Food Exchange - WTK

[Conrad Tan]

Hello everyone! I've finally captured White Tailed Kite action I've been waiting weeks to get, food exchange in good light. Well I got it alright, with TOO MUCH light :eek::eek::eek: I seem to have blown out these whites in certain areas and have tried to recover as much as I can. Any advice other than the recovery tool and decreasing highlights? When I bring exposure down, the whites turn kinda pink :confused: Shoot it again? :p

Canon 7D
400mm f/5.6 @ f/6.3
1/3200s
ISO 640
+1EV
Shutter Priority
Cloned out power lines in the BG.
Don Edwards Wildlife Sanctuary, Alviso, California around 4PM

[arash_hazeghi]

Hi Conrad,
This is one tough shot to get did very well, the behavior takes this to the top, I like the vole and that eyes are visible. Do wish the birds were more separated.

Is this a very tight crop? It seems that IQ has suffered a bit and there is noise in the dark areas given that ISO wasn't that high. As for blown highlights looks like you did too much recovery since they look pink on my screen, if the pixels in those regions are saturated you can't do much with highlight recovery, best is to just clone texture from adjacent areas into those regions ;)

Good work, TFS

[Conrad Tan]

Hi Conrad,
This is one tough shot to get did very well, the behavior takes this to the top, I like the vole and that eyes are visible. Do wish the birds were more separated.

Is this a very tight crop? It seems that IQ has suffered a bit and there is noise in the dark areas given that ISO wasn't that high. As for blown highlights looks like you did too much recovery since they look pink on my screen, if the pixels in those regions are saturated you can't do much with highlight recovery, best is to just clone texture from adjacent areas into those regions ;)

Good work, TFS

Thanks Arash, yes this action was over 50 yards away. My 400mm + 7D just couldn't get much more detail than this unfortunately. So this heavy crop is at 87%. Pretty bad huh? I think +1EV was too much for white birds even though I spot metered. I think you're right I should have cloned in texture from adjacent areas. Thanks for the words of support my friend! ;)

[arash_hazeghi]

Thanks Arash, yes this action was over 50 yards away. My 400mm + 7D just couldn't get much more detail than this unfortunately. So this heavy crop is at 87%. Pretty bad huh? I think +1EV was too much for white birds even though I spot metered. I think you're right I should have cloned in texture from adjacent areas. Thanks for the words of support my friend! ;)

BTW, if you had used evaluative +1EV those whites wouldn't have been blown, not a big fan of spot for flight, tough to get it right!!!

still great image, TFS.

[Conrad Tan]

BTW, if you had used evaluative +1EV those whites wouldn't have been blown, not a big fan of spot for flight, tough to get it right!!!

still great image, TFS.

Really? I was always told to use spot metering white birds in bright light. Hmmm... I'm pretty good at keeping the bird in the center circle especially with the slower raptors like kites. I'll go back and try it tomorrow! Wanna join me? Don Edwards in Alviso man!

[Rick Moran]

Great behaviour shot Conrad. I like the angle and lighting and although the IQ suffers from cropping it's still a great capture.

[arash_hazeghi]

Really? I was always told to use spot metering white birds in bright light. Hmmm... I'm pretty good at keeping the bird in the center circle especially with the slower raptors like kites. I'll go back and try it tomorrow! Wanna join me? Don Edwards in Alviso man!

Just imagine what will happen when the spot falls on the whites and you have +1 EV ;)

Looks like you had fun with these guys in Alvisio, unfortunately this weekend is going to be super busy with work, hopefully I will catch up next week, see you around and good luck!

[Conrad Tan]

Great behaviour shot Conrad. I like the angle and lighting and although the IQ suffers from cropping it's still a great capture.

Many thanks Rick! Yeah I need longer glass LOL

[Conrad Tan]

Just imagine what will happen when the spot falls on the whites and you have +1 EV ;)

Looks like you had fun with these guys in Alvisio, unfortunately this weekend is going to be super busy with work, hopefully I will catch up next week, see you around and good luck!

Ok Arash, next time man! :D

[Troy Lim]

Conrad, nice to see you here.
Good behavior capture. I used to shoot spot metering a lot on flight shot, like on eagle, big contrast, plus background. I found that if you don't pan or follow the bird well, as I exposed of the body, and got the sky, then then exposure is just not to my liking.

[Joe Senzatimore]

All negatives aside , the action captured here is fantastic. Good luck on the reshoot.

[Kiran Poonacha]

Loved the moment captured here....

[Haim Ziv]

Great moment!! fascinating picture.

[Bonnie Block]

Action fantastic, Conrad!
Well worth the effort. Nits have been discussed.
Wish I was there!! ;)

[Gary Esman]

Excellent shot, love the action. TFS!