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Thread: Yet Another Green Heron!

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    Default Yet Another Green Heron!

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    Canon 7D
    500mm f/4 + 1.4
    Gitzo 3530LS/full Wimberley head

    1/640 sec
    f/6.3
    ISO 800

    Thought I'd throw my green heron hat into the ring. Took this a couple mornings ago at a swamp about a mile from my house. About a 50% crop. I liked the BG and the feet and the fluffed out feathers on the belly. A couple seconds after I took this he took off after a competitor and chased it away.
    ISO was at 800 as I mistakenly thought I had my 5D Mark II on the lens!
    NR, sharpening, some contrast, slight darkening of the branches. Maybe need more?
    Thanks so much in advance for any C and C.

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    Avian Moderator Randy Stout's Avatar
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    Melissa;

    Exposure looks good, agree about ruffled feathers. He must have been quite a ways out to be this small despite the crop.

    My normal response would be to crop tighter to eliminate some of the distracting elements but I am afraid the IQ would suffer too much.

    The luminosity of the branches looks fine to me.

    Hopefully you will get more opportunities, a bit closer in!

    Cheers

    Randy
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    "Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy" Sir Isaac Newton

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    Thanks Randy. I know, was afraid to crop more due to IQ. I did get this pic too, much closer, but felt perhaps IQ not up to snuff even then....what do you think?

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    Avian Moderator Randy Stout's Avatar
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    Melissa:

    I certainly think the second image gives you more to work with. The BG is pretty busy, but the bird is big enough to have more impact IMO.

    Cheers

    Randy
    MY BPN ALBUMS

    "Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy" Sir Isaac Newton

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Hi Melissa, in your OP, the heron is framed nicely between the branches. I would try and eliminate the branch touching the lower part of the wing. He does stand out against the lighter BG.

    Your second post definately has enough IQ to work with. When Im not sure of the IQ of an image, or how well it will turn out, I go as far in pp work until I get to the point where I can see if its going to be a keeper or not. You can normally judge by yourself.

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    Yea, I will try to take that close one farther in PP, Stuart. I was drawn to the first one also because of that branch framing you mention. Also, sometimes I find i really like to place the bird with more environment too as in that one (though I know that is not to the taste of many folks in this forum).
    Thanks Stuart and Randy.

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    Melissa, the comp. is nice in your OP. For a 50% crop and the bird so small...there are enough details in the bird. thats the advantage of 7D, I guess. good placement of subject, leading lines, exposure, colors. Nice one.

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    Lifetime Member gail bisson's Avatar
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    Hi Melissa,
    Not much to add to the above...I am slowly saving my pennies to get a 1D MK IV as the 7D really imposes limits on anything above ISO 800 (even when shooting to the right!) especially with blacks and whites. I like the OP as the #2 picture is too busy. I would clone out the branch that is intersecting the bird on the lower right.
    Gail

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    Thanks Gail and Kaustubh. I am saving my pennies for the 1D Mark IV too, Gail. I just feel hampered by the 7D. Living in a part of NY known for its inordinately high allotment of gray days, I need something better up to the task! Good luck with your own quest.

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