Egret (w/JPG)

Gallery: AvianPosted January 18, 2011239 views12 comments

Canon EOS REBEL T2i
EF-S55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS
1/16/2011 – 15:40:07
1/3200 sec
Aperture priority
f/5.6
ISO 200
Focal length 250mm
Tripod
Lake Wauberg, Paynes Prairie, Gainesville, Florida

I'll post the unprocessed JPG below. I would greatly appreciate any feedback on the settings I used, on the image itself and on my processing of the CR file.

In the unprocessed CR file the moss was darker than the more accurate (and to me prettier in the image) light gray color in the unprocessed JPG file, and in processing I couldn't get the light gray color back.

I don't know if you can tell this from the tech info above, but I used negative 1 exposure compensation.

All feedback will be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much!

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on January 18, 2011 at 3:17 AM

Unprocessed JPG.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by richard remington on January 18, 2011 at 7:16 AM

Brabara,

I see alot more detail in the white feathers on this shot. I love the look of the hanging moss. Keep it up as you are quickly getting better.

Rick

Registered on March 12, 2010, 105 Posts, 368 Comments

Comment posted by richard remington on January 18, 2011 at 7:22 AM

Barbara,

I forgot to say that in my opinion white birds are by far the most difficult birds to shoot. If you overexpose it is tough to capture the detail in processing.

Registered on March 12, 2010, 105 Posts, 368 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on January 18, 2011 at 9:08 AM

Barbara, I think you handled the exposure here well considering the lighting. I do find myself wishing there were a bit more light on the bird's face, but because it is shadowed i think it adds a mood to this image. If this were mine I would consider cropping some of the bottom off of the frame, perhaps to just below the spanish moss dangling from the branch below the bird in the center of the frame.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 18, 2011 at 12:15 PM

IMO this is your best work to date. You have used the setting to make the composition and the resulting image is much more than just a shot of the Great Egret. This is a style of shooting that will serve you well when working with a short telephoto like you've got now.

The lighting also adds interest and helps create depth in the image. It also brings out the delicacy of the plumes.

I too would trim a little from the bottom - it will move the egret a little out of center and make it feel less static and will also make the bird a little bigger in the frame. At such a low ISO there should be no issue with excessive noise for a minor crop like this.

It would have helped if you could have shot from a little higher position - that would have moved the horizontal line of brightness behind the egret a bit higher in the frame so it didn't cross behind the head.

Comparing the two versions I'd say you did very minimal changes in raw conversion, perhaps just slightly darker or a touch more contrast. That's also good news IMO as it means you got the exposure correct in the field and used post processing only to fine tune the image rather than trying to overcome major shooting issues.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on January 18, 2011 at 1:07 PM

Barbara, I think this is a huge improvement in a very short amount of time! Nice job making the tech changes in your camera settings. I don't ahve anything beyond what has already been suggested by Mia and Richard.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on January 18, 2011 at 3:49 PM

Barbara,
beautiful comp! Well done!

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Huff on January 18, 2011 at 3:59 PM

Well done Barbara. A beautiful Erget in a fantasic setting.

Ron Huff

Registered on August 31, 2010, 69 Posts, 440 Comments

Comment posted by Carol Nichols on January 18, 2011 at 7:03 PM

Barbara, this has got to be your best image yet! I agree with Mia that maybe a bit should be cropped off the bottom and then the composition would be absolutely perfect.

Registered on November 7, 2007, 161 Posts, 1420 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on January 18, 2011 at 8:42 PM

Wonderful! I can't tell you the number of overexposed white birds I posted to get something as nice as yours. The photo bug has bitten you!

Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on January 18, 2011 at 10:28 PM

excellent shot, Barbara. Mia and Rich have done a great job with suggestions. well done.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 18, 2011 at 10:58 PM

Wonderful composition, Barbara and excellent detail. I do think you could take a bit off the bottom, but not much. I like the exposure as presented.

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