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Thread: What was the Problem?

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    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
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    Default What was the Problem?

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    This image was created near Homer, AK at 8:36 pm with the tripod-mounted Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens and the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/800 sec. at f/5.6. Actually there were several problems: we were freezing as a pleasant day had turned cold and once the sun slipped into the small opening just above the horizon we had to face right into a stiff west wind.

    With the west wind, the birds were diving for fish and then flying directly away from us. When this bird banked and turned left I was ecstatic that I was able to make three frames that did not have the bird flying directly away and without clipping the bird at all. Not easy to do when your hands feel like blocks of ice....

    Don't be shy. All comments welcome. (Do see the converted original image in Pane 2.)

    To learn more about our exciting next to last day in Homer check out yesterday's blog post: Insanity, Exhilaration, Exhaustion, & Home.
    Last edited by Arthur Morris; 03-31-2011 at 09:27 PM.
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    This JPEG represents the original file after it was converted in ACR. I moved this bird back in the frame in about ten seconds using the ” Composition Correction: Increase Lead Room Without Cropping/Basic” technique from Robert O’Toole’s APTATS II. And then I cleaned up the sky a bit with a series of small Quick Masks and some Clone Stamp Tool work as described in the recently updated Digital Basics File.
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    I always dither with the silhouette image. Never quite sure what to make of them.

    This could be a quessing game as to what bird this is. I have no idea.

    Has my opinion been sufficiently vague? Yes, good, I'll leave it at that.

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    Not sure of what your comment means :) I think that most folks will ID the bird rather quickly.
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  5. #5
    Thom Howd
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    Hi Art,

    What was the problem? My guess is that a problem can be seen at the top of the tail feathers near the trailing side of the wing. While shooting against the sunlight to acquire the dark silhouette of the bald eagle, the sunlight flares off of some of the feathers (especially white feathers) causing a reddish flare to appear against the dark body feathers of the silhouette. One can also see a similar red outline appear like a halo around the flight feathers on both wings.

    I am not certain what caused the red color, but I noticed the same result when I shot a few trial silhouettes after reading your Enhanced Silhouette post in the Blog. The red colors at this point are distracting if they become too prominent. I did not see an easy way to eliminate the red spots while I post processed a few samples.

    If the red colors are not the problem, perhaps you can share some suggestions on how to eliminate them when they do occur.

    (If you care to look I posted an enhanced silhouette sample earlier this afternoon in the Avian Critique section).

    Thanks Thom

  6. #6
    Ofer Levy
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    One of the problems of this image is that boosting colour saturation and changing white balance to give such un-naturally warm colours is enough to move this image to Digital Creation forum rather than BIRDS IMO. If someone posts in here an over-saturated image of a bird - we will all comment and mention it. Having said that, I guess everyone has his/her own standards when it comes to bird photography.
    Cheers,
    Ofer
    http://www.oferlevyphotography.com
    Last edited by Ofer Levy; 03-31-2011 at 10:21 PM.

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    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
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    #1: there is no Digital Creation forum here.

    #2: I agree that the colors in the original are nicer and will create a version to that effect.

    #3: Either I have suddenly become a poor writer or folks need to take a reading comprehension course: In the title, I asked, "What was the problem?" Then I stated "Actually there were several problems: we were freezing as a pleasant day had turned cold and once the sun slipped into the small opening just above the horizon we had to face right into a stiff west wind.

    With the west wind, the birds were diving for fish and then flying directly away from us. When this bird banked and turned left I was ecstatic that I was able to make three frames that did not have the bird flying directly away and without clipping the bird at all. Not easy to do when your hands feel like blocks of ice.... "

    The above clearly answering the question that I had posed in the title.

    Folks then proceeded to tell me about problems with the image. A careful re-read shows that not one person could find a single positive thing to say about the image. Quite amazing as I think that it is rather spectacular. Lest we forget, critiques are supposed to include the things that you like and dislike about an image.
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    Hi Thom,

    re:


    What was the problem?

    The question, that I answered in the post, was "What was the problem (or problems) that I encountered in creating the image. It seems that everyone wants to answer this question: "What is the problem (with the image)? The however was clearly not the question that I asked (or answered). None-the-less, thanks for stopping by.

    My guess is that a problem can be seen at the top of the tail feathers near the trailing side of the wing. While shooting against the sunlight to acquire the dark silhouette of the bald eagle, the sunlight flares off of some of the feathers (especially white feathers) causing a reddish flare to appear against the dark body feathers of the silhouette. One can also see a similar red outline appear like a halo around the flight feathers on both wings.

    That flare is natural when creating strongly silhouetted images of subjects set against or near the rising or setting sun. I like the effect. My lone Outdoor Photographer cover featured a strong red flare outline of the bird.

    I am not certain what caused the red color

    That would be the sun.

    but I noticed the same result when I shot a few trial silhouettes after reading your Enhanced Silhouette post in the Blog. The red colors at this point are distracting if they become too prominent. I did not see an easy way to eliminate the red spots while I post processed a few samples.

