Western Grebe

[BillTyler]

Shot at Palo Alto Baylands. D300, 500mm f/11 1/800, ISO 800.

Thanks for your comments and criticism.

Bill

[Dave Barnes]

Bill this image looks soft, I think your focus point was in front of and not on the bird.

[Keith Carver]

Nice HA in this pose, although I agree the image is front-focused so that head and eye are a little soft. You might try lightening the BG just a little so that the head and bill are more distinct. Thanks for the post, Bill.

[Arthur Morris]

Hi Bill, And welcome. First off, this is a Clarke's Grebe. The black cap is completely above the eye. You have a good EXP here and a nicely designed image. Either the focus is way, way off or you really messed up the image quality during processing. Can you please post a JPEG that shows us the original capture?

[BillTyler]

Hi Bill, And welcome. First off, this is a Clarke's Grebe. The black cap is completely above the eye. You have a good EXP here and a nicely designed image. Either the focus is way, way off or you really messed up the image quality during processing. Can you please post a JPEG that shows us the original capture?

Here's the original capture, in jpeg, with no processing beyond the jpeg conversion. Thanks for the correction on the species, and for your comment on focus. As you'll see, without exposure/recovery correction, there are a lot of blown-out whites.

Thanks in advance for any additional criticism, comments, and suggestions.

Bill

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Bill. It does not look as if the original was sharply focused. Next steps

#1: How did you focus?
#2: You wrote, "D300, 500mm f/11 1/800, ISO 800." How did you meter?

[BillTyler]

Thanks Bill. It does not look as if the original was sharply focused. Next steps

#1: How did you focus?
#2: You wrote, "D300, 500mm f/11 1/800, ISO 800." How did you meter?

1. Manual focus. I don't have an AF lens at this focal length. Checked the focus indicator as often as possible, but it's not really conveniently located for continuous focusing.

2. I don't recall how this image was metered. I don't recall whether I had set exposure manually or was using aperture priority, and the metadata also doesn't record that fact. In either case, I was checking the histogram. I generally will find myself lowering exposure in post-processing.

Bill

[Gus Cobos]

Hi Bill,
This is quite a crop, considering the reduction in frame, it's not bad at all. I agree with the techs. the head looks a tad on the warm side, I would recommend on selective sharpening the eye and toning down the warm spots on the head and neck area...looking forward to your next one...:cool:

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Bill One suggestion for manually focusing the lens Press the shutter at the beep ... first past the focus point and come back When manually focusing I don't trust the viewfinder !!!

[Arthur Morris]

Hi Bill,

re:

Manual focus. I don't have an AF lens at this focal length. Checked the focus indicator as often as possible, but it's not really conveniently located for continuous focusing.

Ah, that explains a lot. Alfred suggested listening for the focus beep; does your camera have that feature? If so, learn how to use it as it can be a great help.

2. I don't recall how this image was metered. I don't recall whether I had set exposure manually or was using aperture priority, and the metadata also doesn't record that fact.

As far as I know, it shold be in the metadata....

In either case, I was checking the histogram. I generally will find myself lowering exposure in post-processing.

That is good and proper, as long as you do not have any flashing highlights on the back of the camera. Do you have that feature activated?

[Lance Peters]

HI Bill - great advice from Artie!!

Always best to try and get as much right in camera as possible - rather than trying to fix afterwards.

Not bad for such a big crop ;)

[BillTyler]

I'm really overwhelmed with the quantity and quality of the excellent advice this one image has gotten from all you experts. THANK YOU!

The D300 does have a focus beep. Annoyingly, it doesn't work with a manual focus lens, so it's useless. I tested it and read the manual. Works just fine when I don't need it. The real solution is to get a decent long AF lens. I've got the flashing highlights turned on, and they do work.

Thanks again,

Bill

[Arthur Morris]

I'm really overwhelmed with the quantity and quality of the excellent advice this one image has gotten from all you experts. THANK YOU! The D300 does have a focus beep. Annoyingly, it doesn't work with a manual focus lens, so it's useless. I tested it and read the manual. Works just fine when I don't need it. The real solution is to get a decent long AF lens. I've got the flashing highlights turned on, and they do work.
Thanks again, Bill

Hey Bill, YAW. And thank you for your membership support. And thanks for the info. Which 500 do you have?

And yes, getting a good AF lens will drastically increase your enjoyment of life and nature photography!

Let me know if you need any equipment suggestions. :)

[BillTyler]

Hey Bill, YAW. And thank you for your membership support. And thanks for the info. Which 500 do you have?

And yes, getting a good AF lens will drastically increase your enjoyment of life and nature photography!

Let me know if you need any equipment suggestions. :)

Sigma 500mm f/4.5, manual focus. Inexpensive as a used lens, but a good example of "you get what you pay for".

Bill