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Thread: Eagle at dawn

  1. #1
    David Franzen
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    Default Eagle at dawn

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    I love the light and like the pose. I know some would find the piece of down showing distractive, but I even like that too. Looking forward to your opinions, and would like to see your take on a good crop if you would please. Shot from a boat on a lake in Phelps, WI with Canon 40D, 300mm 2.8 +2x, AP5.6, 800 ISO, 1/80 using tripod. Shown full frame as shot.

  2. #2
    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
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    I like the oof pine needles in the BKGR and the light but this image has many seriuos problems:
    1-Images made in filtered light are virtually never successful. Except for spot-lighting on the face, filtered light is an image wrecker.
    2-the bright oof stuff in the foreground is image wrecker #2. (Esp. the curved twig on the left frame edge...
    3-the angle of inclination to the subject is too steep.
    4-the colors, esp. of the face, look muddy.
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  3. #3
    Alfred Forns
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    Hi David The bottom is a bit overpowering for me If you tone it down it could work better but generally oof elements in front of the bird don't work very well Would crop the brightest at the bottom.

    Did fine with the slow shutter speed I would have tried using the 1.4X and then cropping just a bit As is looks tight in frame. Can also try using NoiseNinja on the bg since there is noise. I like the setting very much and fine pose Sure wish you could have found that bird in better light lower down the tree !!!!

  4. #4
    Robert Amoruso
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    David,

    The FG OOF branches are distracting for the reason mentioned. Brightly lite objects in an image due to their higher contrast naturally draw our eyes to them. Here the center of interest in the image is the eagle and the branches distract us from that.

    You asked for a crop suggestion and I posted one here. I had to clone out a bit of the bright twigs still intruding as well as a branch part in the upper right corner. I also gave it a round of USM to sharpen it. The face is soft so I thought it was not critically focused but once I sharpened it, it looked good. For info on sharpening JPGs for posting, go to http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...ead.php?t=5598 and about 1/2 way down Artie discusses it.

  5. #5
    David Franzen
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    Thanks to all for the input. I am on a sharp learning curve here and appreciate your help. Like the crop and agree on the muddied face - hadn't noticed that. Sharpening improved also. Noted Artie's recommendation for sharpening and will give it a try.
    Dave

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    David, Though there are some nits in this image, I actually like the over all setup here. The below out of focus dry branches are a bit distracting. But probably cropping it a bit from the bottom may have worked to some extent. But the best part I like is the top portion of the image, which looks like a painting. I have normally seen images of this species in some kind of perfect setup with clean background, open perch or flying and excellent lighting. The so called perfect image. But this is different and patchy light does work for me. The contrasting background against the bird stands out and compliments the image. This is more like our south Indian forest habitat and probably that's why I like it.
    Rgds,
    Sudhir

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    Besides the above suggestions, using a better beamer would of help this image greatly. In the beginning, I tried these images, but as Artie says, they never really come out well. Also, when I used my 300 2.8 with a 2x, I always really had to watch focus. But also, 1/80, even with a tripod with the best lens combination it would be a trick to get it right. I ended up not liking the 2x much and only using the 1.4tc, especially in not so good light. Wonderful subject though!

  8. #8
    David Franzen
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    Thanks for the input Nancy. I will give the 1.4 a try. I almost always use the 2x simply because I feel it gives a better image because I don't have to crop so much.
    Dave

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