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Thread: Ruby throat at cactus blossum

  1. #1
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    Default Ruby throat at cactus blossum

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    First of all, this is a setup shot with multiple flashes set at 1/16 power. It was taken in May so I don't recall exactly how many. Probably four on the zone and one low to try to illuminate the gorget which was not at the right angle in this shot. Hard to always get the bird exactly where they are supposed to be. The background is a natural shrub about 15 feet behind the feeder, illuminated with 2 AB800's. The cactus blossum has an embedded tube feeder. Very active feeding from multiple birds, mixed species and gender.
    D700, 500 f/4 AFS, Kenko 1.4 TC. Flashes fired probably in command mode with all the flashes either set in manual IR command or on slave. Manual exposure, matrix, ISO 400, 1/250, f/22.

    PP, mainly LR3, cropped, dusted, played with eye exposure and catchlights, lighted gorget, sharpened, vibrance. This was from a weekend of shooting for a photo contest, so most of these adjustments aren't allowed, but this is not going to be an entry.

    What I like: wing position and freeze, feeding pose although all the bill is not visible, background, iridescence of the bird overall.

    What I don't like: gorget does not iridescence, shadow on neck from the near wing.

    I absolutely love the challenge of photographing these gems. Even most of the not so good images teach you lessons.

  2. #2
    Super Moderator arash_hazeghi's Avatar
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    nice great pose and nice details, I like the flower too. would be nice to use a uniform backdrop if you have one
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  3. #3
    Robert Amoruso
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    I would agree on the more uniform BG comment from Arash Mack.

    I would suggest toning down the highlights on the flower - presumably from the flash. Would a polarizer help tame the reflected light on the flower in such images? Something to investigate.

    The bird is angle a bit away from you. There are also a number of dark blotches on the image - sensor dust from the f/22 aperture I assume.

    Detail on the bird are great and exposure for it looks to be perfect.

  4. #4
    Ofer Levy
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    I like the naturally looking BG. Sharp with excellent detail. Would tone down the flower a bit more.

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    Great shot and good details. I like comments too.

  6. #6
    BPN Member dankearl's Avatar
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    I too, like the BG, agree about toning down the flower, but a great shot.
    Dan Kearl

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