Hi all! Just caught a nice photo of (what I think is) a honey buzzard that was flying around me and jumping from place to place near some salt ponds that also serve as a bird refuge in the south of Israel (Eilat area). I got pretty close with my car, perhaps 50 yards. (By the way, is there any way of calculating the distance? Is the distance to the focus point logged somewhere in the file details?)
I think it's a nice shot. I like the way the bird almost merges with its background, and the evil eye it gave me as I was closing in on it.
I'd appreciate any comments, specifically about composition and processing, but I'm at such a beginners level that any comments whatsoever will be helpful (even if they don't seem to you as such).
Canon 550D, 300 f/4L+1.4X, 1/640, f/9, exposure compensation +1, ISO 1250.
In PS5 I did levels, NR on the BG, sharpening of the bird, and cloning a bit from the upper right of the BG.
I think the ISO is a bit high, but the light was getting a bit low. Also, I used evaluative metering, and I've seen people using partial metering, and I'm wondering if anyone can give me some advice as to which is preferable and when (perhaps also why).
You did a fine job, especially with how the colors of the background/foreground/bird go together. My only nit pick
is the head angle. By any chance do you have any where the head angle is looking toward you?
I'd also think about maybe cropping just a little bit off from the bottom.
Thanks Doug and thanks Cathy. I actually have some 20 photos of this one but, sadly, none of them with head turned towards me. He was not very timid, but jumped from spot to spot whenever he caught me lurking around. Also, I did as you (Doug) suggested and cropped a tiny bit from the bottom and it does look better - thanks!
Arnon
Honey Buzzard on ground
