Reed Bunting

[Richard Unsworth]

:)

Hi

bad weather here has me looking back to the early winter; this little chap
captured on feeding table - wish it was natural perch but still like it. Also wish DOF was better
but light not brilliant. Linear burn to seeds

1/250, ISO 400, Ev +.33, f 5.6, Canon 40 D, 100-400 IS

NR, USM and post jpeg SS, limited crop as was very close, from hide

[Daniel Cadieux]

Lovely bird, and I like the view of the food in the bill - good sense of the large conical shape crushing the seeds. I like the vertical crop, but find it tight overall. DOF is OK with me. The biggest culprit here is the light angle which is coming from your left. Either moving positions to align the sun behind your back (preferably), or use of flash (alternatively), would have helped alot here.

[Randy Stout]

Richard:

Good points from Daniel. Cute bird, too big in frame, loosen crop if possible.

There is some noise in the image that might be addressed. It is esp. visible in the BG and on the belly.

Good job on the linear burn on the seeds.

Cheers

Randy

[Richard Unsworth]

:)

Thanks Randy & Daniel

So, went back to raw

Used layers for selective NR (my eyes must be worse than I thought lol)
Selective sharp in PS and post jpeg
recropped further back
linear burn on seeds again
no adjustments to exposure or use of levels
much improved I think

[Daniel Cadieux]

Ah, the comp is much more pleasing now - good job for that! Effective NR too. I still think flash or better light angle would have been better though.

[Richard Unsworth]

:)

Hi Daniel

you are right of course

unfortunately the hide was built 90 degrees wrong for light

fill flash - -can I ask a dumb question, would the on camera flash have helped, I dont have external flash as yet?

[Randy Stout]

Richard:

I think it is much improved. Light remains a challenge as Daniel mentioned.

I will occasionally use the pop up flash on my bodies that have it. Limited range, but you were in close on this one and might have gotten a bit of fill in the shadows. So, worth a try.
Would have to deal with extra catchlights, but small matter. Occassionally will get the dreaded 'steel eye' from flash, a little harder to handle, but probably not likely with just the pop up in bright light.

Cheers

Randy

[Richard Unsworth]

:)

OK Randy I will give that a try when close and needed, many thx