What should I have done if anything?

[Stan Cunningham]

Action is great, and like how sharp it is, but the background is so dark.
I didn't really want to stay in close proximity too long as she wasn't real keen on me.
Tried to move around to the opposite side where there was some lighter background but she turned her back to me.

Can't figure out any way to lighten that background in ps cs 5 either.

Canon 7D 100 - 400 5.6L
iso 640 F8 1/1000 @620 AM

Any suggestions?????????

[Dick Huberty]

Great shot at a great moment. The dark BG doesn't bother me, but I would have either darkened the 3 sticks in the BG or cloned them out of there. The lighting on the nest looks kind of harsh..did you use a flash?
DH

[Stan Cunningham]

No Dick, I didn't. I had one on, but turned it off. The location of the nest got direct sun as it came up, and I was about 8 feet below it with the camera on a tripod.
Good idea about the branches, I'll see what I can do about those. I did clone 2 leaves out that were directly above the mom's head.
This was at a University public garden and they are putting the pic on the web with a Happy Mother's Day logo.

[John Goldman]

Nice to capture this wonderful moment.
I agree with Dick, "The dark BG doesn't bother me, but I would have either darkened the 3 sticks in the BG or cloned them out of there."
The mothers eye not in focus is very bothersome for me.

[George Cottay]

I like both the respect you showed for the birds and the background but would remove the top twig.

[Kerry Perkins]

Hi Stan, nothing wrong with a dark background, but the huge contrast caused by the harsh sun is the real problem. The whites are blown and I'm wondering why you went with ISO 640 in this situation. How did you meter this scene? It's a nice capture of the motherly action and congrats on the publication!

[Stan Cunningham]

All good points and I think Kerry summed up what bothered me most, the harsh light on the birds with the dark background.
The reason I was using ISO 640 is that until moments before that nest was in a pretty dark area and the sun was just coming up. After it did, I've not been at this long enough to remember every thing but still not disapointed with too much noise.
It's funny you should mention the whites Kerry as I know I do that frequently, but on my camera, nor lightroom or photoshop do the whites show as blown. But it sure looks that way. I even selected the nest and used a filter to try and tone it down but it didn't work too well.
I've attached a screen capture, what do you think is going on?????
And as always I appreciate all comments, each day I get a little bit more competent and I owe alot to some of the people here.
Stan

[Kerry Perkins]

Stan, if you work in a color space other than sRGB (and you should) and then convert to sRGB for the web, whites that are "close to the edge" can get pushed over the top. It is essential to check your saved JPEG for clipping, as this is not uncommon. I always open my saved file in a web browser and check it with a color meter (or at least by eye) to see if the whites have been clipped in the conversion process. See the sticky at the top of the forum page if you haven't read it yet. It will help you understand what is going on and why it is necessary to have a little more headroom in your captures.

[Dick Huberty]

Kerry, Don't know much about color space. Why do you say the you should use another color space than sRGB? The other choice on my camera is adobe RGB. Maybe you could steer me to a tutorial or blog on this topic...Thanks for your help.

Dick Huberty

[William Malacarne]

Dick

There is lots of info on Adobe RGB vs sRGB. Try a Google and find one that fits you.
Here is one example.

http://www.zanzig.com/blog/?p=559

Also note that you should work in RAW 16 bit rather than 8 bit.

I always feel the more info you have to work with the better chance you have of getting a good product.

Bill

[Kerry Perkins]

Dick, I was not referring to capture color space (the camera) but Photoshop working color space.

[Michael Gerald-Yamasaki]

All good points and I think Kerry summed up what bothered me most, the harsh light on the birds with the dark background.
The reason I was using ISO 640 is that until moments before that nest was in a pretty dark area and the sun was just coming up. After it did, I've not been at this long enough to remember every thing but still not disapointed with too much noise.
It's funny you should mention the whites Kerry as I know I do that frequently, but on my camera, nor lightroom or photoshop do the whites show as blown. But it sure looks that way. I even selected the nest and used a filter to try and tone it down but it didn't work too well.
I've attached a screen capture, what do you think is going on?????
And as always I appreciate all comments, each day I get a little bit more competent and I owe alot to some of the people here.
Stan

Stan,

Greetings. Post-processing aside... the nest is overexposed. It's one of those difficult shooting situations with changing light conditions - bright light on near white subject with dark background. A stop exposure comp would have helped with the whites (but then the eyes would have suffered).

I like the shot & the exposure is best for the main subject.

Cheers,

-Michael-

[Stan Cunningham]

Think this looks better
selected the white on the next and brought them down 1/3 stop.
I'm going to have to do some thinking on what you said Kerry,
Finals are just done and this professor's mind is mushier than my students.
Thanks as always.