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Thread: Sharp-tailed Grouse

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    Default Sharp-tailed Grouse





    Canon 40D
    500L IS + 1.4x
    1/125
    f7.1
    ISO 400
    spot metering
    1 hand held


    We've had overcast sky's for two weeks now, the sun tried to break through for a few minutes which was more then welcomed. We ran into a small flock of sharpies who allowed us a few shots before they flew off.

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    Very nice, Darren! The only thing I'd do is clone out the grass behind her beak.

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    Super Moderator Daniel Cadieux's Avatar
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    Man, the habitat is just PERFECT. The mound behind your subject is an excellent touch. I agree I would eliminate the grass running behind the bill, and I do wish for a slightly better head angle. Love the patterns on the plumage :-)

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    very well done Darren, sweet image.

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    Darren, I am not always in with the every bird has to be looking at the lens thing - so I guess I love the head looking in a natural setting that you captured this bird in. It looks as if there is a bit of catch light so I would try to lighten that up. Great exposure! Bob

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    BPN Member Steve Maxson's Avatar
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    A sweet image, Darren. The exposure is right on and I love the winter habitat. I would agree about cloning the grass stem and lightening the eye.

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    Super Moderator Daniel Cadieux's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Malbon View Post
    I am not always in with the every bird has to be looking at the lens thing...
    But what I see here is the head as being angled ever so slightly away from the viewer...I only wish for it to be at least perfectly parallel, not necessarily towards us. Anyhow, this is one I wish I had in my files!:)

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    Thanks for some of the constructive critique gentlemen. I usually accept the poses that the subject gives me. Yes sometimes I look at an image and wish for something better, but really that is not constructive criticism. IMO an image should be critiqued on its own merit, not on what we wish for.

    The suggestion from Mike is valid and is the first thing I noticed. I decided to leave it "as is" because there are several oof grasses that I could clone out. I am very comfortable in my Photoshop abilities so I could spend time cleaning up some of those imperfections and perhaps I might when time allows. :D

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    Lovely image, Darren. I agree with Dan's comment on head angle despite the fact that this image works very well. Unless we can articulate what we wish for and why, we are relying on luck to achieve it. The making of an image is a dynamic process and often we need to attend to all the technical basics and take an "insurance photo" or two and then wait for the bird to (hopefully) offer a slight head turn and be prepared to take the opportunity when it arises. Critiquing the image as presented without including what we would wish for eliminates the opportunity to learn from hindsight and turn it into foresight for next time. None of this takes away from this superb image of yours but may help a future one move a little step forward which really is what BPN is all about.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Malbon View Post
    Darren, I am not always in with the every bird has to be looking at the lens thing - so I guess I love the head looking in a natural setting that you captured this bird in. It looks as if there is a bit of catch light so I would try to lighten that up. Great exposure! Bob
    Hey Bob, You are of course free to like what you want but in this image and 99.9% of similar images having the bird's head turned away from square to the back of the camera (even ever-so-slightly) greatly reduces the impact of the photograph (as it has done here).
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    Taking a second look, with the bird's angled slightly toward us, it is imperative that the bird have its head on straight, i.e., parallel to its body.

    I love the setting and the subject and the feather patterns. Sharpest focus seems to be on the folded wing, thus the head could use some aggressive selective sharpening.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Arthur Morris View Post
    Taking a second look, with the bird's angled slightly toward us, it is imperative that the bird have its head on straight, i.e., parallel to its body.

    I love the setting and the subject and the feather patterns. Sharpest focus seems to be on the folded wing, thus the head could use some aggressive selective sharpening.

    Indeed selective sharpening was used. CS2/ polygonal lasso around my subject/ smart sharpen/ amount 60/radius 0.4/ lens blur

    I should have mentioned this was full frame and with the 1.4 tc center point focus only.

    Low light conditions I used what I felt was best for this situation. An ISO 400 and f7.1 I'm afraid any higher ISO would introduce too much noise for my liking. My shutter speed was so slow the only alternative would be upping the ISO and stopping down further.

    In any event, I think I did the best I could under these conditions :)

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    Hi Darren,

    re:

    Indeed selective sharpening was used. CS2/ polygonal lasso around my subject/ smart sharpen/ amount 60/radius 0.4/ lens blur

    I was suggesting more aggressive sharpening on the head.

    I should have mentioned this was full frame and with the 1.4 tc center point focus only.

    Well that explains why focus is on the near wing.

    Low light conditions I used what I felt was best for this situation. An ISO 400 and f7.1 I'm afraid any higher ISO would introduce too much noise for my liking. My shutter speed was so slow the only alternative would be upping the ISO and stopping down further.

    Or using a tripod.

