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Thread: Woodcock (following Artie's advice)

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    Default Woodcock (following Artie's advice)

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    Taken last Sunday.
    I tried to follow Artie's suggestions from a previous post and
    did all the work on my knees instead flat on the belly.
    This way I got more evenly lit BG and less "nighty" feel. The main problem was
    focusing of course so I went with f/11 to get more DOF
    to minimize errors with focus. The eye was purple, so
    I tried to give it more brown natural look in PS.
    Few grass stems removed too. Almost full frame 70% or so.
    CC appreciated.

    Nikon D700 300mm+TC14 f/11 1/60 ISO400; flash SB800 TTL

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    never seen one of these birds. i didnt see your last post, but i gather this is a nite shot? if so, nice job with the flash work. i'd still go in and work the eye. looks red on my monitor. but then again, i dont know the true color of their eyes. i actually like the habitat. it shows how animals can blend into their surroundings.

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    Fabs Forns
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    I like the flash on the bird, but to my taste, the BG is too light. Of course, this is a matter of taste, but if this is a nocturnal bird, a darker BG would look more real? You can burn it, especially on the light areas around the borders that take attention away from him.
    Good low angle.

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    BPN Member Don Lacy's Avatar
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    Really cool looking bird, you have a nice HA and I like how the habitat gives a nice sense of place., agree with fabs on darkening the BG a bit.
    Don Lacy
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    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
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    Way, way better. I did some crude work on the eye and reduced the contrast. I agree that the brighter grasses are bright :) I think that reducing the contrast was a big help.
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    Very nice shot I like the details and inclusion of habitat. I also prefer a bit darker for more night feel. TFS
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    Robert O'Toole
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    Interesting image! The sharpness is great and the all the little growth is interesting also. The colors in the plumage are really nice.

    The foreground in the original was worse than the BG for me. Anyway I like arties re-post, good job.

    Robert

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    llija

    And may be, wait a minute on your knee that the bird take a non stress position (here it's readdy to flush), and you will have it eating. You can approach these bird by night with a spot light..and during you spot it, It will have normal actitud, and can get very close (I trap JAck snipe and Common snipe by hand), and make easier the focus.
    I never try this species but I caught lot of Eurasian Woodcock like that. Let us know
    Manuel

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    Great, thank you for the comments. Very useful as always.
    Night photography seems like an entire different world. It is lots of fun...

    Artie: Thanks a ton for the comment and re-post.
    I was struggling with the eye, I tried to make it dark brown,
    on my monitor it is not too red. Now I think in night shots it is better
    to keep it darker as in your re-post.


    Fabs: The dry grass in the original shot was even brighter,
    parts of it overexposed, I actually darkened
    parts of it, I guess not enough. When it comes of the night feel
    of images of this type, I understand what you are saying.
    Recently I had one post on the opposite
    extreme with most of the image being black BG:

    http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...ad.php?t=60544

    In any case it is lots of fun experimenting with night photography.

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    Ilija, I really like the sweet pose and the eye on this little one. I have never seen one of these and it is most adorable. Artie's repost does look good.

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    Quote Originally Posted by denise ippolito View Post
    Ilija, I really like the sweet pose and the eye on this little one. I have never seen one of these and it is most adorable. Artie's repost does look good.
    Thanks Denise,

    You must have lots of these in NJ. Why don't you try to find them.
    Any 2nd growth open area surrounded by woods on a warm calm evening
    may have displaying woodcocks this time of the year. Get there just after sunset and
    listen for their nasal (very funny:)) 'preeep' calls. The flying displays
    last for about an hour after sunset. Try it, and don't forget to have
    a flashlight with you:)

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    Ilija, I will give it a try. Thanks. They are so cute.:)

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