Common Snipe (VGallinago gallinago)

[Jonathan Ashton]

I spotted this Snipe at the edge of a large pool, it's a busy image but this was the clearest shot I could get at the time. I used the 2x converter, I am not a fan I think I may have gotten a better result with the additional MC14 instead. I suspect you may think the image is too warm/yellow, this was the ambient lighting.

OM-1 150-400 1.25TC engaged plus MC20 converter
Focal Length (35 mm conversion) : 1893.0mm (zoom must have moved from 400)
Exposure mode : Manual exposure
ISO : 3200
Exposure compensation : 0.0 EV
Shutter : 1/1600 sec
Aperture : F11

ACR/PSCC

[Steve Kaluski]

Jon, what did you do to the backdrop, have you been playing with Lens blur? Why f/11???

[Jonathan Ashton]

Not sure what you mean what have I done, I haven't used filters or anything like that, it is f111 because lens =f4.5, with 1.25TC =f5.6 and add the 2xTC =f11, very shallow DOF

[Steve Kaluski]

Not sure what you mean what have I done, I haven't used filters or anything like that, it is f111 because lens =f4.5, with 1.25TC =f5.6 and add the 2xTC =f11, very shallow DOF

OK that explains that. so in old money is f/14-16.

If you take from the waters edge on the LHS, above the shadow of the bird it all looks, appears very 'ghostly' in appearance, as if you used a lens blur to diffuse the BKG, did you use any NR? Just looks odd to my eyes?

[Jonathan Ashton]

OK that explains that. so in old money is f/14-16.

If you take from the waters edge on the LHS, above the shadow of the bird it all looks, appears very 'ghostly' in appearance, as if you used a lens blur to diffuse the BKG, did you use any NR? Just looks odd to my eyes?

No just the standard NR at raw stage nowt else. I know what you mean about ghostly I ended up using a little "Effects" on the Snipe to improve contrast.
As I said, I am not a fan of the MC20 with the big lens and it's converter, if necessary I will use the 1.4.

[Steve Kaluski]

Not sure what standard NR is Jon, but…

Overall it’s nice to see a different species and quite an elusive one too. As stated I’m not a huge fan of the ghostly backdrop and I wish there was more separation between habitat and subject, but saying that, it does illustrate how well the Snipe blends into its environment.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Not sure what standard NR is Jon, but… I use DxO mostly or sometimes Adobe NR - not much difference really.

[Steve Kaluski]

Sorry Jon, I should be more explicit, how much did you use for ‘Standard’, but as you don’t retain a ‘Master Tiff’ I guess it’s hard to know? To me each image is judged on its own merits rather than batch processed, but hey… I just think you could back off. FYI my Kestrel at ISO2500 had only +2 via Topaz DN, 0 Sharpening as it should be.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Sorry Jon, I should be more explicit, how much did you use for ‘Standard’, but as you don’t retain a ‘Master Tiff’ I guess it’s hard to know? To me each image is judged on its own merits rather than batch processed, but hey… I just think you could back off. FYI my Kestrel at ISO2500 had only +2 via Topaz DN, 0 Sharpening as it should be.

I didn't use Abobe on this one, I will try another version using the Adobe. The Canon and Olympus are apples and pears, completely different sensor types and sizes so the noise settings would not be comparable (I think).

[William Dickson]

Hi Jon. I like the rich colours and contrast. Nice detail on the bird, and well done on capturing this elusive subject. Personally the refection here doesn't do much for me. I would crop from below and in a wee bit from the RHS.

Will

[Sidharth Kodikal]

I enjoyed viewing this snipe in its environment. What spoke to me was the signature pose. The tail all fanned out, wings fluffed up, and that typical side-eye.

[Arthur Morris]

I love the spectacular fanned tail. I find it hard to believe that nobody mentioned the fact that the bird is angled well away from us or that the bird's head is turned so far away that the base of the bill is hidden behind its breast. Had you been five feet to your right, things might have been better.

with love, a

[Jonathan Ashton]

I love the spectacular fanned tail. I find it hard to believe that nobody mentioned the fact that the bird is angled well away from us or that the bird's head is turned so far away that the base of the bill is hidden behind its breast. Had you been five feet to your right, things might have been better.

with love, a

Artie I was in a hide at a reserve, bearing in mind this was 2000mm there was quite a distance between me and the bird, 5 feet to the right would have been tricky because other people were in the hide.

[jack williamson]

The detail on the bird is fantastic Jon!