    In any event, I think I did the best I could under these conditions

    I was not suggesting that you did anything less than your best, was just trying to help you make better images.
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    Super Moderator Daniel Cadieux's Avatar
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    Tony, thanks for articulating so well what I was thinking...I was at work and didn't have the time to reply. I'll just another few cents:

    Darren, I have to respectfully disagree with the below quote.

    Yes sometimes I look at an image and wish for something better, but really that is not constructive criticism. IMO an image should be critiqued on its own merit, not on what we wish for.
    Many people look at these threads and like to read the critiques/comments. By pointing out what we "wish" for in an image lets all of these people know what would/could/should be better. I think its fair to say that we all strive to be better, and in some cases some strive for perfection (we should all!!)...this is another way to point them in that direction. I know wishing can't change what was...but it sure can help change what can be. Some may not think it is constructive, so be it. But many more will find these "wishes" very helpful for their own growth in their persuit of the perfect wildlife photograph.

    Respectfully, Dan:cool:

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    Quote Originally Posted by DarrenMcKenna View Post
    I usually accept the poses that the subject gives me. Yes sometimes I look at an image and wish for something better, but really that is not constructive criticism. IMO an image should be critiqued on its own merit, not on what we wish for.
    Hi Darren, I usually try to avoid reading all the comments before doing a critique and thus missed your comment above. With this image, the bird was surely moving its head almost constantly as birds do all the time. When folks say, "I wish for a better head angle" they are politely trying to say that the photographer needs to be more aware of the position of the head when they depress the shutter button. With this image and the focus on the near-wing a decent head turn would have yielded a much sharper face and eye as they would have been closer to the plane of focus.

    So yes, as Tony says, "wishing" is often a valid way to get a point across in a critique. Some folks stubbornly defend their images by stating that they are photographing "what is." As photographers, our job is not to document what is but to create pleasing images. And that is exactly what we are trying to do here at BPN.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Arthur Morris View Post
    Some folks stubbornly defend their images by stating that they are photographing "what is."

    Thanks for your input Arthur. I see way too many times a persons desire for a "wish" comment. As a photographer I merely presented here what I saw in the field. Hand held in -20 Celsius with blowing wind. Not ideal conditions.

    I am not trying to defend anything, merely telling what I saw with my camera. I snapped 12 shots of this bird before it flew off. Nothing staged with only a couple seconds to compose and shoot.
    I selected out of 12 images the one that I liked the most to present here.

    BTW Arthur I've seen many times here where you do the very same thing. That is countering someone's critique of your images.

    I have no ego to defend, the critiques are valid except "wishes" do not improve anyone's ability as a photographer.

    cheers

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    As I said above, presenting what you "saw in the field" does not mean that you have created a good or excellent image. Here is seems like an excuse. As far as -20 handheld, there are no difficulty points awarded in photography as there are in gymastics. All that the viewer can judge is the image.

    And yes, you are correct, if I disagree with a point in a critique I often comment to that effect. If you were doing that here, you would be saying, "I wanted to make this image with the bird facing away and I like it best that way." That is not what you are saying.

    While you may be reading what Daniel, Tony, and I have been writing you simply are not getting it.

    By recognizing, understanding, and being open to accepting what other "wish" they had seen in your image, one can become a much better photographer.
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    Thanks again for your input Arthur. No excuse were meant, just telling you the facts. Good or bad my image should stand on its own merit. I'll save my "wishes" for Santa

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    YAW. Fair enough.
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    Darren,
    Beautiful as presented. Well exposed and composed.
    No wishful thinking here. IMO while the head angle is nice, being at least parallel to the image plane would make this a stronger image.
    On using the center AF sensor. With a USM lens, it is easy to quickly acquire focus, press AF lock button and then manually move the critical focus to the birds eye.
    James

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    Quote Originally Posted by James Shadle View Post
    Darren,
    Beautiful as presented. Well exposed and composed.
    No wishful thinking here. IMO while the head angle is nice, being at least parallel to the image plane would make this a stronger image.
    On using the center AF sensor. With a USM lens, it is easy to quickly acquire focus, press AF lock button and then manually move the critical focus to the birds eye.
    James
    Thank you for your observation James. I seldom use AF lock, well at least not while hand holding the 500mm lens. My technique is very different then what you might expect. When I have it mounted on my Gitzo/Wimberly combo it is not such a problem. I am not trying to make any excuses, but it is a little difficult having one hand and wouldn't you know it, it's the left hand. So I do what I can with what I have.



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    Darren,
    I have a full complement of fingers and it would still be hard to use AF lock hand holding! That is why I am a tripod guy!:)

    Very good looking hand holding tech, many photographers overlook the value of pressing the camera into their face to help absorb weight and vibration.

    James

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