This Roseate Spoonbill dropped into the estuary to preen and feed for just 2 hours. The bright pink caught my eye as I was walking to a meeting. I dashed home, got my camera and got @ 15 minutes to shoot photos before I had to leave. When I returned an hour later, I watched her flying away…
*** I am just not talented enough on PS - so I could not get the edge define to work the way I wanted - so I created this image with a bit of “glow edges” - not really a photo anymore - but Captures the “essence” of this Prima Donna of the Estuary… I will work some more on learning with PS and other tools.
What technical feedback would you like if any?
Always want techniques on improving shooting in a dark area (shooting into the morning light) in dark muddy area).
What artistic feedback would you like if any?
This beauty was surrounded by the Black-bellied Whistling ducks - and they would not leave her side… I swear they were all in awe of her. Of all 70 shots I got, on 1 did not have the ducks under her wings, by her side, or standing behind her. I had to crop this very close and remove the Duck reflection from the water…
Pertinent technical details or techniques:
(If backgrounds have been removed, etc. please be honest with your techniques to help others learn)
Nikon D500: 1/500 sec, f6.3 420mm at ISO 250 [EV -1.7]. Lens- Nikon 200-500mm f5.6
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ej.jewett
You may only download this image to demonstrate post-processing techniques.
I like the crop, EJ, and the focus looks like it’s right where it should be for this pose. You could crank the iso up quite a bit to let you either increase shutter speed (not really needed here) or stop down for more depth of field (a touch more might be nice in this image). The wet mud backgrounds are tough and I don’t really have a solution for them except to try to take the shot from as low an angle as possible. That tends to put the background further away and blur it more. I think you could bring the brighter areas on the top of the bird down a little bit in processing to make it look a little mellower.
Oh EJ, this was worth going back to get your camera! I love her pose, and as Dennis said, a very apt title. I really am enjoying this image, and even the mud in the background isn’t all that distracting. It would have been better if it was more out of focus probably, but a fine shot as it is.
I love the pose you caught here Ej, and I think the composition works real well. Dennis offers some good points on both striving for a lower position and reducing the highlights in the bird. I would also attempt to isolate the background and introduce a slight amount of blur to allow the bird to stand out more. Nice work!
@Dennis_Plank and @Chuck_Gangas - I have spent a week trying to work on the suggestions you provided - but I am just not smart enough with PS to actually get the great suggestions you provided to work. The best I could do is the results posted above.
It does not look like a photo to me, but it does capture the essence of the ballerina motif…
