Royal Spoonbills in the Rain

[Ian McHenry]

This is the best I could manage from an 800 ISO image taken yesterday in rain and poor light.
Will post original next so would appreciate any reposts or suggestions.
Thanks: Ian McHenry

[Ian McHenry]

Here is the original resized only.
Cheers: Ian Mc

[Lance Peters]

Hi Ian - if you include the full shooting info it will help everyone help you.


First - the horizon needs to be straightened, secondly the large crop has really hurt the image quality - it appears to be very soft, probably the large crop is the main cause - the first post really lacks detail.
I do like the pose of the main bird and the rain.

You dont mention what type of camera you have - but this large of a crop is not going to work very well for you IMHO.

[Kathy Reeves]

What kind of bird is this and where was it taken? It is almost impossible to get a clear detailed bird image without a long lens or getting in closer.

[Gus Cobos]

Hi Ian,
The original full composition shows the habitat, when you have a large crop such as this one, you are opening Pandora's box...now you introduce all types of unwanted variables that degrade the image. I totally agree with Mr. Peters on the techs. mentioned.
I modified your cropped composition to enhance what you posted. I ran noise reduction in the background, opened up the mid-tones and selective sharpened your birds. I re- cropped and ran a level on the water to make it straight. see if this presents well with you...:cool:

[Nonda Surratt]

Agree with all prior comments. I do think the image with habitat, instead of the large crop would look quite nice..You don't always need to be close. Sorta on the order of this maybe?

[Ian McHenry]

Thanks everyone for your comments and reposts.
It's funny how after you post an image to BPN you suddenly see the light before replies received !! LOL.
Anyway my re-edit yesterday came up with something fairly similar to Nondat's.
Details: Pentax K10D at around 9.00 am.
Tamron 70-300 @ F5.6 @1/1500.
Multi-segment metering minus 0.5 EV.
ISO 800.
Bird Species: Royal Spoonbill: Platalea regia.
After looking at this and others taken that day I agree that the least cropping is best especially under these conditions but I do like the wingspread of incoming spoonbill !!!
Really like the clean-up job thanks Gus,also Nonda for repost.
Here is my latest take.
Cheers: Ian Mc

[Nonda Surratt]

Ian,

I really like the colors you have in this re-post. The only thing I would do is straighten the image, needs to go CW a bit, and remove the 1/2 bird on the edge.

Nice job!

[Ian McHenry]

Thanks Nonda
Will have another look at it.
Merry Christmas
Cheers: Ian Mc

[Ian McHenry]

Once more !!!
Straightened, RH partial bird removed and instead of noise reduction applied Coded Color Pro Smart Fix.
Cheers: Ian Mc

[Nonda Surratt]

There ya go Ian!