Gray Day in Homer

[Steve Bein]

A learning exercise in strengthening and selecting the sky to strengthen the image.
The sky was almost gray to start. It was a nice trip with Artie and Robert.
Eos 7D
100-400mm @ 180mm
1/1600 sec, f/5.6
Mode: Manual
Metering: Spot

[Morkel Erasmus]

just love the intent pose and the feel of the dive I get from this shot Steve
what was your ISO setting here?

[Allen Sparks]

Wonderful in-flight catch. great pose. I like the sky teatment also.

[Desmond Chan]

Dramatic pose ! Not sure about color of the sky though. May be a bit more room at the bottom?

[Steve Bein]

OOPS, I cut the ISO out. It was shot at ISO 800.
By the way, I chose to make the image tight instead of opening it up against the featureless sky.. this is a significant crop

[Duane Noblick]

Considering the sky was pure white (?) I think you did an excellent job getting some color to it. I like the flight pose and understand about the crop you chose.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Awesome pose...love the concentration on this fella's face...it is sure locked in to something! How about a true high-key option for this image? By selecting the white point dropper in "Levels" I just then clicked on the sky...this also warmed up the image. This depends on how you wanted the image, but how do you feel about it?

[Steve Bein]

Dan,
the high key is almost like the very light gray sky. My girlfriend showed how to slightly increase the blue inthe selected sky and then multiply it so there a strong blue case instead of gray by selecting and adjusting . I have so many with very light skies, I chose to go with this. The trip to Homer was perhaps the most bountiful of photo tours I have been on. We shot more than 16 gigs per day, some days approaching 30. There was a lot of editing of images which I would have killed for before this trip. There are still a lot of images to drop out, but I have some sequences from recognition, to the steep bank, dive down, hit the water and bound up with a fish. More to come slowly. thanks for your suggestion. I will work on that concept with some other images.
STeve

[Dumay de Boulle]

Like the pose and great wing position...I think you have done well to get some color in the sky...Much prefer the 1st post..Nice one Steve!

[Daniel Cadieux]

Sounds like you had a great time Steve!! Thanks for the additional info...

[Kerry Perkins]

Hi Steve, I love the dynamic of the flight pose here - really intense and a super moment captured. I can understand your thinking about the sky. So many times we end up with the white sky and I think your added color is a nice touch. The crop was also and artistic decision and I think it adds to the tension in the image. I sure wouldn't want to be whatever this one is locked onto!