Got it!

[wendell westfall]

D70s 70-200VR @180 1/1000 f2.8 ISO 200 -2/3EV

I like to watch these little guys dive into the water and come up with their catch.This was taken long ago (June 30, 2008), but since I haven't been out for awhile I'm posting an old image, mostly because I like the "pose." I fear the exposure leaves a lot to be desired. Soon, I'll be photographing this action again and welcome suggestions as to what I could do differently to improve the results. So, please give me your best and toughest critique.

Wendell

[Harold Davis]

wendell, what program are you using for PP? i see you shoot nikon and Capture NX2 has a neat feature. Exposure Compensation. you can go up or down 2 stops. sure, you lose a little detail sometimes, but sometimes you get lucky too!!!!! this is one cool pose and worth trying to save. after cooling the whites i might also work the eye a little to try to get some definition. awesome action captured wendell!!!

[Lance Peters]

Hi Wendell - agree with MR H - cool pose and action - whites do look hot - but looking at them in PS they are around the 235 mark. This close to the action - I think your 1/1000th was not enough to freeze the action completely - hence the soft head area. A increase is ISO would have helped with a faster shutter speed - remember everything else being equal the closer you are to the action - the faster the shutter speed required to freeze the action.
Tack sharp this would be cool with the fish in the bill and all.

[Gus Cobos]

Now that all of the techs. and find advise given, I must say Wendell, this is a killer capture...I like it very much, love the action...looking forward to your next one...:cool:

[Alfred Forns]

Crank the ISO !!!!!!!!!! You need lots of shutter speed for that image btw I don't remember catching anything close .... that dive is faaaaast !!!!

[wendell westfall]

Thanks to all . . . good stuff. I will definitely crank up the ISO for increased shutter speed and adjust my EV! I vow to get a good, clear exposure of a diving tern for posting in a month or two. And, Harold, I use Lightroom and Elements . . .

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Try a faster ISO and expose to the right as far as possible - yes, head is soft as 1/1000th is just not enough. Manual exposure mode may help here and allow a little extra compensation (stop down maybe 2/3 a stop) for whites if matrix metering, which I think may be the best for this type of situation. I really look forward to seeing your future efforts right here on BPN!

[wendell westfall]

Thanks, Akos. You woke me up -- or maybe I'm simply well rested afer a good night's sleep. In any case, your response set me off on a hunt for explanations of the terms "expose to the right" and "stop down", which were very helpful. Perhaps I was finally ready to try understanding them well enough to incorporate the concepts into my photography (you are dealing here with a "semi-novice"). Well, I think I may finally see what the terms mean as a practical matter. Now, if I can remember them well enough (and quickly enough) to put them into practice in the field . . .

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Thanks, Akos. You woke me up -- or maybe I'm simply well rested afer a good night's sleep. In any case, your response set me off on a hunt for explanations of the terms "expose to the right" and "stop down", which were very helpful. Perhaps I was finally ready to try understanding them well enough to incorporate the concepts into my photography (you are dealing here with a "semi-novice"). Well, I think I may finally see what the terms mean as a practical matter. Now, if I can remember them well enough (and quickly enough) to put them into practice in the field . . .

No problems Wendell. I am a novice too, don't you worry about that Sir. :) All easier said than done. I have my moments in the field myself when I don't think fast enough or smart enough. But it is a wonderful learning curve and BPN is the best community of online amateurs and pros sharing and exchanging ideas and methods. :)