D90 with 80-400 VR at 400 mm.
ISO 800, 1/640s. @ f/5.6; -0.3 EV.
AP, AF, Matrix metering, HH.
I've been meaning to post this one, taken a few months ago. For once I had a fairly cooperative subject and the light at my back. The OOF branch is a bit distracting but I don't know if it is worth trying to clone it out. Now if I could only get one with berries in the mouth like the one Gail posted yesterday.
i think the branch helps frame the bird a little. doesnt bother me at all. i might run some NR on the bg. techs look good but i might have used a little flash to give the light a little punch. looks flat to me. i love these birds. good luck getting one eating!
Very good detail in the subject...the BG is ok to my eyes. Maybe a tad lighter on the eye. I really like the looks of these birds and you did it justice.
Hi Bill - nice looking bird, Exposure HA all look good, would run some NR on the background and lighten the eye just a tad.
Branch doesnt bother me too much.
Keep em coming.
Hi Bill - you got the spectacular yellow band on the tail that I missed, so maybe next time you'll get the berries and I'll get the tail. Also it is lovely to get the red "wax" drops on the wing. I like the composition, and wouldn't try to modify the perch even though the extra bit right in the corner is more perch than we need. Nice even bg.
There is something else happening here. Do you see the kind unsharp, clumped feathers on the breast? That happens to me when I working on a big crop (too big really) and trying to sharpen and keep the noise down all at the same time. All of a sudden I get these kind unattractive, thick feathers, and noise in the bg.
I'm wondering if the point of focus is off a bit. The lichen looks very sharp, but the bird's head really isn't. Maybe those breast clumps are from trying to sharpen what can't be sharpened? Is this a large crop?
I wish I could be more helpful about suggesting how to fix this. I did try to see if I could manage any improvement, but didn't have any luck. Maybe just be closer and get a sharper image to start with. I assume waxwings are around NJ for a while yet. They are photogenic.
Thanks Gail. I see the spot you mean, and I wondered about it too. I often run into the problem of trying to sharpen for detail that isn't there in a large crop, but in this case it is a relatively small crop -- about 20% cropped off the left side. Nikon ViewNX shows the focus point right in the chest where the clumps are (not in the eye where it should be), but I'm not sure I trust that software to show the correct focus point. I agree the lichen looks sharper. Anyway, I'll keep trying. Actually this was shot in Maine, but the Waxwings are indeed around here now. It seems that in addition to berries they also eat bugs, and are currently acting more like flycatchers zooming off their perch to snag a bug and then return to the same branch.
Bill if you don't have much detail in an area best not to sharpen, normally make it worse, also try focusing and repositioning the camera, either use one shot or the rear button to hold focus !!! Important !!
Hi Bill,
This is a sweet capture, agree with Mr. Peters on his fine advise...you have a good head angle and sharp eye contact. I like the feather details...keep them coming...:cool:
Here is the original image, straight out of the camera except for re-sizing for posting. I'd be interested in knowing if you think the problem derives from sharpening.
Looks like some work has been done when comparing images, here is my 2 cents:
1, Setup a work flow, the sequence of events is important and so are standards.
2, Ensure camera setting are solid - the picture techs are solid, but check point of focus and what sensor was used (I assume center sensor)
3, The clumping Gail references comes from working the image. There are usually three main causes, 1-over sharpening (sharpening is an art, it can takes months/years to perfect - and what method to use?), 2-NR executed improperly (too strong or on the subject) and finally large crops and file manipulation.
Regarding workflow here are some suggestions:
1. The best is to purchase The Art of Bird Photography & Digital Basics from Artie Morris.
2. Crop
3. Contrast
4. Brightness
5. Color
6. Defect (cloning, healing brush, Quick Mask etc)
7. Sharpness (always last thing, after file has been sized)
This workflow is only an example. The original looks over sharpened to me, practice makes perfect. What sharpening method do you use and when is it applied in your workflow. This is where the books I mentioned above are so helpful.
I use Quick Pass and Smart Sharpening, always after the file has been sized and prior to posting.
You are asking the right questions and I like your picture, well done.
Last edited by Jeff Cashdollar; 09-11-2009 at 10:19 PM.
Thanks Jeff. That's a very succinct and helpful outline. I do, in fact, own Artie's CD. I find it invaluable, and follow his workflow as outlined. I always sharpen last, using his suggested multiple passes of Unsharp Mask (usually 125/0.4/0; 100/0.2/0; 100/0.2/0). Since purchasing Topaz DeNoise, I have gotten into a lazy habit of running a light NR pass on the entire image, and I'm wondering if this could be the problem. In this case the subject did not need it and could well have hurt it. The clumping was not in the original and clearly was caused by something I did in processing, but I'm not convinced it was in the sharpening (at least not this time).
I have recently (although not in this case) begun experimenting with running a pass of the High Pass Filter (set at 3.0 pixels, Soft Light) and find that it sometimes works well. I run it on a layer and either reduce the opacity or delete the layer if it seems to be too much. Does anyone have any experience with this?
Final note, if you use the work flow in sequence, you can isolate what caused what. If you repeat the steps, it will discover itself. I say 80% chance sharpening, let me know friend what you find out, I can learn from you too.
ps
I run light topaz on entire image all the time.
Last edited by Jeff Cashdollar; 09-12-2009 at 10:04 AM.
Another Cedar Waxwing
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