OK, I know I am posting too many images of these birds, but can't help it when you have them so near all the day!!! News, the kid I posted earlier is up and just learning to fly about, and they are going for another (!) so I think they will be around for some more time!!!
D5000 70-300 VR 1/200 @ f/5.6 ISO 1600 Slight crop, levels, usm, no nr (still to shift plugin).
Cloned out some whitewash frrom top right, content aware really works!!!
I would have not dared to go up to 1600 iso normally, but it was almost evening, and i never could approach this close before!
Edit: A question,
I realize the oblique tree outline is confusing, leading people to think the shot has been taken "obliquely". I think cropping it with the tree trunk vertical will end this confusion, with a traditional composition. However, it will also disturb the natural history implication: where they build their nest etc.. So what are your thoughts on this?
Last edited by subhrashis; 05-08-2010 at 09:06 PM.
I love the bird, the pose and the excellent eye contact. Colors are nice too.
I would probably crop vertically here, the green space puts out of balance the
composition IMO. The problem here is the noise, but the bird looks fairly
good in that respect. I would try heavy NR selectively combined with blur.
Interesting composition but I can't quite wrap my head around this image. Does it need some clockwise rotation? The diagonal line in the background confuses my brain. I like the image if I look at it with an abstract approach but, in reality, do these woodpeckers put the openings to their nest holes on the underside of the branch?
@Ilija,
I couldn't apply NR as the plugin was not yet installed in CS5. The green i kept as i liked the pseudo vignette effect... I'll rework this when the plugin's up.
@James,
Actually yes, This was taken looking down (20-30deg away from vertically down), and 'horizon' is level. The opening is on the underside of a tilted branch, and the odd viewpoint makes this unique out of the many images I have taken of this bird. This is actually a barbet (Megalaima hemicephala) and the nests i've seen of these or related species were on undersides of dead branches. The one woodpecker nest iv'e seen , however was on the side of a vertical tree.
OK, I've applied the noise reduction in this repost:
I realize the oblique tree outline is confusing, leading people to think the shot has been taken "obliquely". I think cropping it with the tree trunk vertical will end this confusion, with a traditional composition. However, it will also disturb the natural history implication: where they build their nest etc.. So what are your thoughts on this?
I love the COMP as is and would not change it a bit so as to preserve the natural history imlplications. The image is way too dark as presented. The REDs are over-Saturated and the YELLOWs are close.... I did lots of Curves and color work for the repost.
To my eye the repost is a huge improvement of a potentially excellent image.
BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.
BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.
Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,
ps: I love the signature on your image (and I usually hate them). Also, notice less green in the yellows...
BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.
BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.
Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,
Thanks!
I love the "opened up" curve adj. in the repost for the details it has revealed in the neck! (it's actually a very deep green..). As for the saturation, these days i only desat reds if details are being masked/burnt out. the red crown is really intense now in breeding plumage, and as some detail was showing, i didn't touch it for the 'hyperreal' saturated look. The repost is more realistic!
PS. the signature is something I cooked up with my initials SGN in school few years back.. now i have made a custom brush of it in PS...
A great shot, I love the idea! I have no problems with the angled branch, I think it works nicely. I do, however, feel that there is too much room on the left. Again, I like the idea, but just a bit too much for me. And not enough on the right to balance it out. Other than that, a lovely portrait, unusual but unusual is best!
You are welcome Subrashis, And I even like all the green on the left: 2/3 green, 1/3 branch.
BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.
BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.
Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,
One more... Coppersmith... and a question.
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