Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Great Crested Grebe

  1. #1
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Location
    Bahrain
    Posts
    404
    Threads
    36
    Thank You Posts

    Default Great Crested Grebe

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    This image was shot at The Regent's Park, London. The weather was dark and gloomy when I captured this picture but bright and sunny 5 minutes after (of course, the bird had left by then). I couldn't go down lower because the concrete banks of the pond didn't really facilitate eye-level shooting and the opposite bank wouldn't have been a good BG anyway.

    Camera - Nikon D850
    Focal Length - 700mm
    Aperture - f/8
    Shutter Speed - 1/400s
    ISO - 2500
    Handheld
    Manual, Auto ISO
    Crop - 75% of full-frame

    All comments and constructive criticism are appreciated!

  2. #2
    Lifetime Member Colin Driscoll's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Lake Macquarie, Australia
    Posts
    2,343
    Threads
    431
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    A good shot of this bird, POV problems noted. Looking right at you but body not quite parallel to the focal plane.

  3. Thanks Aditya Sridhar thanked for this post
  4. #3
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Ithaca, NY
    Posts
    10,421
    Threads
    1,708
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Nice frame of this grebe. Stands out against the drak water very well. Touch more room behind would have been nice.

  5. Thanks Aditya Sridhar thanked for this post
  6. #4
    Lifetime Member gail bisson's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Nova Scotia
    Posts
    12,731
    Threads
    910
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Very nice Aditya.
    I like your low POV. Exposure perfect.
    I am happy with the way you cropped this. I always like to have the entire concentric circles of the wake included, as you have done.
    Exposure is spot on and perfect HA.
    The best part for me are the water drops on the crest. I also like the partial view of the foot.
    The water looks a bit odd just above the back- I am pretty sure it is a normal irregularity in the water but if something was cloned from that area I would tidy it up.
    Gail

  7. Thanks Aditya Sridhar thanked for this post
  8. #5
    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Cheshire UK
    Posts
    17,287
    Threads
    2,653
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Head is sharp and well exposed, the rear end is a little soft, I would assume this is DOF as opposed to shutter speed, the grebe stands out nicely from the murky water. The angle as you imply, may not be regarded as optimal, having said that it doesn't look bad at all, better like this - as you indicated, than have a distracting background.
    (When posting don't forget to include your f value shutter speed, ISO, lens, camera, hand held/tripod PSCC etc - it helps people make more constructive critique for your image)

  9. Thanks Aditya Sridhar thanked for this post
  10. #6
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Location
    Bahrain
    Posts
    404
    Threads
    36
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks a lot for the feedback everyone!

    Gail - The water is natural and no cloning was done in that area. I, too, found that area slightly odd but I decided to leave it as is.

    Jon - I included the EXIF data in the OP and I checked on both my laptop and my phone and it's visible. If you're still unable to see it, please let me know and I'll try to fix it

  11. Thanks gail bisson thanked for this post
  12. #7
    BPN Member dankearl's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Portland, Oregon
    Posts
    8,833
    Threads
    1,358
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Nice subject... I would take off the tc...the 500 pf is a really cool light lens ALONE...
    Dan Kearl

  13. Thanks Aditya Sridhar thanked for this post
  14. #8
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Location
    Bahrain
    Posts
    404
    Threads
    36
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Dan - Thanks for your comment. I find the 500 PF + TC combo very good for static or slow-moving subjects. For this shot, if I had used the bare lens, the final result would've been a big crop. For what its worth, my experience with the TC has been largely positive, with AF and the occasional flare issues being the main drawbacks. Image quality is top-notch and any differences between the bare lens and the lens/TC combo are imperceptible in field use IMO. I'd rather use the TC than just use the bare lens and crop in post.

  15. Thanks gail bisson thanked for this post
  16. #9
    BPN Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Lakeland, FL
    Posts
    7,533
    Threads
    2,043
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Adi, lovely image. Wonderful colors and red eye. The background compliments the bird well. I know many prefer a very low POV but I like this view, normal to how a person not a photographer would look at the bird. Thank you for sharing.
    Joe Przybyla

    "Sometimes I do get to places just as God is ready to have somebody click the shutter"... Ansel Adams

    www.amazinglight.smugmug.com

  17. Thanks Aditya Sridhar thanked for this post
  18. #10
    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Indian Lake Estates, FL
    Posts
    32,557
    Threads
    1,438
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    EXIF is visible in Florida :) I love everything about this one. I would think that with the sun out it would not have been so pleasing ...

    with love, artie
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

    BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.

    Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,

    E-mail me at samandmayasgrandpa@att.net.










Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics