Baby Skimmer

[Don Hamilton Jr.]

I'd like your feedback here. I attempted to blurr in front and behind the skimmer, trying to duplicate with camera only the blurred sand in front and bkg. Crop only to move bird off center. Thks don
Specs:
Camera Model Canon EOS 7D
Firmware Firmware Version 1.1.0
Shooting Date/Time 7/30/2010 50:03 PM
Author DON_HAMILTON_JR.flyinghamiltons@comcast.net
Copyright Notice 2010
Owner's Name
Shooting Mode Aperture-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/1250
Av( Aperture Value ) 5.0
Metering Mode Evaluative Metering
Exposure Compensation +2/3
ISO Speed 200
Auto ISO Speed OFF
Lens EF500mm f/4L IS USM
Focal Length 500.0mm
Image Size 5184x3456
Image Quality RAW
Flash On
Flash Type Manual Flash
Flash Exposure Compensation 0
Shutter curtain sync 1st-curtain sync
FE lock OFF
White Balance Mode Daylight

[Connie Mier]

I think the blur works, you did a good job with that. The bird looks great, good sharpness and I like the crop. I was surprised to see that you used flash.

[Don Hamilton Jr.]

Thks, yes, sun was in and out (clouds) with the sun setting to the west, slightly off my back, as per my shadow line. I'm been experimenting with manual flash, as i need to learn it. Thks for your input.
Connie, i've been considering getting a kayak, for some off the beaten path photography. Perhaps i could call you at some point and get some advice. Thks again
don

[Connie Mier]

Thks, yes, sun was in and out (clouds) with the sun setting to the west, slightly off my back, as per my shadow line. I'm been experimenting with manual flash, as i need to learn it. Thks for your input.
Connie, i've been considering getting a kayak, for some off the beaten path photography. Perhaps i could call you at some point and get some advice. Thks again
don

Don, absolutely, PM me and I can give you my contact info.

[David Thomasson]

A very presentable little personage. I like that head turn as he puzzles out what you're up to. ;) The blur works nicely.

I'm seeing a blue/cyan cast. Setting white and black points will take care of that. I also used a curves adjustment layer to
slightly dim foreground and background (with a mask on the bird), and sharpened the finer details on Mr. Skim.

[Alfred Forns]

Looks good Don PS is natural, with the aperture you should have not needed all that much, particularly at the distance !! Would like to see the sand a little brighter... dark overall !!

... btw flash wise its not easy, would only have enough to bring out the catchlight On mostly white birds it kills the edge contrast and looks strange. Can try the three shot trick so the first is your setting, second partly charged capacitor giving you less output and the third probably zero flash. Compare at home and decide the look you want !!

[Don Hamilton Jr.]

Thks all, really appreciate you input, Dave, could i trouble you to help me with the adjustments and correction.. what should i set my presets points to to begin with??
I curently have my white at 240, black at 33, and midtones at 133, should i change these, as they do not look right.. thks all for the help. Al, good point on the flash.. slowly but surely i'm sneaking up on it.. thks don

[Ken Lassman]

Great shot Don....terrific head turn and eye contact. David's re-post really brings out the details and I am learning along with you as well. TFS

[David Thomasson]

Thks all, really appreciate you input, Dave, could i trouble you to help me with the adjustments and correction.. what should i set my presets points to to begin with??
I curently have my white at 240, black at 33, and midtones at 133, should i change these, as they do not look right.. thks all for the help. Al, good point on the flash.. slowly but surely i'm sneaking up on it.. thks don

Well, 33 sounds a little high for black; it'll weaken the contrast a bit, but values that high could be right for some printing. I would go lower for web images. I set my defaults at 10 for black and 242 for white (and leave midtones at the default 128, since that dropper will work with values above and below 128).

But the color cast isn't a result of your dropper settings. If you use the white and black droppers at your defaults to set white and black points, the color cast will vanish (because you're equalizing RGB values for the darkest tones at 33.33.33 and the brightest at 240.240.240).

Here are the readings at the brightest and darkest points on your image. That high blue value (9.8.16) in the shadows is where the blue cast is coming from; and the low red value (222.229.231) in the highlights accounts for the cyan. Whether you equalize those at your default settings or mine, the cast will disappear.

[Lance Peters]

Hi Don - love the low shooting angle - HA and eye contact - Davids repost puts it over the top - Nice work David and many thanks for the info provided.
We all appreciate it!!

[Troy Lim]

Informative thread. Thanks for the shot Don and Dave for the tips.

[denise ippolito]

Very informative thread and a really nice base image Don. David, Thank you once again for sharing.

[Dave Mills]

Hi Don, great job handling the areas of blur. I like the low angle and positioning of the bird. David's repost took out the cast,brought out more detail and added some warmth. Nice image!!

[Don Hamilton Jr.]

David, awesome explanations, really appreciate your time, and efforts here. This is such a valuable learning place!. Man, i tried this, and Bam!! Success!!!
Huge thks to dave!!!