And you are??

[Vince Maidens]

Hi Folks, new here but wanting to jump in with both feet so I can improve what little I already know! Thanks in advance.

Camera Maker: Canon
Camera Model: 7D
Focal Length: 300mm
Aperture: f/7.1
Exposure Time: 1/320th
ISO equiv: 400
Manual, Handheld
Better Beamer shot at chest to bring out feather detail.

I really do not love the background, but it does seem to offer some contrast. Noise adjustments / crop done in LR 3 Beta 2.

Also I forgot to switch from AI Servo to One-Shot.



Vince

[Dave Mills]

Hi Vince, welcome aboard! Good detail in the feathers but the left side of the head is too shaded.Also the yellow area is a bit blown due to the harsh light. I would crop the right side up to where the white area ends. I would also try and clone out(if you have a mind to) the white streak going through the head. These backround elements can be very distracting.
Due to the birds head being partially shaded I would have made more of an effort on the face rather than the chest with the beamer.
A few things to be aware of...good lighting,sharpness(which you achieved)exposure and a backround which doesn't compete with your center of interest.
Keep them coming...

[Vince Maidens]

Thank you sir! Greatly appreciate that, I do hate the background i nearly just want to make it a solid colour and be done with it. I'll have to fiddle with the clone after hours. Would you clone out the entire line or just the frame around the head? Crop I can do right now, and as you mention it, it does make much more sense to lose some wing as opposed to drawing the eye to a bad place.

[Dave Mills]

The entire line Vince..

[Lance Peters]

Hi Vince - big warm welcome to the BPN family - no better way to learn that to jump right in - don't hesitate to comment on other peoples images as well- all we ask is that you say what you like or don't like about the image - will help you learn and help others as well.

Best to have the sun at your back were possible for even illumination on your subject.
Agree with Daves' Comments - lovely fine feather detail.
As for the BG - it is of course possible to do anything you want with it - just be sure to disclose any changes when posting the image.

Arties book will be a big help if you do not already have it.
Looking forward to seeing more :)

[Vince Maidens]

Hi and thanks Lance, appreciate the kind words.

I'd have had the sun to my back, but I wasn't going to be able to make that shot without being exactly where I was at the time.

This has been a good exercise so far, makes me sure I need another photoshop course too :) I've got the crop done and the background removed, but now it just looks a bit off. With the white pipe gone it has thrown the rest of an already bad background off even more.

I think I want to start over with a different image.

[Lance Peters]

Hi and thanks Lance, appreciate the kind words.

I'd have had the sun to my back, but I wasn't going to be able to make that shot without being exactly where I was at the time.

This has been a good exercise so far, makes me sure I need another photoshop course too :) I've got the crop done and the background removed, but now it just looks a bit off. With the white pipe gone it has thrown the rest of an already bad background off even more.

I think I want to start over with a different image.

:) In time you may find that you take a different approach and try to get as much correct IN-CAMERA as possible - often though nothing you can do about a bad BG. Sometimes our subjects just do not want to co-operate :)