Scarlet Tanager-PP advice

[Julie Brown]

This image was shot last weekend at Magee Marsh on the southern shore of Lake Erie.

Canon 40D, 400mm f2.8L IS + 2X TC, (1280 focal length), ISO 320, 1/125sec @ f6.3, 0 EV, manual exposure, pattern metering, monopod w/gimbal head

Lightroom 2.6
cropped about 20%
set black and white points, slight highlight recovery
enhanced clarity and vibrance
post-crop vignette
no sharpening or NR applied yet...until I tweak the color

This image is a bit soft and I know that the SS is low for this focal length. I try to keep the ISO below 400 with this camera (how high can the ISO be with the 40D without introducing noise?).

The main issue I see here is that the reds are hot. I tried desaturating in LR them but that looked worse. I also took it into Brilliance/Warmth in ColorEfex Pro and pulled down the brilliance slider. That looked better, but I didn't want to apply the effect until I explored other options.

Any help or advice offered is appreciated!

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Julie

For the reds make sure to select the red channel then just lower saturation a bit, all digital cameras will over do the reds without any help !! In the re post lowered the saturation in the red channel, did a loose selection of the bg and darkened, the tweak the bird but lightening the area around the eye and giving it a catlight. A tighter crop will also work best !!

btw sure would help placing that big lens on a tripod .. and tighten down !!!

[Julie Brown]

Thanks Al. I will go back to the image and try to replicate what you did in your repost. I rented this lens and the tripod they gave me was very heavy and clunky so I got a monopod instead. I tried to put the gimbal on my tripod stem but could not get the ballhead off. Next time I will put it on a tripod! :)

[Alfred Forns]

Julie if you need to use a monopod there is a head specifically for it !! Look in the Really Right Stuff website and they have one listed. Have used it with a 600 and felt comfortable !!! It only tilts up and down, won't flop and it is smooooth !!!

[Daniel Cadieux]

This image is a bit soft and I know that the SS is low for this focal length. I try to keep the ISO below 400 with this camera (how high can the ISO be with the 40D without introducing noise?).

Hi Julie, Al has addressed the reds issue but I'll chime in that I have absolutely no hesitation in using ISO 800 on my 40D. You will get a bit of noise in the BG areas (which is very easily corrected in PP), but details remain very good.

[Alfred Forns]

.... second that Daniel Would raise without hesitation !! .. btw Noiseware Professional does a great job on noise !!

[Lance Peters]

Hi Julie - see these two threads in educational resources.
The really right stuff monopod head mentioned is exceptional.

http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...ad.php?t=29869

http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...ad.php?t=29761

[Dave Mills]

Hi Julie, great advice above...said it all for me...

[Julie Brown]

Thank you Al, Daniel, Lance, and Dave for the great advice. :) Daniel, it is good to know that I can bump up the ISO to 800 on the 40D because that gives me more focal length. The 5D MKII is my go-to camera in low light.

Guess what guys? I found the RRS monopod head on their website last week, ordered it, and have used it already! It came with a quick release clamp but not a plate, so I got a Wimberly lens plate at the camera store where I rented the 400mm f2.8 lens. Al, I do agree that the 400 needs to be on a tripod. I really do like the convenience and portability of a monopod, and have used my 300mm f4L IS + 1.4X on this setup. It helps me to be ready as I am waiting for the birds to come in to the feeder area in my yard. The other lenses I will rent this summer will be the 300 f2.8L IS and the 500 f4L IS. How easy is it to walk around with the 500?

[Alfred Forns]

Not bad Julie Its only 8 1/2 probably four pounds lighter than the 400 2.8 huge difference !!! Also easier to use on the monopod is you can get any decent shutter speed !!! Glad you liked the monopod head !! btw some of the big lenses require a bushing for mounting the plate !!

[Julie Brown]

Al, that 400 is a monster! But I did manage to carry it OK with the monopod on the boardwalk at Magee Marsh, because it tends to get a bit crowded. If I get the 400 again, I will use the gimbal on a tripod. I'm a bit confused as to what the bushing is. The quick release plate that came with the gimbal head seemed to work fine. I will probably go with the 500 next. RRS shows the 500 f4L IS on their monopod head. They say it can support 75 pounds!