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Thread: Boat-tailed Grackle (m)

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    Default Boat-tailed Grackle (m)

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    I captured this image at Circle B Bar Reserve in Polk County, Florida. I think this bird is mostly black, much depends in what light it is viewed. Comments and critique welcomed and appreciated. Thank you for viewing.

    Nikon D500
    Nikon 80-400mm F/4.5-5.6 VRII AF-S ED, camera and lens supported by a monopod
    1/2000 F/8 Matrix Metering EV +1 ISO 1000 Auto 1 WB, image captured at 220mm
    Post processed in Lightroom Classic, Photoshop CC 2020 and Neat Image for noise reduction, a couple intruding branches removed from the background
    Cropped for composition and presentation

    P.S. Learn more about Circle B Bar Reserve in the BAA Middle Florida Photography Site Guide that Artie and I co-authored. It is available at this link The BAA Middle of Florida Site Guide
    Last edited by Joseph Przybyla; 07-05-2020 at 05:58 PM.
    Joe Przybyla

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    BPN Member Bill Dix's Avatar
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    Definitely a black bird, and you caught his iridescence nicely with good exposure. Great pose and perch.

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    Avian Moderator Brian Sump's Avatar
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    Joe, for such a common (our area) and annoying bird you capture it nicely.

    Very solid detail throughout. Can see some noise underwing and a touch in the beak maybe where perhaps you lifted shadows.

    Might be worth cloning out that small little black blurb in bottom right.

    Nice job!

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    BPN Member dankearl's Avatar
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    Nice closeup view of the bird...It looks like it could use a tad more contrast to me..
    Dan Kearl

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    Quote Originally Posted by Brian Sump View Post
    Joe, for such a common (our area) and annoying bird you capture it nicely.

    Very solid detail throughout. Can see some noise underwing and a touch in the beak maybe where perhaps you lifted shadows.

    Might be worth cloning out that small little black blurb in bottom right.

    Nice job!
    Hey Brian, thank you for viewing and commenting. Nice to have another set of eyes, the black blurb is gone and the image reposted. Thanks again.
    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

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Joe, from recollection I'm not sure if you say you do apply NI across the whole image or not, but as Brian mentioned the noise under the wing and head is not ideal and so was the image slightly under exposed? The sharpening looks better, have we turned a corner? Having the open bill is nice and it appears the subjects is almost doing a balancing act.

    Joe, OK I'm on my crappy MB pro laptop, so I'm hesitant as I tend to work on numbers & histogram here, but using a full channels curves adjustment it tends, I think, to address things in the mid to 3/4 tones, then saturation/vibrance for the iridescent colours as another PS adjustment. The image has some nice potential Joe, like the vulture. Ran some NR via LR.

    TFS
    Steve
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    Lifetime Member gail bisson's Avatar
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    Nice pose and the iridescence shows well.
    I think you were a bit heavy handed in raising the exposure under the wing and around the feet.
    I see lots of noise under the wing and the area around the feet lacks contrast and looks washed out.
    Steve's repost looks good,
    Gail

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    Quote Originally Posted by Steve Kaluski View Post
    Hi Joe, from recollection I'm not sure if you say you do apply NI across the whole image or not, but as Brian mentioned the noise under the wing and head is not ideal and so was the image slightly under exposed? The sharpening looks better, have we turned a corner? Having the open bill is nice and it appears the subjects is almost doing a balancing act.

    Joe, OK I'm on my crappy MB pro laptop, so I'm hesitant as I tend to work on numbers & histogram here, but using a full channels curves adjustment it tends, I think, to address things in the mid to 3/4 tones, then saturation/vibrance for the iridescent colours as another PS adjustment. The image has some nice potential Joe, like the vulture. Ran some NR via LR.

    TFS
    Steve
    Hi Steve, I think we have turned a corner after our most recent emails. The radius for sharpening this image was 0.5. The bird was underexposed I had raised the exposure to +1 because of the dark bird against the bright sky but not enough to expose the bird correctly. I could have gone to +2 or +3 but that would have blown out the sky leaving for a white background. So in post processing I did lift the exposure on the bird and shadows. In this repost I did work on the noise on the bill and underwing mentioned in the comments locally with the adjustment brush. I guess I am missing what you are seeing in the 3/4 tones. As for the iridescence, as in most images, what is natural and what is pushed too far. I try to go with experience of seeing many of the birds and push the scale on the natural side. Thanks for viewing, commenting and offering suggestions, much appreciated.
    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

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Steve, I think we have turned a corner after our most recent emails.
    Hurrah, so it was beneficial, plus a nice exchange too.

    As for the iridescence, as in most images, what is natural and what is pushed too far.
    I'm with you, here and the vulture I can only suggest and may have here push a tad too far, not knowing the subject, but also to hopefully indicate what can be achieved too, if required.
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

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    The irredescene is very nice. Pose is great. Nice framing as well.

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    steve's repost looks natural to my eye
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