Great Egret: This Evening at the Roost

[Bob Decker]

I had a chance to return to the Egret roosting area this evening. Light rain, overcast and getting dark quickly. I tried to apply some of the suggestions I received in my first post plus from a quick scan of my new copy of "The Art of Bird Photography II" (Thanks for the suggestion, Jeff). I'm still not satisfied with detail or noise levels, but I think it's an improvement.

Canon 40D
Sigma 50-500mm @ 500
580EX II + Better Beamer
f 7.1
1/100
ISO 800
Amvona Carbon Fiber Tripod & Ball head

Post: RAW conversion via ACR (boost to saturation, vibrance, clarity + minor exposure and white balance adjustment), this is about a 1/3 crop, Unsharp mask on bird, noise reduction on background, slight curves adjustment in CS3.

[Lance Peters]

hi Bob - your workflow looks good - but still looks a little soft and lacking in detail. Might have to stop down a bit more with that lens to get the best out of it. Where was your focus point?? The legs look to be the sharpest to my eye's. Dont forget to keep a eye on the light angle.
Like the pose and the HA - BG has a real christmassy feel to it.
keep them coming :)

[Gus Cobos]

A very nice capture Bob,
I too see it a tad on the soft side, would stop down your aperture setting, depending if lighting conditions permit...would selective sharpen the eye...looking forward to the next one...:cool:

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Bob

Probably made the best possible from your position, not much light and the shutter speed was low. If doing again would try same settings rather than increase ISO and lock down the tripod and use a good long lens technique. Tough but will get some even sharper.

In rookeries the oof birds in the bg are always a problem, particularly at the edges of the frame. For the one at the bottom just corp out and its fine, the one on the left is tough since removing would involve the branch. Do like the bg and looks like you have a productive location !!!

[Harold Davis]

"Christmasy!!" i like it! i'd try to lighten the eye area a little. better light and stopping down that lens will help tons as far as detail in the bird goes. long lens technique goes a long way too!!!

[Bob Decker]

Re: "Long lens technique," I had the ball head locked down and used the self-timer to trigger the shutter since I didn't have my remote release with me. What else might have helped?

[Harold Davis]

Re: "Long lens technique," I had the ball head locked down and used the self-timer to trigger the shutter since I didn't have my remote release with me. What else might have helped?

get you a mongoose, bob. will help tons!!! i mean it. i used a ballhead for over a year with that same lens. still have it and use the mongoose. ton sharper images with it. helps to have a super sturdy tripod too. artie has the stuff at his store. click on the orange banner above and check it out. i got the 3.5a. now it's the 3.5b which should be even better. and no, i dont get kickbacks. i have ordered stuff from there and it always gets shipped and delivered quick!!