All my previous posts have been of images photographed and processed as good as I can do them. But in this case, I have deliberately done nothing to the RAW image beyond downloading (in Nikon's NEF format) to my computer, then converting it to JPG in order to upload it here. On the 23rd I posted an image ("Building a nest"), and Harold remarked that it would be interesting to see the GBH in flight "carrying that massive branch". Well, i have five images of that very activity, "Coming In" to the nest with that "massive branch", this being the best one. But as you see it is not good. I'd like to know what different camera setting I might have used in order to get a better result? And whether any PP can salvage this image -- I've tried, but I cannot salvage it. The day was only a bit overcast and I had my back to the sun. (And, by the way, I went back this morning, which was a heavily overcast day and tried Alfred's suggestion of increasing EV for some BIF images; however, it was simply too dark. Perhaps tomorrow the sky will brighten up some)
Hi Wendell - are you using Matrix Metering?? and your histogram??? Looks considerably under exposed. How Matrix metering works is it looks at this scene and goes wow look at all this bright stuff here -- we have to reduce this brightness and it shuts down to try and make everything a middle tone, this is were you come in and say hang on a sec -- I know better than you --- you dumb camera --- I want to expose for the dark bird which means I need to add some light which you do via the exposure compenstaion button.
On my camera I would have been at +.7 - +1.0 maybe - I might have even tried for a high key image and really bumped the + compenstaion.
Yes, Lance, I do use Matrix Metering. And as you see I made no EV adjustment -- guess it should have been + something, as Alfred suggested . . . and, no, I did not consult my Histogram during those exposures . . . foolish of me . . . I'll implement your suggestions next time . . . thanks for the input . . . I tried this morning, but I guess the conditions were just too 'bad" . . .
Hi Wendell - How were the conditions bad?? Not much Light? Dont be afraid to crank that exposure compenstaion up - I have done high key images were I have been at +3.3EV.
:)
Even with this small jpeg, there's lots of "juice" in there that you can bring out, and without uncovering a lot of noise.. If you shot raw, you could do a good deal better than this quick adjustment. Very nice capture!
Real quick and dirty changes (I am at work) Levels adjustment, contrast adjustment - sharpened (sharpened the whole image - no time to select) not perfect but will give you the idea....
Hi Wendell,
I like your capture with the wide spread wings...and the building material for the nest...All of the techs. have been addressed as far as your exposure, metering pattern and the compensation factor...looking forward to your next one...:cool:
that is great wendell!!! he's a log truck!! reposts are great. no doubt more detail will be in a properly exposed image, though.
i think, and al can correct me, for the exposure setting, meter off some blue sky 90 degrees from the sun at a 45 degree angle and add around 1.3 stops for the great blue heron. should put you in the ballpark.
Wendall, I don't really have a specific comment on the shot. But I am glad you posted this as I have similar problems getting good exposure on osprey and bald eagles with bright skies and backlit birds. Now, I use a Canon 40D and it has Evaluative, Partial, Spot and Center Weighted metering. I normally use spot metering and guestimate the exposure comp. And it's pretty hit or miss. Which is closer to the matrix metering y'all are talking about?
Nice shot and David's repost looks great! Interesting reading about the exposure settings. I recently switched from using spot metering for bird shots to using matrix metering, and, yes, you do frequently have to adjust the exposure compensation to get the right exposure because the camera can be quite stupid at times :D!
Did did a masterful job of bringing in some detail in the feathers.
Here the only thing you need as in "any" image is get the right exposure !!!!! You are over one stop under probably closer to two!!!! Glad you posted the original since it does drive the point home big time !!!!
Coming In
