Same comment as on the Lesser. No shooting data, so it's difficult to give advice on how you could get better exposure results, except to say that you need to set your exposure so as not to loose detail in the highlights areas.
Btw there is information in the white areas, thier not blown, but i cant get the levels right to let them look natural in the picture, if i play about with it it just looks false to me.
The whites are blown out in this image. If you have detail in the original file then use a selection to only adjust the levels on the non-white areas. Easiest way with this shot is using the colour select on the whites and then invert the selection.
It's a good idea to post your shooting info in with the post on UKNP, I think you will get more feedback that way.
Agree that incuding shooting info in the post is a good idea, also what PP software is used as this can help when giving advise....
I would prefer to see more room infront on this shot also perhaps a crop to a pan format would help as there is not a lot of interest in the water...
There are many ways of retaining detail in the whites, firstly exposure, many expose for the whites and let the shadows take care of themselves, it works as shadow detail is retained better, also an incident reading is useful in this sort of situation,.
In PP get the whites looking right, then the shadows then simply use the history brush to bring back the detail in the whites, very controllable and good results, ( sorry Sean I find this way gives better results than selections, but each person has a favoured way of working in PP that they get along with).
Anyway.
The software is Capture one LE for RAW, then Photoshop CS for the PP.
Shooting data, 1/1600 ISO 320 f4
The trouble is that i cant get enough DR into photoshop for the image to process properly,
The NEF has alot of data, shadow and highlight, that even 16bit TIFF's cant convey they blow or suck detail into the highlights and shadows.
I did a double exposure from C1le which has both lots then revealed the details from the shots to make a composite image. The issue is that i still dont like the results.
To me the PP'd version looks a bit better, one of the secrets of combining exposures is to use a layer mask and use a very soft, low opacity brush and bring the details in gradually, all too often I have seen people doing this with the opacity at 100%, they can never get the job looking right, so use a very low opacity brush and build up the mask, the exposures will then blend together a lot better.
Thanks phil, i tried with various things, in the end i built it up from 7 layers with various opacities. Its hard to get the expoure right on black and white birds.
As for the composition, i have a few different ideas, i wanted a lower angle but the background was too busy.
I have a few more in different poses and positions so i'll see what people like.
Btw any one notice the weird habit of spinning and moving about these birds have when they have their heads tucked under their wings?
Discussion
7 repliesD70, Sigma 300mm f2.8, ISO 320, 1/1600, f4
At the same location as the lesser black back.
Btw has anyone else noticed the adorable noise these birds make when chattering to one another?
Btw there is information in the white areas, thier not blown, but i cant get the levels right to let them look natural in the picture, if i play about with it it just looks false to me.
The whites are blown out in this image. If you have detail in the original file then use a selection to only adjust the levels on the non-white areas. Easiest way with this shot is using the colour select on the whites and then invert the selection.
It's a good idea to post your shooting info in with the post on UKNP, I think you will get more feedback that way.
cheers
Sean
Agree that incuding shooting info in the post is a good idea, also what PP software is used as this can help when giving advise....
I would prefer to see more room infront on this shot also perhaps a crop to a pan format would help as there is not a lot of interest in the water...
There are many ways of retaining detail in the whites, firstly exposure, many expose for the whites and let the shadows take care of themselves, it works as shadow detail is retained better, also an incident reading is useful in this sort of situation,.
In PP get the whites looking right, then the shadows then simply use the history brush to bring back the detail in the whites, very controllable and good results, ( sorry Sean I find this way gives better results than selections, but each person has a favoured way of working in PP that they get along with).
HTH
I have PP'd a bit more... but i still thinkit looks off.
Anyway.
The software is Capture one LE for RAW, then Photoshop CS for the PP.
Shooting data, 1/1600 ISO 320 f4
The trouble is that i cant get enough DR into photoshop for the image to process properly,
The NEF has alot of data, shadow and highlight, that even 16bit TIFF's cant convey they blow or suck detail into the highlights and shadows.
I did a double exposure from C1le which has both lots then revealed the details from the shots to make a composite image. The issue is that i still dont like the results.
I actually prefer it with the blown whites,
HTH
As for the composition, i have a few different ideas, i wanted a lower angle but the background was too busy.
I have a few more in different poses and positions so i'll see what people like.
Btw any one notice the weird habit of spinning and moving about these birds have when they have their heads tucked under their wings?