Hi there,
Don't let the title fool you...what we have here is a fairly boring coot shot, but I'm fond of it for reasons I won't bore you with now. I'm fond also of the two black blobbers 'neath the fair bird, but wonder if any others will tell me to nix them without delay? I'd welcome your opinions and do hope you'll share them. This picture was taken with the Canon 7D and 70-300L at 300mm, iso400, 1/1250, f6.3. I cropped a slice off the top, adjusted levels, applied usm. Many thanks for your consideration, folks...I'll try to post something more interesting in the future but for now I will value your critique of this particular picture...huzzah to one and all...
I like the gentle waves in this image. It looks like the coot is coming down off a small wave so I don't know if it needs rotation. I wish for a bit more detail in the face area. Sorry but I am not fond of the black blobbers 'neath the fair bird but I do like this image.
And here is the same picture but without the sloppy black bobbles of doom. Removed sloppily and quickly with patch tool and healing brush. I know more than I used to, thanks to folks on this forum. That said: I know nothing of coots, their ways, their habits, their love, their mysteries...
Jack I am not sure if this is an optical illusion but the repost appears just a little brighter than the first?
I think the exposure is pretty good, though I would suggest considering getting just a little more out of the darkest plumage and the eye. Regards timing (did you use high speed continuous shooting?) I would have imagined the shot would have been a little more interesting a little sooner or conversely later, in other words as the bill hit the water or as it exited with water droplets. I sense you could possible have taken the image from a lower angle, as I scroll the pane upwards I think I prefer a little more crop off the top and also move the crop to the right a little bit. All these re-crops/rotations can be done simultaneous in ACR or DPP. If no room to the right on the original image I would add canvas and use Content Aware Fill. Hope this helps. Coots are very interesting birds in the UK there is not breeding season they breed throughout the year and can be a source of great action shots - they are aggressive little devils.
Jonathan, this is the best shot from this particular sequence, which is to say that this shot had the most appealing coot/water combination. I wish I had more access to these fine birds, but they're few and far between in Toronto. Occasionally I'll get access to a car and drive over to the spots where these birds are more plentiful and forthcoming. This shot was taken on one such trip. I could have gotten slightly lower, you're quite right, but only if I was willing to lie down in the sand, which on this particular day was covered with 40-odd trumpeter swans. They wouldn't have appreciated such behavior, you can believe me. Anyhow, I'm not at that point yet but can sense a change coming...someday soon I may feel the need to lie face-first in dung-splattered sand. I certainly won't rule it out, and heaven only knows what the future will bring. Many thanks for taking the time to offer such a detailed critique. Your opinions are sincerely appreciated.
Oh! As for the brightness, you're not imagining it...that was my fault...
Last edited by Jack Breakfast; 04-13-2012 at 09:05 AM.
Thanks Karl...while I shot this there were 40 trumpeter swans around me and a young king eider swimming around nearby. Wigeons and shovelers too. A wonderful day, most soothing indeed. I'm glad you also enjoy the locale! Your k.e. photos are very nice indeed.
Jack, I like the water. Your exposure is also good...nice wave action going on. couple of issue I have are (a) not a good enough view of the head...parallel to camera would have been nice (b) a slight magenta cast...I typically get that with auto WB. if it is bright and sunny, I just go with Daylight WB, neutral picture style with color tone set to 2 and color sat set to 2.
Hi jack....can't say i like the Bobbers but the water is so....ooo nice! You might consider cropping suggestions and bringing out that red eye just a bit more!
Yes indeed folks...with this shot I am quite happy to settle for less than perfect head and so forth b/c the water is so lovely...agree with you Bob, bringing out the red just a little bit. Many thanks to Mr K for pointing out the magenta...huzzah folks!
Jack, try this for the water: Go to PS, and go to "Selective Color". Select the blue channel and reduce the magenta, and add some cyan to it. Check out the difference it makes for the water colour...
P.S. As someone whos lied down flat faced many times in city parks and beaches with geese and dung all around me lety me tell you...once you see the difference it makes to the perspective aspect of your images you'll soon won't think twice about doing it!! Just bring spare clothes or air freshners for the car
Daniel, again, thanks for the hot tips. I don't have a car so the only air fresheners I'll need will be for my own fetid self. Will apply the selective coloing as you suggested...