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Thread: White-crowned Sparrow

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    Default White-crowned Sparrow

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    Another from my backyard feeder setup. The flowers are not as bright here as in the previous posts. This is about a 20% crop. C&C welcome.

    Camera Model: NIKON D300, tripod
    Shutter speed: 1/200 sec
    Aperture: 8
    Exposure mode: Av
    Exposure compensation: +1/2
    Flash: Optional,TTL, -2.0
    Metering mode: Multi-segment
    ISO: 1000
    Focal length: 400mm
    Focal length: 600mm (in 35mm film)
    AF mode: MANUAL

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    Forum Participant Joe Senzatimore's Avatar
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    Hi Dan,

    Love the set-up but wish for a different color flower as I feel the stark white competes with the subject. Am also wondering why you went to Plus 1/2 as I feel overall the image is to bright. Comp. works well and subject is good and sharp , but a bit hot.

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    BPN Member jack williamson's Avatar
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    Hello Dan. This is still too flashed. I don't know what speedlight you are using, I use a sb900 and these settings work for me-1/250, ISO 400, f7.1, or f8. Set all settings manually. Set the flash manually to 1/64 power. According to how far you are from your setup you mave have to adjust your flash ( maybe to 1/32 power or more). These manual settings work well at a setup where your distance to subject remains fairley constant. I am certainely no expert but this works for me. Also this advice is for good light, ISO 400 will not work well for your BG in very low light.

    Jack

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    BPN Member dankearl's Avatar
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    I agree on this being too bright, but I think the BG is better than the other recent ones.
    I like the white flowers, a different sparrow, something darker would go well with this set up.
    Dan Kearl

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    Thanks guys. The + 1/2 was to bring more exposure to the bird, as in AV, the camera wants to expose the flowers at a gray tone, bringing the whole image down. Yes, darker flowers would be better. I am using an SB800 at minus 2 ttl fill which in the raw file is working nicely. The whites are at around 235 for the most part (they might be higher here?). I agree, the white flowers are not the best, it all boils down to that.

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    Super Moderator Daniel Cadieux's Avatar
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    I agree the flowers compete with the subject (and within themselves too) but still a lovely spring feel. Did you do some blurring to the BG? I see some masking issues around the subject and some of the flowers (especially at bottom)...this is why I ask...

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    Quote Originally Posted by Daniel Cadieux View Post
    I agree the flowers compete with the subject (and within themselves too) but still a lovely spring feel. Did you do some blurring to the BG? I see some masking issues around the subject and some of the flowers (especially at bottom)...this is why I ask...
    Thanks, Dan. No blur, just NR. I will have to look closer at the masking.

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    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
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    Looking at the techs I cannot think your exposure is far out, I would suggest have another look at the raw and lower the brightness, just had a quick look at the jpeg and I think you can make a big difference to the image.

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    Excellent composition and perch Dan.

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    Lifetime Member Doug Brown's Avatar
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    Love the overall spring feel to the image. Agree with the excellent critiques above. There does appear to be a little smearing of the bird's head. Using a darker flower should cure the competing brightness issue.
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