Galapagos #2/Bill-y Boy

[Arthur Morris]

We floated by this pelican and I was not very much interested as I had the 400 DO in my hands and we were close. But when he started to preen, my interest was piqued. (I created just one frame.)

Canon 400mm f/4 IS DO lens (handheld) with the 1.4X II TC and the EOS-1D MIII. ISO 640. Evaluative metering +1 1/3 stops: 1/500 sec. at f/5.6 in Tv mode.

To learn the auto-ISO/Tv mode trick that I came up with on the trip, see the July 24th blog entry, "More From the Pangas," here: http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/

Don't be shy; all comments welcome.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Artie, I like it a lot. I like all of the diagonal lines from the dark feathers to the bill. And I love the subtle colors
in the bg that match the bill:)

_______
Cheryl

[Dave Mills]

Hi Art, The lighting,exposure,detail, backround etc...all right on! I'm torn on this one. Not sure if the average viewer would know whats going on here without an explanation.

[Arthur Morris]

Hi Art, The lighting,exposure,detail, backround etc...all right on! I'm torn on this one. Not sure if the average viewer would know whats going on here without an explanation.

It's a good thing then that you are smarter than the average bear. :) :D :)

[Cindy Cone]

I'm not sure the average viewer needs to know what's going on - that's what makes it interesting ( as well as OOTB). I like the feather detail and the diagonal line of the beak. Thanks for the info on the Auto-ISO/Tv mode, Artie.

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Cindy. I should have mentioned that not all cameras have either auto-ISO or as Canon calls it on the pro bodies, ISO Safety Shift.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Great tight crop Maestro. I like it, I am however, in two minds about the brownish plumage in the ULC.
TFS MOATB.

Thanks For Sharing Master Of All Things Birds :D

[Jay Gould]

Artie, I don't mind the brown plumage; it give the image balance and context.

For me as a learner, it is your amazing spot-on constantly correct choice of EC.

I keep reading in your BAAs and other about the application of EC depending upon whether the scene is darker or lighter than mid-tonal range. I understand (I know you will correct me if I say it wrong) the general principle that the darker the scene the more your aperture is going to open up and the lighter the scene the more your meter is going to cause the aperture to close at a given SS. And,I understand that the camera's meter is always striving for average tonal reproduction causing white and black to move to grey so that you need to apply the correct EC to offset the camera's meter and create the actual colors in the scene.

One of the main purposes/enjoyments for me is to evaluate the colors of your images and the EC you have applied to offset the camera's metering.

In this image the + 1 1/3 stops has made the breast feathers appear like they are - soft and cuddly, white almost like snow, and definable.

Thank you, I learn from every one of your images. ;):D

[Arthur Morris]

Oshie, I think that the brown in the ulc makes the image as it parallels the bill to some degree and ties the whole thing together. Try a crop without it and you will see...

[Arthur Morris]

Jay,

re:

I don't mind the brown plumage; it give the image balance and context.

Me neither.

For me as a learner, it is your amazing spot-on constantly correct choice of EC.

I keep reading in your BAAs and other about the application of EC depending upon whether the scene is darker or lighter than mid-tonal range. I understand (I know you will correct me if I say it wrong) the general principle that the darker the scene the more your aperture is going to open up and the lighter the scene the more your meter is going to cause the aperture to close at a given SS. And,I understand that the camera's meter is always striving for average tonal reproduction causing white and black to move to grey so that you need to apply the correct EC to offset the camera's meter and create the actual colors in the scene.

That is an accurate generalization but do realize that the various brands and models expose differently....

One of the main purposes/enjoyments for me is to evaluate the colors of your images and the EC you have applied to offset the camera's metering.

In this image the + 1 1/3 stops has made the breast feathers appear like they are - soft and cuddly, white almost like snow, and definable.

I could have actually gone a bit more plus with this one I think. No that I am using ACR I am not happy with the EXP unless I have some highlights to Recover....

Thank you, I learn from every one of your images.

YAWFS

[Jay Gould]

Artie, just a quickie!

By various brands and models you are referring to camera manufacturers and their various bodies?!

And, when you say you are not happy with the EXP unless you have some highlight to RECOVER, you are referring to exposing ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT so that there are some tiny blinkies in the LCD thereby telling you that you have captured as much information on the both sides of the histogram as practicable; correct?

I feel like Liza - I think I am starting to "get it"!

[Arthur Morris]

re:

By various brands and models you are referring to camera manufacturers and their various bodies?!

Yes.

And, when you say you are not happy with the EXP unless you have some highlight to RECOVER, you are referring to exposing ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT so that there are some tiny blinkies in the LCD thereby telling you that you have captured as much information on the both sides of the histogram as practicable; correct?

That is how it generally works out but is not exactly what I said. Go back to what I said to see what I said.... (And remember, the histogram you are seeing on the camera is generated from the JPEG and is therefore more contrasty.)

I feel like Liza - I think I am starting to "get it"

That would be good.