Morning Stretch

[Brendan Dozier]

Nov. morning at lake using old rebel. The geese are great training subjects for learning to shoot action shots. Loved this wing flap, but shot needed some work and I think ISO was set a bit high. Crop, S&H, levels, curves, color sat., sharpening. d & b around eyes and wing edges. Removed some spots and a few ripple shadows in BG. Some noise in BG, and does need a bit more room at bottom, but ability not there to build that detail yet.

Rebel, EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM
Nov. 2010, 1/1250, 14, ISO 1600

[pat lillich]

this is gorgeous Brendan, wonderful pose and action - great colors. agree with your self assessment - more room at bottom would be nice --- would like to see it as a vertical (not sure what the right words are - where it is taller than wide) I would love to have taken this!

[Sid Garige]

Brendan,

Agree with Pat on vertical compositon and little more space on the bottom.

Also from your settings 1/1250, 14, ISO 1600, your aperture was set at F14 and I dont see the need for that here. I would have used F5.6 or F8 to lower my ISO.

[Brendan Dozier]

Thanks Pat and Sid. Agree with your recommendations.

Also from your settings 1/1250, 14, ISO 1600, your aperture was set at F14 and I dont see the need for that here. I would have used F5.6 or F8 to lower my ISO.

Yes, when I saw the aperture I said to myself, "how did that happen?".
I think I was shooting in a more shaded area behind me, was in manual mode, and forgot to adjust as I turned just in time to snap the wing flap. Your right I should have been around F5.6

[Julie Kenward]

Brendan, rule #2 (HA is #1!) is to give the "virtual feet" below the water room to be in the image so back up a bit and go vertical next time so his feet and head have a little more room in the frame.

Nice freeze on the action. Lovely HA and exposure looks good (although that ISO is up there!)

Remember to think composition in the field...if you know you're going for action images and wing flaps, turn that camera sideways!

[Brendan Dozier]

Thanks Julie, all of you guys at BPN are really helpful, honest and supportive. I have much to learn, but I think I'm making progress day by day. I just treated myself to a shoot with the those amazing pelicans down at La Jolla this morning. I still need to go through the shots, but it was a really beautiful day and there was hardlly anyone else out on the cliffs. Enjoyed every minute!