‹ Previous Regional: UKNP Gallery Next ›

Waxwing

Gallery: Regional: UKNPPosted November 8, 2011357 views9 comments

Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) - Essex, UK
Canon 7D, 600/f4 + 1.4 extender, 580EX2 flash + flash extender, Gitzo 3530LSV, Wimberley WH2.
Manual exposure mode f11 ;1/125, iso 640.
RAW image processed in ACR; sharpened in Photoshop CS5; noise reduction using Noiseware Professional Imagenomic; cropped to 4x3 format.

One from last winter that I've just processed for a talk that I'm giving in a couple of weeks time.

Thought I would present it here to address the 'perceived view' that the images from the 7D are too noisy for serious photographers, despite the fact that it is a generation on from the 1D4. Sure I've used noise reduction software in my processing workflow, but the nr is limited to the sky area. I use noise reduction on all my images including shots from my Nikon D3.

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on November 8, 2011 at 1:45 PM

An excellent pose and perch. What percentage of full frame is this? I ask, because the bird seems a touch soft. However, as difficult as it is to show detail in a Waxwing, I may be expecting too much.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Mason on November 8, 2011 at 1:59 PM

I like the wing spread and the colours show really nicely against that blue sky. I think I would prefer a bit more room on the left (maybe top too). Sharpness looks fine to my eye.

Registered on December 14, 2005, 399 Posts, 2305 Comments

Comment posted by Des Ong on November 8, 2011 at 2:46 PM

Echo Ian's comments re pose and comp, also plenty sharp enough for me.

Registered on July 12, 2007, 23 Posts, 234 Comments

Comment posted by John Robinson on November 8, 2011 at 3:09 PM

Great comp etc but I feel the flash has given it exactly that - a flashy look, which judging by the weather probably wasn't needed. Good stuff though.
JR

Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Kirkham on November 9, 2011 at 8:06 AM

Hello Phil
As usual, a fine image and plenty of useful information for us all to digest. I have to agree with John about the "flash" effect showing through though, because as soon as I opened it and read the description I was looking for how you had used the flash.
Best wishes
Phil

Registered on October 9, 2004, 63 Posts, 153 Comments

Comment posted by Pete Etheridge on November 9, 2011 at 5:24 PM

Hi Phil,

Plenty sharp enough for me, but I do agree with the flash comments. Still a great capture that I'm sure your audience will appreciate.

Registered on August 9, 2005, 3 Posts, 40 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Phillpotts on November 10, 2011 at 4:15 AM

I'm not so keen on the effect of the flash (just slightly too obvious in my opinion) but the composition works for me, its a nice pose and there's plenty of detail there.

Registered on January 21, 2009, 16 Posts, 62 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Jones on November 10, 2011 at 6:21 AM

The angle of the bird/image doesn’t work for me, I dont like flash used with wild animals and here the flash is too obvious

Registered on January 31, 2009, 67 Posts, 316 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Whippey on November 10, 2011 at 5:17 PM

Nice shot Phil. Although I agree with others that the image does look a tad "flashy".

I still fail to see the harm in using fill flash on birds though (except nocturnal ones of course)....

Registered on September 16, 2011, 16 Posts, 69 Comments