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Thread: Long Tall Skinny

  1. #1
    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
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    Default Long Tall Skinny

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    This Green Jay was photographed on the Cozad Ranch (Painted Bunting Heaven) with the Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens, the 1.4X II TC, and the EOS-1DMIII. ISO 500. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/100 sec. at f/11. Fill flash with Better Beamer at -1 1/3 stop.

    If you are in South Texas you will want to pay a visit to the Cozad Ranch ASAP; we had as many as four male Painted Buntings on the set at one time. See the blog at www.birdsasart-blog.com for contact info and my SUV Songbird Trip reports.

    Don't be shy; all comments welcome.
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  2. #2
    Art Kornienko
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    Love the colours of the Green Jay, but find the perch a bit overpowering in this comp (although the exposure of the perch itself is real nice).

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    Hi Art,
    A very very nice image! It is like many of the dark/light contrasting birds it is very difficult to get both the darks and the lights correct which I think you seem to be right on (or VERY close)! It looks like the image is missing some "contrast" however since I have never seen a green jay I am not sure, just from an 'artistic" point of view in my opinion....kind of too light overall type thing.
    Best to you!
    Michael

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    Avian Moderator Randy Stout's Avatar
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    Artie:

    I do agree with Art about the perch. It is an interesting perch, but the combination of its size and lightness is too much for the bird. I would be tempted to crop in from the right and add a little canvas to the left so it doesn't look quite so narrow. It would center the bird more, but should work with this vertical composition.

    Sure have enjoyed seeing all the new birds.

    Thanks for sharing them with us!

    Randy

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    Beautiful head and neck colors as well as the soft pastel colors of the breast. To me the perch is OK as it emphasizes the thin profile of the bird.

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    BPN Viewer Dave Leroy's Avatar
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    I find it quite amazing how sharp your photos are. 800mm x1.4 at 1/100 seems pretty remarkable. Dave

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    Default My version

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    My version.

    I have not red all the comments above but I see a purplish or magenta cast on the perch.

    Other than that, I find this to be a beautiful species, it looks so proud up there, like saying: ''I am the king here''

    Lovely work maestro!
    Last edited by Juan Carlos Vindas; 05-06-2009 at 06:55 PM.

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    BPN Viewer Steve Canuel's Avatar
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    Beautiful subject, neat pose. Complimentary colors of perch and BG go nicely with the bird. Although I love the details in the perch, it overpowers the bird in my eye and seems to be pushing him over.

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    I like the comp, and although a bit large compared to the subject, I like it, as it is full of character. Lovely colours on the bird, and like the pose.

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    I like the pose of the bird, the great eye catch and the perch. Yes, it is a big perch but I like it at is. The image looks a bit flat and cold so I made some levels adjustment to pop up the contrat, selective levels adjustment to the black area of the neck, a litle bit of BG toning down, and a touch of saturation and color warm. BTW, i love this species but I have only seen in captivity.

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    IOTY Winner 2009 Mark Dumbleton's Avatar
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    When I initially looked at this image, it did look flat. Repost by Juan looks much better.
    I like the comp in this Arthur.

  12. #12
    Axel Hildebrandt
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    Pose, details, BG and perch look great. I agree regarding more contrast and removing the color cast on the perch.

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    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dave Leroy View Post
    I find it quite amazing how sharp your photos are. 800mm x1.4 at 1/100 seems pretty remarkable. Dave
    You forgot the 1.3X of the camera :):):) = equivalent focal length of 1456 mm or 29.12X magnification....

    #1: It is best to try and lock the tripod head and the lens collar.

    #2: Most that I make at such slow speeds are not sharp for a variety of reasons...

    #3: Perfect sharpness techniques always help.

    #4: The 800 f.5.6 features a new 4-stop IS system. I have made more than a few sharp images at 1/6 sec. with the prime lens alone.
    See the feature on Sharpness Testing in today's Bulletin: www.birdsasart.com/bn289.htm
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

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  14. #14
    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
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    Thanks Juan for the excellent color and contrast work on the repost. I do like the ORIG COMP and the branch.
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

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  15. #15
    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
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    And thanks JC for your repost and comments.
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

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  16. #16
    Dave Phillips
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    :) I'm not being shy today Artie.

    This is a beautiful bird with a super balanced histo.
    The magenta of the perch may be natural to S. TX, but just "looks" unnatural(to me).
    I took it to even a bit more neutral and also opened the upper breast just a wee bit.

    your opinion sir. does it cause the image to lose it's appeakl?

    Last edited by Dave Phillips; 05-10-2009 at 04:46 PM.

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    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
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    Hey Dave, Thanks for the repost. I am actually fine with all of the versions above. Here is the strange thing about this image: if you duplicate the image and run an average blur on that, the RGB shows as 136, 136, 136. Theoretically I believe that this shows that there is no color cast.

    If I take the ORIG image and increase the MAGENTA SAT, it indeed shows lots of MAGENTA in the tree. If I reduce the MAGENTA SAT 30 points, the trunk looks more neutral but when I check the average blur color balance the RGB still reads 136, 136, 136. Go figure as that makes no sense to me.

    I wrote somehwere a few days ago that if you process the same image five days in a row, all starting from scratch, no two would be identical as far as color and contrast. IE, a lot of this is quite subjective.
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

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  18. #18
    Dave Phillips
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    thanks for response Artie....opens my mind just a wee bit more

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    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
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    YAW and no problema. I have not been shy either today. This is my 106th post today. Call it making up for lost time....
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

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