Lark Sparrow at Sunset

[Krishna Prasad kotti]

I made this image near my home in Saratoga Springs, UT from car, using BLUB.

Camera Settings:-
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Nikon D500 600 f/4 + 1.4 x TCIII
1/160 sec; f/5.6; ISO 1600
Manual; Matrix metering




Post Processing:-
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Raw Processing using C1P
Slight crop from Lower left Corner
Nik 25-25 Filter on Bird at reduced opacity
Tonal Adjustments in Viveza
Neat Image NR
Sharpening for Presentation
Burn and Dodge selectively
Cloned 3 twigs. 2 Intersecting on lower right side of the bird and one touch left of bird.


I should have shot this using fill flash.
I am having trouble adding flash when photographing the birds from Car.
With BLUB, lens, camera + Flash on Camera is not fitting in the car window.
I want to know if anyone else uses flash while photographing birds from Car.




Let me know your thoughts and comments.


Thanks
Krishna

[Aditya Sridhar]

Lovely, pleasing tones across the board, Krishna. I especially like the light orange band at the top, it adds a lot of depth IMO. I would suggest cloning out a couple more branches as they're slightly distracting, particularly the large one on the LHS.

As for the fill flash issue, have you considered using a flash bracket? Off-camera flash could be a viable solution if the dimensions of the car window permit the use of a bracket - the flash isn't placed on top of the camera and is instead, placed to the side and connected to via wireless/cabled transmitters and receivers. That would also reduce steel-eye issues, if that's a problem you face while using flash. The main issues with this loadout are that it'll take longer to set everything up before you can take the shot, and if you're placing the flash bracket close to the camera, it could reduce your range of motion. Could be worth a look though.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Krishna, I agree with Aditya, 'pleasing tones across the board', nicely framed too.

Adding a curves layer blend mode adjustment really lifts the whole image and bolsters that lovely orange/pink glow you have in the top of the frame and creates a bit more depth/waremth.

Again, agree with Aditya, shoot off camera with the flash (Wimberly flash bracket) and stay away from 'better beamer' there are better products now on the market that are quick, easy and more universal.

TFS
Steve

[Colin Driscoll]

Love the overall soft tones. Not knowing the bird, the shot is pleasing as it is for me.

[dankearl]

I am not sure why you thought you needed flash?
It seems a bit bright to me as is.... Pleasant colors and nice pose.

[Krishna Prasad kotti]

Thank you all for the comments.

Repost, adding curves layer (S Curve).

I check out Wimberly flash bracket.

[John Mack]

Love the colors and that gradient they form in the background as well. The composition is nice and i like the calling pose on the bird.

[gail bisson]

Repost looks good.
I am glad you did not flash the bird. I do not like the "flashed look" personally.
Great BG and I think your cloning work is very good.
Lovely singing pose and HA.
Gail

[greg cowle]

The soft color palette is brilliant, may have been lost if you had added flash unless careful. That said I think flash is a good skill to master. Sounds like you need a convertible car.

[Daniel Cadieux]

I also think flash was not needed here as the lighting looks good and even. I like the pink strip above but I feel that it is too bright and it pulls my eye a bit there. Darkening it a bit may work. Nice overall though, I like the open bill.