Stay out!
D90 70-200VR+2X@300 1/3200 f7.1 ISO400 -1 2/3EV handheld
Please help. This picture was taken three days ago on a nice, clear morning, but with pretty strong sunlight. It is posted as it came out of camera, untouched. I particularly like the pose and hoped I could crop it and otherwise PP it and make it "work". I tried a few times and gave up. Any suggestions? As starters it seems rather noisy and "fuzzy" to me. How can I make this image presentable, or can I? Appreciate any input . . .
Wendell
Wendell, do you have noise reduction and sharpening set in your camera? Most people do not, as they prefer to add those improvements outside of the camera. The image is noisy and fuzzy because it needs noise reduction and sharpening. As for cropping, I would suggest cropping a bit from the top and a lot from the left. Shooting angle is a bit high and too far to the right. I know you don't always have the option, but standing a bit to the left and lower would have made a stronger composition. You did a great job on the exposure, with whites nicely under control.
"It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera... they are made with the eye, heart, and head." - Henri Cartier Bresson
Please visit me on the web at http://kerryperkinsphotography.com
Wendell,
Kerry hit the main points, I will make a comment on composition and it is very subjective. The picture is almost two events in one frame. I tend to look at the reflection and then the bird flying into the bird with the refection. the picture seems to lack some balance IMO. I too would have taken this shot it is a great moment in nature with beautiful habitat. Make the adjustments Kerry mentioned and repost if you like. Be interesting to hear what others say as well. Thanks for posting and keep em coming.
ps - thanks for making me think and experimenting. This is a key part of photography and you are growing.
Last edited by Jeff Cashdollar; 09-12-2011 at 07:31 AM.
Thanks, Kerry and Jeff. No, Kerry, I didn't know those two things could be set in-camera -- I'll consider it. Here is what I came up with for a re-post. I cropped in LR3; I ran NR on the background in Noise Ninja; I ran USM in PS Elements; and I colored and brightened their eyes in Elements. For some reason that doesn't "do it" for me. I'll abandon the image as "unfixable'. But I really appreciate your input on this one. (Haven't done a re-post before, hope I did it right.)
Just a thought
Hello! I'm just a new forum member so I hope I don't come off as pretentious by putting forth my two grains of sand here.
The fact is, I think the photograph is beautiful and captures a special moment, and even though I agree with the advice to improve it by means of cropping, I would suggest doing so without cutting out the bird's reflection on the water, which is one of the fine things about the image. Good thing about digital, we can crop and re-crop until it feels right. :-)
IGH
Ivan,
Great comments, this is a great moment in nature and welcome. Hope to talk with you more in the future.
Welcome Ivan! Points well taken . . . . and I will try a re-crop . . .
Thank you!
Thank you Jeff Cashdollar and Wendel Westfall, it's great to start participating in this fine website. You make feel welcome and I appreciate it.
Also looking forward to continue participating in the on-going exchange of ideas that takes place here.
IGH
Wow, great action shot. It looks as if the birds will nearly collide.
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