the significant improvement.

Thanks agaimn. Much appreciated.

Sean

[Nonda Surratt]

Sean,

Quick masking really does a good job with things like shadows, has for me anyway (so far).Did you try that?

[Robert Amoruso]

Sean,

Good looking image.

You note below your ISO 400 and 1/4000 speed. But you were at -1 EC and should have been at +1/3EC. That change puts you at 1/1600 speed. Using sunny 16 your exposure is 1/400 at f/16. At f/7.1 your about 2 stops opened up on aperture. That puts you at 1/1600 at f/8 correcting the speed for aperture used. So with the correct EC you mentioned (+1/3) you are basically making a sunny 16 exposure.

Caveat: If I got the math wrong - its been a long day.

Anyway, my point is that your correct exposure yields 1/1600 speed at ISO 400 which is a comfortable place to be. So ISO 400 is OK to use and where I create 90% of my images.

On the composition - it is OK. Use the rule of thumb 1/3 space behind the bird, 2/3 thirds in front. So the total distance measured from the tail to frame edge added to beak to frame edge should be distributed 1/3 behind and 2/3 in front. Your are almost that that.

Thanks for the comments and suggestions. It's all very helpful to me indeed. I realised that I neglected to add the shooting information in the original post. This has now been rectified. Looking at the details, I wonder now what I was doing at ISO 400 with a shutter speed of 1/4000 sec?

Nonda, I did look at doing something about that shadow but I just couldn't get it to look natural. That's another downside with the better head turn shots. That shadow is even bigger.

I think nearly all the shots I've posted have been criticised for not having enough space to the right of the bird. One of the things I've been trying to achieve is to place the eye of the bird on or near an intersection of thirds. I guess I've been placing too much emphasis on this at the expense of the overall composition.

I'll post what I got after reading Artie's Exposure Simplified article for my next shot. It'll be interesting to see whether you all agree with me about the significant improvement.

Thanks agaimn. Much appreciated.

Sean

[Harold Davis]

nice capture, sean! how can i add to what has already been mentioned. nice thread. i got a math lesson today i didnt expect!!!!

[Nicki Gwynn Jones]

Hi Sean, another lovely image! Regarding the rule of thirds discussion, at the risk of sounding like a complete heretic, I tend to work much more on instinct - if the composition leaves me feeling comfortable then I'm happy . If not, then I crop a little until I am. I'm sure that I'll be shot down in flames for that - oh well!!

[Oscar Zangroniz]

Great capture Sean. Nothing else to say that has not been mentioned by the pros on this site. Well maybe one thing, to me the bird is in the center of the frame.
Congrats on a great capture.

[SeanKP]

Nonda, I've tried Quick Masking but never really seen it as much more than another way of selecting part of the image. Guess I'll need to investigate further.

Robert, that is fascinating. And to prove your point, my correctly exposed shot from last weekend just posted as 'Common Tern 2' was taken at ISO 200, F7.1 and 1/800 sec with + 1/3 EC.

Nicki, I think you have excellent instincts when it comes to composition. Myself, I feel I need to at least start from some rules and then go from there.

Thanks again everyone.

Sean