Dovekie Redemption

[Arthur Morris]

I created this image at 1:15am in Svalbard, Norway with the tripod-mounted Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens, the 1.4X III TC, a 25mm Extension Tube,and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/640 sec. at f/9 in Manual mode.

Lens/TC/camera body Micro-adjustment: +10. (I did micro-adjust with the extension tube in place and found only a one-unit discrepancy on average–small enough to ignore.)

For the whole story, check out the recent blog posts starting with this one.

Don't be shy; all comments welcome.

[Jay Gould]

Artie, it is perfect in every way. Wouldn't expect anything less. I read the blog; you worked very hard for the Dovekie images; congratulations.

Interesting use of both a TC and an Ext. Tube to both increase the size of the image on the sensor and reduce the minimum focus distance. Did you use the LA on this combination in preparation for this trip or as part of your LA of all of your lenses and various combinations with the TCs and the Ext tubes?

[Ofer Levy]

Excellent sharpness, detail, exposure control, shooting angle, BG and eye contact. Composition is not as great IMHO. Here is another option with some less at the top and more on the right. Also got rid of one catchlight.

[arash_hazeghi]

I like the sharpness and perfect exposure with good detail in both whites and blacks. composition wise the original is a bit tight for me, especially the beak is kind of close to the right border I think a 3:4 AR (close to Ofer's respost) might work better than standard 3: 2.

[RakeshDhareshwar]

The exposure is brilliant here . I have used extension tubes on my setup , now I should try the TCs too . The compo does not work for me , but not sure how to improve it too .

[Richard Unsworth]

The exposure is brilliant here . I have used extension tubes on my setup , now I should try the TCs too . The compo does not work for me , but not sure how to improve it too .

Its brilliant Arthur as expected.

[Neil Nourse]

What a cool looking bird!

Beautiful background and great details in both whites and blacks but I wouldn't expect anything less

I too would like to see a bit more canvas in front and also slight bit on top...

TFS Neil

[denise ippolito]

Artie, Glad you got your Dovekie, I like the sharp details and the background. I do like the idea of a bit more room on the right and the removal of the extra catchlight. I imagine you are exhausted so thank you for sharing.

[Grace Scalzo]

Way to go, lovely image in every way and after your efforts must be so satisfying. Thanks for sharing and safe travels home.

[Jim Crosswell]

I like the sharpness, exposure and BG. Nice image Arthur!

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Artie, glad you got these. Blacks are indeed amazing. I also like the idea of some more room at right and removal of second catchlight. Very well done as always.

[Stu Bowie]

Artie, seems like a difficult character to expose, but I feel you have got it right in all aspects. Overall sharp, and love the short beak this guy has. Another vote for a little more room on the right.

[Dumay de Boulle]

Lovely bird and lovely exp. Great BG and like the head turn. I see a bit of a halo around the bird. Not sure if its from sharpening or contrast.

[Sidharth Kodikal]

Amazing bird, exposure and sharpness, Artie.
For the amount of head turn, I prefer the original comp (perhaps with a tiny bit more to the right)
Loved your blog posts - great story telling!

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks all for stopping by and for sharing your thoughts. I am finally home safe. Read of my travel adventures here.

I am with Sidarth as I like the original framing best; I am often a big fan of 3X2.

I have a question on the two catchlights: they are totally normal, one is from the sun, one from the reflection of the sun off of the fjord. Does that change anyone's opinion on leaving both?

[Chad Caswell]

Excellent sharpness, detail, exposure control, shooting angle, BG and eye contact. Composition is not as great IMHO. Here is another option with some less at the top and more on the right. Also got rid of one catchlight.

Ofer, a couple Questions for you? In your re+post of Arties shot it looks as though you lost almost all the detail in the blacks... also, you choose to remove double catch lights that you don't even do on your own post.. I find this interesting:2 and wonder why? I'm not saying either way is right or wrong, I just wonder when you choose to remove and when you choose to keep, is it when water is present in the image?

Artie, you retained some fine detail in the blacks and kept the whites in par, Nice job and keep posting, I find it interesting that you created this image at 1:15am Wow, are you shooting all night long

[Ofer Levy]

Ofer, a couple Questions for you? In your re+post of Arties shot it looks as though you lost almost all the detail in the blacks... also, you choose to remove double catch lights that you don't even do on your own post.. I find this interesting:2 and wonder why? I'm not saying either way is right or wrong, I just wonder when you choose to remove and when you choose to keep, is it when water is present in the image?

Artie, you retained some fine detail in the blacks and kept the whites in par, Nice job and keep posting, I find it interesting that you created this image at 1:15am Wow, are you shooting all night long

Hi Chad, I haven't done anything to the image except cropping and adding to the right. I have converted to sRGB which is the correct colour space for web - maybe this is why you see less detail in the blacks.
As to removing the second catchlight - I do it to my images as well if I feel it is necessary. (usually always...)
Please let me know in which of my images you saw more than one catchlight.
Artie, as to 2:3 crop. I am probably more of a 2:3 freak than you however, in this image the beak is too close to the right in your presentation so I felt it needs the extra canvas on the right. Adding this forced me to crop off the top to balance the composition.
Cheers,

[Chad Caswell]

Hi Chad, I haven't done anything to the image except cropping and adding to the right. I have converted to sRGB which is the correct colour space for web - maybe this is why you see less detail in the blacks.
As to removing the second catchlight - I do it to my images as well if I feel it is necessary. (usually always...)
Please let me know in which of my images you saw more than one catchlight.
Cheers,

Thanks for the reply Ofer

The image I was referring to is here.
http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...king-behaviour

[Ofer Levy]

Thanks for the reply Ofer

The image I was referring to is here.
http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...king-behaviour

The reason for the double catchlight in here is the fact that this image was sent to Wildife Photographer of the Year (BBC, Veolia) this year and even reached the finals.(although this is where it stopped...)
I am not allowed to do any cloning and this was the version that I sent them...
Normally I would remove one catchlight as I feel having two looks always a bit strange even if it's natural as in here.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Artie, I am with Ofer on removal of catchlight. Even if they are natural, I usually keep only one. personal preference, I guess. Not in this case, but at times, when the two are close, removal of one often results in a sharper looking eye.