Went out on Friday more on a landscape scouting but did run into this guy about midday. No way to get good light on him, I just gave it some +exp comp until the background was barely blinking just to see what I could do. The 5d2 files are amazing and I have shots at iso3200 that I will be using. This wasn't that extreme, but with some fiddling in the hue/sat/luminosity slider in ACR, 2 highlight mulitplies with masking of the darks on the owl, and dodging/burning I got this. Not something that I care to do anything with due to other elements, but I just wanted to show what it possible. And I'm sure it could be fine tuned much more.
And here's a jpeg made from the unprocessed dng. The starting point. And exposing to the right sure helps with noise, though the 5d2 doesn't need much help.
Hi Paul.
Very good image of this stunning raptor. Your PS work did wonders here but as you state the 5DMKII does not need much help when it comes into noise. I see a green cast especially on the tree.
Excellent image optimization skills. I love the brnac that the bird is perched on and the leaves in front of it. Not so the branch by the tail...
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Nice image and well processed. I might crop down just a bit from the top, and maybe brighten the overall image just a bit. However, the brightness balance in the processed file is a significant improvement. Very nice.
Thanks for the comments guys, I am not planning to do anything with this due to the branches but just wanted to show what was possible. I'm not for cloning that much out. Just means I gotta spend more time out with the owls...oh the torture. =)
Paul, your Photoshop work here is really top notch...excellent restoration of shadow detail and taming of the spotty highlights. You are right that 5D MII files are fun to use!! :) I might suggest that the whitepoint seemed too gray, so I did a quick levels adjustment...and then noticed a green color cast. Just a couple thoughts...
It's been way too long since I've seen a Barred Owl!