Some Waterbirds From This Morning

[NikonUser]

Hi there,

I was going to go out for a sunrise this morning but slept in... So I thought I'd go down to Mornington to get some practice in with the long lens. I haven't had much time to PP these so I might post some more later with some adjustments but here is a quick grab.

These are my first ever attempts at Waterbirds. Comments and Critiques welcome

All taken with D70, 500 f4, 1.4x TC, SB800, Better Beamer

[avkomp]

the 4th is my favourite, you have the whites spot-on, the oof stuff in the background doesnt distract from the foreground subject.

5th is good also.

first would be great with the colour of the rocks etc but the OOF bird behind
masks the main subject a bit.

steve

[Pa]

they are all nice shots my fav is the fifth.
cheers pa

[mudder]

I have no idea about birding, but I reckon I'd struggle with exposure on black and white birds like this so I reckon you've done well there...

Particularly enjoyed the last couple, they just seem to grab me more, wonder if it's the eye detail? Last one would be my favorite of the bunch...

[NikonUser]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I don't know if it's possible to get better 'eye contact' with these terns as they have black eyes surrounded by black feathers.

Here's another one that is about as good as I could get the eye detail. Is this a little better?



Paul

[mudder]

Mate,

Black eyes surrounded by black feathers, strewth, that's an uphill battle... You've done a LOT better than I would have...

That last one you've just posted is a pearler! Seems beautifully exposed, nice and sharp and terrific isolation of your subject from the background... Works a treat

[avkomp]

paul, the additional image is nicer than the other terns.

perhaps the lower camera angle, definitely a better background.
I think the eye contact is important unless of course there is something else going on which is dramatic enough not to need it.

Steve

[NikonUser]

paul, the additional image is nicer than the other terns.

perhaps the lower camera angle, definitely a better background.
I think the eye contact is important unless of course there is something else going on which is dramatic enough not to need it.

Steve

Lower camera angle I was already in enough pain with the rocks jabbing into every part of my body It certainly wasn't a nice sandy patch of beach!!!

I know eye contact is one of the most important things... Would you say the dark eyes on the last shot means there is no eye contact?

Paul

[avkomp]

the last one works well
If you wanted you could brighen the eye up a little with shadow highlight on the eye area only.

last one looks a different lens also,
500f4?? just looks less DOF which makes it stand out more.

Steve

[NikonUser]

Same lens, 500f4 + 1.4x TC (same on all shots)

What makes you say it looks different?

Will try the shadow highlights on the eye. Have had trouble with that in the past making it looked washed out though.

Paul

[Matt. K]

Good work. You have some nice images here and the 500mm lens is certainly earning its bread and butter.

[avkomp]

was just the dof seemed shallower.

As for the eye, assuming photoshop, I would select the eye area with the oval select tool, feather the selection (5pixels, I believe) then slight shadow highlight nowhere near 50%. 10%? maybe.

Still looks ok though.

Steve

[blacknstormy]

Wow, 500 and the TC!!! Great crisp shots.
Love the last one in the first series, and that single you posted - top stuff.
Rel

[mudder]

...Lower camera angle I was already in enough pain with the rocks jabbing into every part of my body It certainly wasn't a nice sandy patch of beach!!!

Ahhhh, dedication to the cause, good stuff...

... I know eye contact is one of the most important things... Would you say the dark eyes on the last shot means there is no eye contact?...

Not necessarily eye contact (you'd be doing pretty well to get eye contact with a bird many many meters away), I think so long as the viewer can make out the eye itself, I reckon it gives the image a hook for the viewer to catch...

[Finch]

Paul,

4th and 5th in the first set are by far my favourites. Also love the extra one you posted of the tern. Very sharp, great DOF and the most imortant thing (in my opinion) is that the eyes are in focus.

Also good to see that you have had to 'work' for the last pic you posted, by crawling on your belly and being jabbed by rocks. Have done that so many times and if you get a corker of a shot, its worth it every bit.

Well done

Cheers

Michael