Night Heron @ISO 6400

[David Stephens]

Camera	Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Exposure	0.04 sec (1/25)
Aperture	f/5.6
Focal Length	280 mm
ISO Speed	6400
Exposure Bias	+1 EV

I was using my EF 70-200mm f/4L IS hand held out the right side car-blind window with the EF 1.4x TC II. The was in a heavily wooded swamp just 5 to 10-minutes after sunrise. These guys like dark spots and this one was true to form, but I loved his pose and the green cast to the water and the rest of the scene vs. his grey, black and white. The crop was only around 20% for compositional purposes.

You can see the Original size file at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dcstep/...n/photostream/

The noise presents itself as here as grain and some softness, but is pretty benign considering the high ISO.

[arash_hazeghi]

Like the mood and colors appropriate setting for a night heron.
Looking at the full size looks like the softness is coming from lack of shutter speed (1/25sec) rather than noise, the 5D2 handles noise well at 6400 ISO. you did well given the situation. TFS

[Lance Peters]

Hi - IMHO lack of detail and sharpness here is the issue - IQ is just not there.
Like the pose - mood and feel.
Agree with Arash - the SS has probably caused the issues here.
Keep em coming :)

[Alfred Forns]

Hi David For this one is just a personal thing We find enough of these around that as not to resort to such high ISO etc. I think these needs to be on a steady tripod to work better? Other than that you did the best from your position !!!

[Fabs Forns]

Very painterly. I could leave with the IQ only if you lightened the eye :)

[Dave Mills]

Hi David. It takes a bit of luck and alot of steadiness to get a sharp image at 1/4 sec. HH. The overiding color in the image can be a very subjective element....In this case my preference leans to a difference in coloration of the bird...

[David Stephens]

Dave, are you agreeing that I got the bird's color correct. I think that I did applied almost no correction there. The swamp is consistant with what I remembered, but I concentrated on the bird for color balance.

About the shake, as I was considering sneaking out the other side of the car to see if I could get the tripod set up, he flew.

I'm pleased with this at "internet" resolution and sizes. If I'd been shooting out of the other window I could have braced the camera much better. My car has a center console and the best that I could do was brace my right elbow against the seat, allow the IS to spool up and fire.

Thanks to everyone for looking and commenting.

[Dave Mills]

Hi David, I was stating my preference as seeing the bird in it's natural state but saying in this case I feel it's more subjective...