    Enhancing the silhouette enhances the red flare edges. Liking them or not is a choice and I am fine with your not liking them. Just go easy on the enhancement :)

    If the red colors are not the problem, perhaps you can share some suggestions on how to eliminate them when they do occur.

    See suggestion above. And again, they are entirely natural.

    (If you care to look I posted an enhanced silhouette sample earlier this afternoon in the Avian Critique section).

    Please provide a link here and I will be glad to visit.
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    Hi, the problem was the cold
    The image I like, I see nothing serious in changing the color temperature. It is as if we had used another type of roll in analog photography. Just to criticize where I see the twig clone clearer. But for me the image is beautiful! With the latest bulletins really learned a lot to create silhouettes.
    Thanks and congratulations.
    Fernando
    Using google translator

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    Thanks Fernando. The translator did well :) From the Spanish?
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    Argentina, Artie. The problem of translation is that sometimes translates certain idioms as you do not want to say it and armed the mess!
    The technique of silhouettes liked me, I've applied to a picture that I just uploaded, but I have mentioned!
    Fernando

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    Homer, Alaska is definately at the top of my list for places to visit someday. I love to photograph Bald Eagles and it seems you had plenty of opportunities to do so.

    As far as the image itself...I love the colors and can clearly tell what the subject is. I like the placement in the frame and the clone work done to remove the bright sun on the horizon. One day I hope to capture an image like this.

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    Thanks Fernando. And thanks for your kind words Duane. We are going back to Homer with at least two groups of ten in late OCT/early NOV this year. Shoot me an e-mail if you are interested in the details.
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    Arthur,

    My point was that I have mixed feelings about the silhouette image - your's or anyones.

    My initial feeling is to not like it. While ignorance plays a part in this thought process I'm just being honest.

    I got the title, however if you are offering a reading comprehension course I'll sign up. You books and other stuff are well written and easy to follow.

    Having studied the image further, and the fact that it was taken in Homer, is it a Bald Eagle?

    The image - Like the rich orange/red colour in the image I'm warming to it!

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    I really like these type of images that are created close to sunrise or sunset. This is certainly no exception. Unfortunately, I have not been to Homer, so I cannot assess how close these colours are to those actually seen. However, where I originally come from and in many areas of Northern Europe, these colours, and sometimes crazier ones, naturally occur fairly frequently. I certainly don't think this should be in "Digital Creations" (I am guessing "Out of the Box"), as adjusting white balance is something that has been done for years through various methods.

    I am really enjoying the Bald Eagle images being posted here and those on your blog. This has to be one of my favourites though, as it evokes childhood memories of watching silhouetted birds, albeit geese, fly across intense orange and red backgrounds. Indeed there are even more similarities with those days on the marsh, with my hands invariably ending up feeling like blocks of ice.

  16. #16
    Ron Caswell
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    I find the image pleasing, I don't see it as a wall hanger but given the circumstances I think you did the best you could have with the eagles flying away. If the sky would have been a solid orange I feel the image would suffer. Ron

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    I like this image. In the first frame, I can see a yellow aura around the eagle, the remnant of the originally more yellow image. There's something to be said for taking the original image, removing that stick, then essentially leaving the splotch of sun in place, harsh as it is, perhaps working it just a little; the harshness of the splotch being balanced out by the more natural presentation.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Tom Rambaut View Post
    Arthur,

    My point was that I have mixed feelings about the silhouette image - your's or anyones.

    My initial feeling is to not like it. While ignorance plays a part in this thought process I'm just being honest.

    I got the title, however if you are offering a reading comprehension course I'll sign up. You books and other stuff are well written and easy to follow.

    Having studied the image further, and the fact that it was taken in Homer, is it a Bald Eagle?

    The image - Like the rich orange/red colour in the image I'm warming to it!
    Tom, I am fine with you not liking this or any silhouette image. I just did not understand what you wrote or why you wrote it. Thanks for the clarification :)
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    Thanks Ben. Being really cold is certainly a challenge.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Craig Brelsford View Post
    I like this image. In the first frame, I can see a yellow aura around the eagle, the remnant of the originally more yellow image. There's something to be said for taking the original image, removing that stick, then essentially leaving the splotch of sun in place, harsh as it is, perhaps working it just a little; the harshness of the splotch being balanced out by the more natural presentation.
    Thanks Craig. The stick is actually the wingtip of another eagle. I would have considered leaving the sun had it been in front of the bird. Light or in this case, very bright areas, tend to draw the viewer's eye...
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    Ron, I think that it a a rather nice image.
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    Wow... I don't get the negativity toward this image. I think it's beautiful! Hrrrm seems like the problems pointed out are not really "problems" when we are talking about sunset silhouettes. Tough conditions to make a "perfect" image - especially when that Alaska wind is blowing right at you (yes, I was there the week before).

    Everything aside, if I just critique the image alone... the banking eagle against the bright sunset definitely works for me. Composition, sharpness, background. All good.

    Funny how this particular image was the one from the blog post that stood out the most (for me anyway). I'd definitely hang it on the wall!

    thanks
    Charles

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    Thanks Charlie, I agree. Reading the first few comments one would think that the image absolutely sucked :)
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