Wigeon with new lens
Just got my 300mm F4 L today. My first piece of L glass! Here is one of the better shots I got today. Got out a little late so light was low and i should've bumped ISO a bit so I could close aperture a bit and still retain shutter speed. I think anyway :)
Camera Model: Canon EOS 40D
Lens: EF300mm f/4L IS USM
Focal Length: 300.0mm
Aperture: f/4.0
Exposure Time: 0.0010 s (1/1000)
ISO equiv: 400
Exposure Bias: +0.33 EV
Photographer: Cody Covey
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Cody, congrats on the new glass! Always nice to have a new tool in the kit.
Real nice capture here with a great head angle and sharp eye. The calling pose is a nice bonus and really adds interest. You could maybe do a tad more sharpening on the head and eye. If it were mine I would tone down the whitest areas (head, rump, under wing) and maybe add a tad of saturation but that is just taste. It is a really nice image and I'm glad you got it on your first day with the new lens. Keep them coming!
"It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera... they are made with the eye, heart, and head." - Henri Cartier Bresson
Please visit me on the web at http://kerryperkinsphotography.com
I posted this on POTN and was told it was all overexposed especially the white areas. Histogram says other than some of the black, which I knew would happen to prevent blowing the whites, that the exposure was perfect. Is it overexposed? How would you guys have handled it?
You must be thrilled with the image and the new lens Cody. No matter what people say, good gear is an essential part of making a quality image, in my opinion. I love the calling pose. Good composition with just the right amount of room IMO. The exposure looks very good to me. The whites are excellent with lots of detail on my monitor.
I see some feather detail in the flank patch, the flecks show in the crown, the creamy color is still retained in the crown. Maybe you could selectively tone the whites down a little, but I don't think they're blown.Originally Posted by Cody Covey
Cody, I wouldn't say this image was over-exposed. Out of curiosity though I took it into Aperture (I have an old version) and checked the "Highlights & Shadows" then set the highlights slider to about 30. It does bring out a bit more detail in the peak whites, especially on the head. Give it a try and see what you think.
"It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera... they are made with the eye, heart, and head." - Henri Cartier Bresson
Please visit me on the web at http://kerryperkinsphotography.com
Cody, congrats on the L lens...it will spoil you for the rest of your life. If it is anything like my 70-200mm the bokeh will make you swoon!
Beautiful image! The whites are very white but they definitely are not blown - histograms don't lie. Still - they appear VERY white so what I sometimes do is use the eye dropper tool set to 3x3 average sample and when the color chart pops up choose a white that's just a shade or two darker. Now grab the soft brush set to about 20% opacity and brush over the whites with the ever-so-slightly darker white. It won't bring out more detail this way but it will give a very natural look and tone down the whites.
Beautiful pose - good details - I'd also recheck sharpening the head - and lovely water.
Thanks guys! I really need a better workflow for sharpening. I just use the slider in Lightroom but I don't think thats the most accurate way possible to do things. I am doing some homework now but when I am done I will try those things you guys mentioned and repost a bit later. Thanks again!
Cody - congrats on the new lens. Unfortunately, once you start using L's it's addictive. Some good suggestions above.
TFS,
Rachel
Cody,
Your techs are good.
You are right regarding aperture. I would have gone for either f5.6 of F8 for more DOF considering the shutter speed.
Regarding compostion, IMO this image needs little more space at the bottom to balance the composition. Here is my take with quick clone job. Hope you had more space at the bottom.
Regarding whites, do you own a good calibrated monitor? 90% of the viewers on web dont own a calibrated monitors and comment on what they see on their screen. Practically speaking I am seeing my version of your image on my screen. Not your image.
Here is a repost with a bit different crop and more sharpening done. I didn't add quite as much at the bottom as you did Sid but I think it still works. What did you do to get the color on the body like that? I tried but it just kept coming out orange in the bottom rear.
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Last edited by Cody Covey; 03-31-2011 at 11:14 PM.
Read this. Lots of good info.
http://www.gballard.net/photoshop/srgb_wide_gamut.html
also not sure how imageshack is processing your images. They might be stripping off your sRBG profile and adding their own default sRBG.
Hi Cody.
Congratulations on purchasing the 300mm! I bought it last July and it is an awesome lens. I'm sure you will love it.
About the image: just want to say that on my monitor the whites look white, yes, but not blown.
And I really like Sid's edit.
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