Common Coot Wing Flap

[John Wright]

As I was photographing harriers late yesterday afternoon, this coot swam close to me and decided to have a bit of a flap.

Canon EOS 7D, EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM, 1.4x TC, Gitzo GT3531 Mountaineer tripod, Gitzo GH3780QR ballhead

1/800 sec at f/5.6; ISO 400

crop, levels, clarity, vibrance, nr, resizing, sharpening (LR3/PSE 9)

[Randy Stout]

John:

Very nice image. I haven't seen a lot of flapping coots!
Excellent exposure,beads of water on breast, sharpness,nice water color with just the right amount of environment showing.

In a perfect world, would prefer the bill not merge with the wing, but it is still quite distinct.

Cheers

Randy

[Troy Lim]

It looks like there is a color cast to it...can't make of what it is...
Can anyone else confirm this?

[Randy Stout]

Troy:

In looking at the image with Robert O'tooles average color blur tech, the image needs more blue and a less red and green. When using that tech., the image goes very cool.
I also tried a version just using the gray eyedropper from curves on an area of plumage that should be neutral gray. It moved the image in the same direction, but not as dramatically blue.

So, yes, I think there is a cast. How much of it to correct, up to John.

Randy

[Troy Lim]

Troy:

In looking at the image with Robert O'tooles average color blur tech, the image needs more blue and a less red and green. When using that tech., the image goes very cool.
I also tried a version just using the gray eyedropper from curves on an area of plumage that should be neutral gray. It moved the image in the same direction, but not as dramatically blue.

So, yes, I think there is a cast. How much of it to correct, up to John.

Randy

Thanks Randy.
Agree on the last statement, John you have to please yourself first. If you are happy with the way it is. It is all that matters :)

[John Wright]

Thanks for looking at the image so closely, guys! Actually I have noticed that the 7D tends to add a yellowish cast to certain images (or maybe all - anybody else notice this?). At times this is very noticeable and requires adjustment, but other times, as Randy pointed out, the correction makes the image colder. This shot was late afternoon and I feel the image as is seems to more accurately portray the light in which I remember the photo was taken, i.e. warm late afternoon light. Using the levels technique (black point, white point, neutral grey) this is the result: