red tailed hawk in flight

Gallery: AvianPosted July 28, 2010127 views10 comments

I'm not sure about the "worthiness" of this image, but since I like it I suppose I should have it critiqued for learning purposes. I cant put my finger on exactly what I like about it, maybe the detail and smoothness of the colors ? I have recently been experimenting with reducing the shutter speeds for lower ISOs, but this image preceded those experiments and I realize that the higher ISO has cost some detail. The subject was strongly backlit hence the +1.6 EV. The original image did not require any exposure adjustment of the subject. This crop is about 40% of original. As usual, thank you so much for any input.. in the short time I've been posting here I have already learned a lot.

Dan

ISO 3600, f/8, 1/2500s, +1.6EV
Nikon D3S, 500mm f/4 +1.7 TC

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Peter Conway on July 28, 2010 at 1:31 PM

Hi Dan,

I think you have done a good job in processing such a high ISO. The BG seems pretty clean. Hopefully some of the folks that are really good at the computer development will chime in with suggestions. It looks like you could go with a little more saturation. HIgh ISO and such a big crop make it tough.

Peter

Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on July 28, 2010 at 2:20 PM

You shouldn't be concerned about "worthiness" with this shot - it's a nice action image with really nicely splayed feathers.

The high ISO and EV make it an even more impressive feat. There is a very noticeable halo aorund the bird, which is often an artificat in processing dark birds against light blue skies.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by antino cervigni on July 28, 2010 at 2:24 PM

Excellent shot. Regards

Registered on April 17, 2010, 70 Posts, 202 Comments

Comment posted by Joel DeYoung on July 28, 2010 at 3:02 PM

I'm with Luke on the "worthiness" of this shot. Given the tech's, I'd say you pulled off a great image. Nice composition and even good details. The image does look a little on the cool side (Blue). Halo already mentioned.
Nice job.

Registered on July 12, 2009, 92 Posts, 1074 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on July 28, 2010 at 7:30 PM

Tough to get great IQ at that ISO with a pretty large crop like this Dan but I do like the good light underneath, the nice look at the eye and the spread tail.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on July 28, 2010 at 8:16 PM

I like it too, Dan. Excellent detail and the larger version shows the eye very well. I like the translucency of the plumage against the sky.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on July 28, 2010 at 9:43 PM

It's hard to not want that f8 for it's sharpness, but you might have used a larger aperture at the distance these birds are and still not lost DOF. Then you could have a higher speed with a lower ISO.

It's a great photo as is, but you asked for other options.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Baldwin on July 28, 2010 at 11:52 PM

Thank you all so so much for your comments and advice.

It's really starting to sink in that one of the aspects of this "art" is figuring out how to play the various trade offs to get the best outcome. What I enjoy most is shooting raptors in flight and I'm afraid that deep (50%) crops will likely be the norm so lowering the ISO seems to be the most logical adjustment. I'll get somef practice now because my D3S is in the shop for a few weeks (my carelessness) so I'm shooting with my D300.

Dan