The Free Style swimmer

Gallery: AvianPosted January 17, 2014124 views10 comments

Geneva, Switzerland
D300s 150-500mm at 500mm
ISO 250
1/1250s at f8 EV -0.33 WB manual Center Weighted Average
Hand held
Original TIFF file cropped from 35M to 22.6M
Photoshop CS3 No sharpening

My New Year’s Resolution, photographically speaking is to address the perennial problems imposed by limited dynamic range. During several days of sublime sunny weather I set out to photograph highlighted black and white birds. I was somewhat distracted by this Red-crested Pochard passing the finishing post! My quest was to have simultaneous detail in both whites and blacks while avoiding generous helpings of the dreaded black porridge oats. I tried literally dozens of different parametric permutations including Nikon’s in camera Active D Lighting pushed to the limit. So far, I have the impression the problem can’t be solved without compromises. Right or wrong?

Your comments, suggestions and criticisms are most welcome.

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on January 17, 2014 at 7:36 AM

Nice pose, light, subject, and title, and I think you did a great job on the blacks and whites. I would consider cloning the red streak from the "finish post". Nice job! Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on January 17, 2014 at 11:59 AM

I have found it very difficult to deal with such color contrasts in bright light and still show feather detail in the black/white range. Using exposure compensation can help a little but now I will only try to get those shots of birds like this on an overcast day, very early or late afternoon light.

Interesting pose of this colorful duck. I might crop a little off the left to eliminate the gray squiggle lines and only show that wonderful blue background.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 17, 2014 at 2:44 PM

Nice pose and detail in the bird, David. I don't think the problem can be solved, David. The dynamic range of cameras and even print media aren't as large as those in nature. Also, when we look in the real world, we probably don't see the detail in the shadows and highlights that everyone seems to expect in a photograph-not unless you can focus your gaze on that one small area of the scene and let your eyes adjust. You could play with HDR, but if I understand how it works, it would be difficult with a moving bird.

BTW, I do find the white reflection behind the bird rather distracting though otherwise I really like the quality of the water.

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

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on January 17, 2014 at 4:45 PM

I think you got as close as possible. I would lose the wavy white stripe behind the bird. Otherwise, a hearty well done!

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

Comment posted by Ákos Lumnitzer on January 17, 2014 at 8:25 PM

In my very limited (landscape) experience, HDR would be possible with a stationary bird only. Moving would be rather difficult possibly due to changing surrounds. In any case, that is something we could all contemplate and experiment with at times. Now that I thought of HDR I may even try to shoot a few quiet and stationary subjects if they have the tonal range HDR would be useful for.

Nicely done overall. The OOF reflections behind the bird are the only things drawing my attention away.

Registered on April 24, 2004, 25 Posts, 510 Comments

Comment posted by David Rowe on January 18, 2014 at 2:30 AM

Hi Sharon. Many thanks. I didn't see red in the reflection of the 'finish post' - sheer vanity prevents me from wearing glasses!