With landscape images, creating a stitched panorama would not raise a single eyebrow, but with birds and wildlife that would not be the case, especially when the image was not pre-planned... This is the first older image that I have posted here as there are two interesting stories that go with it.
I was teaching an IPT at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm on May 15, 2006. Jack Panzeca a good friend and multiple IPT veteran was right on my shoulder with another two folks packed in tightly around us. I was teaching the flash as main light technique. It was pre-dawn with white skies. We had a nest just above our position with two active chicks. Just after we had fine-tuned the exposure (while working in Manual flash mode) this chick raised up and yawned. And missed. I cut about 1/8 inch off the tip of the upper mandible. But boy, what a spectacular frame. While editing I noticed that the next frame had the top of the bill and the head in it with the bird in roughly the same position but without the huge gaping mouth and throat. At the time I did not know a Quick Mask from Zorro's mask and by sheer luck--after expanding the canvas, I hit the exact perfect spot with the Clone stamp. I could not do that again in a million tries. (Today, using Robert O'Toole's QM techniques (as described in APTATS), creating the stitched panorama would have been a snap. IAC, I loved the resulting image.
The other day I received an e-mail from the folks at NWF asking about the image which they wanted to use as a full page in one of their children's publications. I told them that the image was a combination of two images. Next day I got a call from the Photo Editor who was not exactly thrilled to learn that the image was a composite. She suggested that we should have indicated that in either the EXIF data or the image caption as we always do with images of captive animals (though I do that only very rarely). I agreed. I explained that there was nothing in the final image that was not there at the moment I pressed the shutter button. The next day I got a call and learned that after much discussion in a staff meeting that they had decided to use it labeled as a digital composite. Ranger Rick was actually the very first publication to let their readers know (via a letter code) if an image was of a captive animal or if it was created in controlled conditions. I applauded that when it happened and applaud it now.
The image was created with the Canon 500mm f/4 L IS lens with the 2X II TC and the EOS-1Ds MII. ISO 400. 1/250 sec. at f/25 in Manual mode with the flash at 1:2 in Manual flash mode (with a Better Beamer). Can anyone explain how the white sky was rendered blue in the original?
Don't be shy; all comments welcome. Later and love, artie
Last edited by Arthur Morris; 02-10-2008 at 05:44 PM.
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That is one scary looking muppet. I had a similar experience with a hawk. I clipped the wing tips, but in the next frame they were there. These digital tools are great!
Very unusual expression! I'll take a stab at the question ... your flash properly exposed the subject bird ... which is closer than the far away white sky. The ambient light to the sky, in comparison to the flashed subject became underexposed in the original image.
If I get two guesses ... someone who does not mind (not you!!) creating composites could make two processed RAW images ... say one with a background using a different white balance (more blue), and then combining the two.
i've been staring at this shot for a while and i can't make out any evidence to suggest that this is 2 images. Amazing that you did this with cloning...
Amazing shot.I suppose we're not really meant assign human expressions or feelings to animals but if you asked me, I'd say this bird looks pretty happy! Thanks for sharing artie. One of those shots that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside!
As I say this, i think I may have spotted the transition from image to image. Change in the tone of the sky on the right about level with th eye. anyone else?
Great hairdo and dentist's perspective. :) I'm quite interested how the color of the sky changed. Can't have been easy because of the white plumage, unless I'm missing something, which is not unlikely. :)
Excellent combined image of the subject. On the right side though, I can see an abrupt transition of sky tones . . a horizontal line just above the eyes at right.
On the sky, I would think the exposure theories mentioned would render a white sky as gray, not blue. So I do not have a clue.
Last edited by Jeff Nadler; 02-10-2008 at 07:12 PM.
Yes, with flash as main light the sky was about ten stops under... Since it was a clear pre-dawn, it came out blue not grey. I see the change in tones of the sky but the stuff I added was well above that... Not sure where it came from. Worst of all is the fact that I unwittingly got rid of the 2nd image... And the bird was happy. One of the adults had just landed above the nest with a bellyful of fish bits to regurgitate.
later and love to all, and thanks for your comments, artie
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.
BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.
Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,
Stitched Panorama of Interest...
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