Backlit Roadrunner

Gallery: AvianPosted February 15, 2014767 views8 comments

Another Bosque image....I'm not sure how the backlighting works for this and would appreciate any ideas on how to process this to improve the image.

50D, 700mm, ISO 200, F5.6, 1/400 LARGER image included.
Thanks for any comments/critiques...I learn from them all! Sharon

PS If you get a chance, have a look at my Bobcat in the Weekly Challenge or Wildlife gallery.

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on February 15, 2014 at 1:32 PM

Hey Sharon, I like this species so much...Wish the image were mine

. I think the backlight works well, and there's enough detail and light on the bird - only thing that draws the attention are the reddish leaves - but that's hard to solve I'm afraid. So - to answer your question - I think you did very well here

, Cheers, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on February 15, 2014 at 2:59 PM

Nice head-turn and low perspective.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on February 15, 2014 at 4:51 PM

Great bird with a bit of rim lighting and nice habitat all around

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on February 15, 2014 at 8:05 PM

I'm not used to seeing this desert specialty with snow.

I'd shift the white balance a little more to the blue to cool this off a bit.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on February 15, 2014 at 11:10 PM

Very nice, Sharon. I like backlit images and this one is sweet. The only think I might suggest (and I don't know if it would make any difference) is playing with a curves adjustment to get a bit more contrast between the darker bird and the light bg grasses.

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on February 16, 2014 at 6:04 AM

Great low angle and setting Sharon - I agree with Richard about the white balance

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by William Bickle on February 16, 2014 at 8:38 AM

Hello Sharon

Like the rim lighting....maybe some shadow/highlighting would help?

Bill

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Cloran on February 17, 2014 at 6:46 PM

A solid capture with a nice alert pose. The backlighting is fine, but I get a strong sense of an HDR tone mapping (or possibly shadow / highlight) adjustment. The colors and slightly flattened tonal range are what pushes me there. Maybe its my own tendency to do something like that to open the detail in backlit shots. If you did do a tone mapping or used a plug-in like Topaz Adjust 5 (medium smooth HDR), pull back on the saturation (the results tend to get "warm") and add a very mild curve to pop the contrast slightly and it should sing.

Registered on April 6, 2004, 119 Posts, 1989 Comments